CostIndexUSA

Myrtle Beach, SC vs Winston-Salem, NC Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

SC
Myrtle Beach
93.6
overall index
$1,700/mo rent
More AffordableNC
Winston-Salem
92
overall index
$1,075/mo rent

Winston-Salem is slightly cheaper than Myrtle Beach — 1.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Myrtle Beach, you would need $78,600 in Winston-Salem. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing14.1%
Myrtle Beach
83.1
Winston-Salem
71.4
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Myrtle Beach
96.3
Winston-Salem
96.6
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Myrtle Beach
103.2
Winston-Salem
103.1
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Myrtle Beach
93.4
Winston-Salem
93.3
Utilities≈ Equal
Myrtle Beach
88
Winston-Salem
88.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Myrtle Beach to see what you'd need to earn in Winston-Salem to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Winston-Salem, NC
$78,600
$1,400 less needed in Winston-Salem

Formula: salary × (92 ÷ 93.6) = salary × 0.9829. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Myrtle Beach, SC

Median Home Price
$334,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,700
Housing Index
83.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.4×

Winston-Salem, NC

Median Home Price
$355,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,075
Housing Index
71.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
27.5×

Myrtle Beach has 14.1% lower housing costs compared to Winston-Salem.

Income & Job Market

Myrtle Beach, SC

Median Household Income
$69,000
Per Capita Income
$39,300
Unemployment Rate
3.5%
Population
34,695
Top Industries
TourismHealthcareRetailReal EstateHospitality

Winston-Salem, NC

Median Household Income
$64,400
Per Capita Income
$36,700
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
247,945
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingFinanceEducationGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Myrtle Beach, SC
3.4×income-to-rent ratio

70% of income left after rent (median)

Winston-Salem, NC
5.0×income-to-rent ratio

80% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.