CostIndexUSA

McAllen, TX vs Myrtle Beach, SC Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTX
McAllen
85.9
overall index
$1,100/mo rent
SC
Myrtle Beach
93.6
overall index
$1,700/mo rent

McAllen is moderately cheaper than Myrtle Beach — 9.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in McAllen, you would need $87,200 in Myrtle Beach. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+48.7%
McAllen
55.9
Myrtle Beach
83.1
🛒 Groceries+2.7%
McAllen
93.8
Myrtle Beach
96.3
🚗 Transportation+2.1%
McAllen
101.1
Myrtle Beach
103.2
🏥 Healthcare+2.2%
McAllen
91.4
Myrtle Beach
93.4
Utilities+8.4%
McAllen
81.2
Myrtle Beach
88

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Myrtle Beach, SC
$87,200
$7,200 more needed in Myrtle Beach

Formula: salary × (93.6 ÷ 85.9) = salary × 1.0896. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

McAllen, TX

Median Home Price
$188,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,100
Housing Index
55.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.2×

Myrtle Beach, SC

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

Myrtle Beach has 48.7% higher housing costs compared to McAllen.

Income & Job Market

McAllen, TX

Median Household Income
$53,700
Per Capita Income
$30,600
Unemployment Rate
5.6%
Population
142,212
Top Industries
International TradeHealthcareRetailGovernmentEducation

Myrtle Beach, SC

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

Affordability at a Glance

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

McAllen, TX
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

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

70% 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.