Cost to Own
United States › South Carolina › Horry County › Myrtle Beach Population 37,214 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-10-29
Before you budget for Myrtle Beach FEMA rates natural hazard risk in Horry County Relatively High, with hurricane its highest-ranked hazard against other US counties. It shapes what insurers charge here. See what threatens homes in this county

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

A $348,000 home here costs

$2,683

per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $115,000 a year.

P&I 71%Tax 4%Insurance 6%Utilities 9%Upkeep 11%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,897. The real number is $786 higher every month, 41% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Horry County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Myrtle Beach median: $347,700
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
SC average household

Where every dollar goes

Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.

Principal & interest30-year fixed, $278,400 borrowed $1,897
Property tax0.327% effective rate for Myrtle Beach itself $95
Homeowners insuranceSouth Carolina averages $1,432/yr (NAIC), or 0.578% of home value $168
Electricity15.76ยข/kWh, South Carolina residential average, EIA $165
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $290
Total monthly $2,683

Myrtle Beach against Horry County and South Carolina

MeasureMyrtle BeachHorry County
Median home value$347,700$260,500
Median property tax$1,136$879
Effective tax rate0.327%0.337%
Median gross rent$1,132$1,181
Population37,214368,937

The weather behind that power bill

Myrtle Beach sits in Horry County, which averages a high of 90.8°F in its hottest month and a low of 35.2°F in its coldest, with 55.21" of precipitation a year and 37% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 2,141 cooling and 2,287 heating degree days, which is what sets the $165 electricity line above.

See the full climate breakdown for Horry County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.

Other cities in Horry County

Full Horry County cost breakdown · Every county in South Carolina

Talk to someone who works this market

These are Myrtle Beach averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Myrtle Beach every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.

I'm looking to buy in Myrtle Beach I already own here and may sell

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Myrtle Beach?

A $348,000 home in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina costs approximately $2,683 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,897 principal and interest, $95 property tax, $168 homeowners insurance, $233 utilities and $290 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Myrtle Beach?

Myrtle Beach has an effective property tax rate of 0.327%, based on a median home value of $347,700 and median real estate taxes of $1,136. That is lower than the Horry County average of 0.337%.

What is the average home price in Myrtle Beach?

The median owner-occupied home value in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is $347,700, against $260,500 across Horry County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Myrtle Beach?

Median gross rent in Myrtle Beach is $1,132 a month, against $2,683 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.

What salary do you need to buy a home in Myrtle Beach?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $115,000 a year. That covers the full $2,683 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Myrtle Beach, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
  • Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for South Carolina.
  • Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
  • Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
  • Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.

Full methodology