CostIndexUSA

Myrtle Beach, SC vs Waco, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

SC
Myrtle Beach
93.6
overall index
$1,700/mo rent
More AffordableTX
Waco
92.6
overall index
$1,450/mo rent

Waco is slightly cheaper than Myrtle Beach — 1.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Myrtle Beach, you would need $79,100 in Waco. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing≈ Equal
Myrtle Beach
83.1
Waco
83.5
🛒 Groceries2.6%
Myrtle Beach
96.3
Waco
93.8
🚗 Transportation2.0%
Myrtle Beach
103.2
Waco
101.1
🏥 Healthcare2.1%
Myrtle Beach
93.4
Waco
91.4
Utilities8.0%
Myrtle Beach
88
Waco
81

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Waco, TX
$79,100
$900 less needed in Waco

Formula: salary × (92.6 ÷ 93.6) = salary × 0.9893. 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×

Waco, TX

Median Home Price
$246,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,450
Housing Index
83.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.1×

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

Waco, TX

Median Household Income
$62,700
Per Capita Income
$35,700
Unemployment Rate
3.7%
Population
138,486
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareManufacturingRetailAgriculture

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)

Waco, TX
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

72% 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.