Living in Myrtle Beach, SC

• Livability Partner

Planning a move to Myrtle Beach, SC? You’ve come to the right place! You will find all the details about living on the Grand Strand, from details on its affordable cost of living and relaxed coastal vibe to insights into its powerful tourism economy, year-round entertainment, and range of welcoming communities. We cover all the essentials for making this top-rated beach destination your permanent address.

Why You’ll Love Living in Myrtle Beach

A 60-mile stretch of sandy coastline, over 80 pristine golf courses, and a surprisingly affordable cost of living make this one of the East Coast’s most desirable hometowns. Myrtle Beach is a city where the energy of a world-class vacation destination meets the warmth of a close-knit Southern community.

Long known as the heart of the “Grand Strand,” Myrtle Beach has evolved far beyond its reputation as just a tourist spot. It’s now a booming residential center for healthcare innovation, a hub for small businesses, and a paradise for retirees, all while maintaining the fun-loving spirit that makes it famous. It’s where career ambition and a permanent-vacation lifestyle thrive side by side.

Whether your perfect day involves a morning surf session before your hospital shift, closing deals from a home office overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway, or catching a live show after a round of golf, Myrtle Beach offers the balance modern life craves.

Parents move here for the expansive and modern Horry County School District and the endless weekend activities for kids. Young professionals are discovering a surprisingly robust environment for entrepreneurship and healthcare careers, combined with a social life that’s always active, from beachfront bars to country music festivals. Retirees have long known this is a haven, citing the incredible density of world-class golf courses, high-quality healthcare systems, and South Carolina’s favorable tax policies for retirement income.

Collectively, they’ve built a city that welcomes millions of visitors a year without losing its core identity as a friendly, accessible, and vibrant place to live. It’s no wonder people describe Myrtle Beach as energetic, but relaxed. That combo makes it one of the most sought-after coastal cities in America, a place where you can build an incredible future and still savor every present, sun-drenched moment.

Display these facts on your site.

Myrtle Beach is the anchor of the “Grand Strand,” a 60-mile arc of coastline in the northeast corner of South Carolina. It’s perfectly positioned on the Atlantic Ocean, with the Intracoastal Waterway running parallel just a few miles inland, creating a paradise for boaters.

The city is a destination in itself, not a suburb. It’s strategically connected by major highways, including U.S. 17 (the coastal artery connecting it to Wilmington, NC, and Charleston, SC), U.S. 501 (the main inland route), and SC-31 (the “Veterans Highway,” a bypass that makes navigating the county a breeze).

A major asset is the Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR), a clean, modern, and rapidly growing airport with direct flights to over 50 cities across the U.S. and Canada, making travel for work or family visits incredibly simple.

Nearby Major Cities:

• Charleston, SC: About a 2-hour drive south brings you to one of America’s most historic and celebrated cities, known for its world-class culinary scene, cobblestone streets, and antebellum architecture.
• Wilmington, NC: Head 1.5 hours north to explore this charming riverfront city, known for its historic downtown, “Hollywood East” film industry, and vibrant arts scene.
• Columbia, SC: About 2.5 hours west is the state capital, home to the University of South Carolina, the State Museum, and the lively Congaree Vista district.

Myrtle Beach enjoys a humid subtropical climate with four distinct seasons, each offering its own coastal charm.

• Spring is glorious, with average temperatures climbing from the 60s to the 70s. The city bursts into color with azaleas and dogwoods, and the golf courses are in their prime.
• Summers are the main event — warm, sunny, and humid, with highs typically in the upper 80s or low 90s. The warm Atlantic water and consistent ocean breezes make for perfect beach days.
• Fall is a local’s favorite. The air turns crisp, the summer crowds thin, but the ocean water remains warm well into October. It’s an ideal time for fishing, festivals, and outdoor dining.
• Winters are typically crisp but very mild. Highs average in the 50s, and lows rarely dip below freezing for long. Snow is a rare and celebrated event, making it a true escape for those fleeing harsh northern winters.

The city enjoys over 215 sunny days per year. Residents are mindful of the Atlantic hurricane season (June through November), but modern building codes, strong community preparedness, and advanced forecasting are a standard part of coastal life.

