Median rent is 40% lower in Myrtle Beach ($1,132/mo vs $1,879/mo). Buying is cheaper in Myrtle Beach, where the median home runs $347,700 versus $879,500. Households earn more in Los Angeles ($80,366 vs $53,679 a year).
City A
Los Angeles, CA
City B
Myrtle Beach, SC
How much would you need to earn in Myrtle Beach, SC to maintain your standard of living from Los Angeles, CA?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each city's metro area. A rough estimate of overall purchasing power, not tax or take-home pay.
Metric
Los Angeles
California
Myrtle Beach
South Carolina
👥Population
💰Median Household Income
Annual
🏠Median Gross Rent
Per month
🏡Median Home Value
📊Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
🔑1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🌬️Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
🏛️Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
🧾State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
🎂Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Renters will find significantly cheaper housing in Myrtle Beach — median rent of $1,132/mo versus $1,879/mo in Los Angeles, a 40% difference. Home buyers face a steeper market in Los Angeles: the median home is $879,500 versus $347,700 in Myrtle Beach — 60% more expensive.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
California's top income tax rate is 13.30% versus 6.40% in South Carolina, so Myrtle Beach is more tax-friendly for high earners. Sales tax is 7.25% in California and 6.00% in South Carolina; Myrtle Beach has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Los Angeles
Income tax: 13.30%
Sales tax: 7.25%
Myrtle Beach
Income tax: 6.40%
Sales tax: 6.00%
Air quality data is available for Los Angeles (avg AQI 77.0) but not yet for Myrtle Beach.
Pick Los Angeles if you prioritize higher median household income ($80,366/yr).
Pick Myrtle Beach if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,132/mo median).
Pick Myrtle Beach if you prioritize lower state income tax (6.40%).
Is Los Angeles cheaper than Myrtle Beach?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Los Angeles vs Myrtle Beach?
Median rent is $1,879/mo in Los Angeles, CA and $1,132/mo in Myrtle Beach, SC. Myrtle Beach, SC has the lower rent by about 40%.
Which has higher salaries — Los Angeles or Myrtle Beach?
Median household income is $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA and $53,679 in Myrtle Beach, SC. Los Angeles, CA has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Air quality data is not yet available for one or both cities.
Which has lower taxes — Los Angeles or Myrtle Beach?
California's top income tax rate is 13.30% and South Carolina's is 6.40%. Myrtle Beach, SC has the lower rate.
What salary do I need in Myrtle Beach to match my Los Angeles income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2024 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology