CostIndexUSA

Myrtle Beach, SC vs Richmond, VA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableSC
Myrtle Beach
93.6
overall index
$1,700/mo rent
VA
Richmond
97.9
overall index
$1,650/mo rent

Myrtle Beach is slightly cheaper than Richmond — 4.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Myrtle Beach, you would need $83,700 in Richmond. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+19.3%
Myrtle Beach
83.1
Richmond
99.1
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Myrtle Beach
96.3
Richmond
96.8
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Myrtle Beach
103.2
Richmond
103.5
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Myrtle Beach
93.4
Richmond
93.7
Utilities+1.4%
Myrtle Beach
88
Richmond
89.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Richmond, VA
$83,700
$3,700 more needed in Richmond

Formula: salary × (97.9 ÷ 93.6) = salary × 1.0459. 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×

Richmond, VA

Median Home Price
$381,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,650
Housing Index
99.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.2×

Richmond has 19.3% higher housing costs compared to Myrtle Beach.

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

Richmond, VA

Median Household Income
$84,300
Per Capita Income
$48,100
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
226,610
Top Industries
FinanceHealthcareGovernmentManufacturingEducation

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)

Richmond, VA
4.3×income-to-rent ratio

77% 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.