The lifestyle in Myrtle Beach is defined by endless recreation, live entertainment, and coastal relaxation. While tourists flock to the main drags, locals enjoy a deeper, richer version of the “Grand Strand” experience.

The Beach & Outdoors

The 60-mile Grand Strand is the main attraction, offering endless public access for sunbathing, swimming, and shelling. Locals know the best spots, from the quiet, pristine sands of Myrtle Beach State Park (with its iconic pier) to the wild, natural beauty of Huntington Beach State Park, famous for its birdwatching and the historic Atalaya Castle.

Water sports are a way of life. You can surf the “washout” at local-favorite breaks, kayak or paddleboard through the salt marshes, or charter a deep-sea fishing trip. The Intracoastal Waterway provides a second waterfront for boating, jet skiing, and riverside dining.

Signature Attractions & Entertainment

Locals get to enjoy the “vacation” spots year-round, often with resident discounts. Broadway at the Beach is a massive outdoor complex surrounding a 23-acre lake, featuring Ripley’s Aquarium, WonderWorks, and dozens of restaurants and shops. In North Myrtle Beach, Barefoot Landing offers a similar vibe with its own collection of boutiques, eateries, and attractions like the House of Blues and the Alabama Theatre.

The Myrtle Beach Boardwalk is the classic experience, home to arcades, souvenir shops, and the towering SkyWheel, which offers breathtaking views of the coastline.

World-Class Golf & Sports

This is, without question, the “Golf Capital of the World.” The area boasts over 80 professionally designed courses, including legendary tracks like The Dunes Golf and Beach Club, TPC Myrtle Beach, and the stunning Caledonia Golf & Fish Club. For families, the city is also the undisputed capital of elaborate mini-golf.

Sports fans gather at the ballpark for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (a Chicago Cubs Single-A affiliate), offering a fun, affordable, and family-friendly night out. College sports are also a huge draw, with locals passionately supporting the Coastal Carolina University Chanticleers, a Division I program.

Arts, Culture & History

For a dose of high culture, Brookgreen Gardens is an absolute must-see. Located just south in Murrells Inlet, it’s a 9,100-acre National Historic Landmark featuring the world’s largest outdoor collection of American figurative sculpture, alongside a low-country zoo and botanical gardens.

In town, the Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum is a hidden gem located in a historic 1920s beach villa, offering rotating exhibitions of regional and national artists.

The Culinary Scene

Myrtle Beach is a food-lover’s town. While it’s famous for its “Calabash-style” seafood buffets and classic pancake houses, the culinary scene is surprisingly deep.

The “Seafood Capital of South Carolina” is Murrells Inlet, a historic fishing village just south of the city. The Murrells Inlet MarshWalk is a beloved local institution — a wooden boardwalk connecting a dozen popular restaurants and bars, all offering spectacular marsh views, fresh-caught seafood, and live music every night. Beyond the seafood, the area is brimming with fine dining, chef-driven concepts, and authentic international cuisine.

Live Entertainment

Unlike many beach towns, Myrtle Beach has a live entertainment scene that rivals cities twice its size. The Carolina Opry is an award-winning variety show that has been a staple for decades. The Alabama Theatre and Legends in Concert offer high-energy musical productions, while the House of Blues hosts major national touring bands and artists.

This energy is amplified by massive annual events, most notably the Carolina Country Music Fest, which draws tens of thousands of fans to the downtown oceanfront each June.

Read The Ultimate Things To Do in Myrtle Beach Bucket List

Popular residential areas include:

• The Market Common: A master-planned community on the former Air Force base, known for its walkable “uptown” feel with shops, restaurants, parks, and diverse housing.
• Carolina Forest: A large, popular master-planned community inland, highly sought-after by families for its newer homes and top-rated schools.
• Grande Dunes: An upscale, 2,200-acre community stretching from the ocean to the Intracoastal Waterway, featuring luxury homes, a private beach club, and two golf courses.
• The Dunes Club: One of the most established and prestigious neighborhoods, featuring large, custom homes on tree-lined streets and a premier private golf course.
• Murrells Inlet: Just south of the city, this historic fishing village offers a more laid-back, “boating life” vibe, centered around the famous MarshWalk.

Read About the Best Neighborhoods in Myrtle Beach

The economy of Myrtle Beach is a powerful and resilient engine, historically built on tourism and now rapidly diversifying. The area consistently ranks as one of the fastest-growing in the nation, with a job market to match.

The $11+ billion tourism and hospitality industry is the undisputed core, supporting hundreds of hotels, restaurants, and attractions. This creates a massive and constant need for professionals in management, marketing, finance, and operations, as well as a thriving ecosystem for small business owners and entrepreneurs.

However, the area’s largest single employer is Horry County Schools, reflecting the massive influx of new families.

The other dominant and fastest-growing sector is health care. The region’s popularity with retirees and new residents has fueled a massive expansion of medical services. Major employers like Grand Strand Health (HCA), Tidelands Health, and Conway Medical Center are continually building new facilities and recruiting top-tier medical professionals.

Other key industries include retail, construction, and real estate, all pumping billions into the economy to keep up with the residential boom.

Part of Myrtle Beach’s draw is the unique integration of career and coastal life. You can perform surgery at a Level 1 Trauma Center in the morning and be on your boat on the Intracoastal Waterway by the afternoon. The workday gives way naturally to a fulfilling after-hours life, where “going out” means choosing between a beachfront happy hour, a live theater show, or a quiet walk on the beach.

Myrtle Beach offers a comprehensive and growing range of educational options for learners of all ages.

Public & Private K-12 Schools

The entire area is served by one large, unified district: Horry County Schools (HCS). As one of the largest districts in South Carolina, HCS has invested heavily in new, modern facilities to accommodate growth.

The district is known for its strong magnet programs and specialized academies, such as the Academy for Arts, Science, and Technology (AAST), a pre-engineering and biomedical sciences magnet high school. Many of the schools in residential-heavy areas like Carolina Forest and St. James are consistently ranked among the best in the state.

For families seeking private education, the area is home to several well-regarded options, including Myrtle Beach Christian Academy, St. Andrew Catholic School, and Christian Academy of Myrtle Beach, all known for their strong academics and preparatory focus.

Higher Education

The area is anchored by Coastal Carolina University (CCU), a dynamic, fast-growing public university with over 10,000 students. A Division I school, CCU is nationally recognized for its programs in Marine Science, Business, Hospitality, and its PGA Golf Management program.

For career and technical training, Horry-Georgetown Technical College (HGTC) is a premier, multi-campus institution. It offers over 70 associate degree and certificate programs, with particularly strong offerings in culinary arts, nursing, and advanced manufacturing, and serves as a primary feeder school for CCU.

As a major destination for retirees and young families, Myrtle Beach has cultivated a robust and competitive health care landscape with three major hospital systems.

Grand Strand Health (HCA)

This is the largest system in the immediate area. Its flagship, Grand Strand Medical Center, is a 403-bed, full-service hospital and a Level I Adult and Level II Pediatric Trauma Center — the only one in the region. It is a leader in comprehensive services, including a dedicated Heart & Vascular Institute, a neuroscience center, and advanced surgical robotics. The system also operates South Strand Medical Center and North Strand ER.

Tidelands Health

This community-based, nonprofit system is a major provider, particularly for the southern end of the Grand Strand (Murrells Inlet and Pawleys Island). It is anchored by Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital and Tidelands Georgetown Memorial Hospital. Tidelands is an affiliate of MUSC Health (Medical University of South Carolina) in Charleston, providing residents with seamless access to world-class specialists and sub-specialty care.

Conway Medical Center (CMC)

Located just inland in Conway, CMC is an independent, community-owned, 210-bed system that serves a large portion of Horry County. It is known for its strong primary care network, orthopedic services, and a comprehensive cancer center.

In addition to these major hospitals, the area is saturated with high-ranking private specialty groups, including advanced cardiology, orthopedics (essential for the golf community), and oncology centers, ensuring residents have access to top-tier care right at home.

Myrtle Beach, SC Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)