Considering moving to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (SC)? Or maybe you’ve received a job offer in Myrtle Beach? If your answer to one or both questions is yes, then this article is for you.
Myrtle Beach is a vacation spot on South Carolina’s Atlantic coast. Besides the beautiful landscape, one of the best things about living in Myrtle Beach is its affordability. The cost of living in Myrtle Beach is lower than the national average, so you can even plan to retire here.
Certainly, there will be pros and cons of living in Myrtle Beach, SC. Therefore, we will bring you 8 brilliant tips for a seamless moving process.
1. Know The Honest Pros And Cons Of Living In Myrtle Beach, SC
Living Myrtle Beach has its perks and downsides. Knowing these will make your relocation process a smooth one and you’ll be able to settle in well.
Here are some of the pros and cons that you need to know before heading to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
The Pros Of Living In Myrtle Beach
Living In Vacation Mode
Myrtle Beach is also called Grand Strand because of its sixty-mile stretch of beaches along the Atlantic Ocean. The stretch of beaches makes Myrtle City a tourist town.
Living in this city can activate your vacation mode in no time. It means after hours of hard work, you can hit the beach to enjoy the view or nightlife.
Restaurants For Every One
Most Myrtle Beach residents prefer to have their meals at restaurants. We can say that it is one of the perks of living in a tourist town. You can find all types of restaurants in Myrtle Beach.
Some restaurants provide outdoor dining areas. You can eat and enjoy the beach or city view all year round.
So, if you prefer dining out to cooking, Myrtle Beach has you covered.
The Weather Is Lovely
Summers in Myrtle Beach can be harsh. The temperatures during summer range between 88°F to 93°F.
From June to August, you can expect rainfall in the afternoon.
However, the winter is short, cold, and windy, with temperatures dipping to almost 60°F. (Psst, here’s a protip: you can expect more shopping deals and offers during this season!)
The Cons Of Living In Myrtle Beach
Vacation Season Traffic
You have to be prepared for the traffic during the peak of the vacation season. Many tourists flock to Myrtle Beach to enjoy the beautiful beaches and other city attractions. So, there will be traffic jams everywhere.
During the non-vacation season, you’d want to avoid southbound lanes of Route 17 at rush hours. This area will be packed with locals trying to go home after work.
The average commute time in Myrtle Beach is 16.5 minutes for a one-way trip, so people in this city generally spend more than 30 minutes commuting. If you use public transportation, like the bus, the commuting time can take about 5 minutes longer.
Driving or getting from one place to another in Myrtle Beach should be well calculated. It is best to commute early from your home to avoid being late.
Fast-Growing Population
The fast-growing population can be a good thing for businesses. It means you’ll have more people to prospect to be your customers. On the other hand, the rapid growth of the population can lead to overcrowding, crime, and pollution.
As the fastest-growing area in South Carolina, the population in Myrtle Beach increased by almost 82,000 over the last decade. The good news is that even though this growth can potentially increase the housing prices, somehow Myrtle Beach has managed to keep its median home price under the national average.
2. Be Real! Find The Best Areas In Myrtle Beach
Myrtle Beach is not the safest city in the States. Your house is more likely to get robbed without a security system based on Crime Grade, so if you’re moving here, make sure to get a security system for your home.
However, not all areas have high crime rates. Some areas are relatively safe. The following neighbourhoods are not only safe but also affordable. You can use them as your references when searching for areas to live in Myrtle Beach.
North Myrtle Beach
There are 16,200 living in the North Myrtle Beach area. This neighbourhood gives you the feeling of living in an urban area.
North Myrtle Beach is relatively safer than the overall state of South Carolina. In addition, the housing prices are affordable. You can expect a median house price of $266,200 and a median monthly rent of $1,110 in North Myrtle Beach.
Many retirees live in this area. Therefore North Myrtle Beach is a quiet and less commercial area.
Surfside Beach
A dense suburb with many bars, restaurants, and coffee shops, Surfside Beach is located in the safe part of Myrtle Beach.
This neighbourhood offers relatively affordable housing prices. The median home price is $266,600, and the median monthly rent is $1,040.
The safety and affordability offered by this neighbourhood make it popular among retirees, young professionals and families alike.
Socastee
If you are looking for a safe neighbourhood with affordable home prices, make sure to check Socastee.
This area is a dense suburb with decent amenities including bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. Its median home price is $165,400, and the median monthly rent is $975.
Socastee is suitable for families since there are also schools around the area. The amenities available also make this neighbourhood attractive to young professionals.
3. The Cost Of Living In Myrtle Beach Is Affordable
Living in Myrtle Beach can be the most money-efficient decision you’ll make. The overall cost of living in Myrtle Beach is 7% lower than the national average. The median housing price is a whopping 30% lower than the national average.
The affordability makes Myrtle Beach perfect for students, single young professionals, families, and retirees. This city was mentioned as one of the best places to retire in the States. In addition to the affordability, it offers tax benefits for people above 60 years old.
Therefore, it will be wise to take advantage of this affordable cost of living. You can plan your retirement early, so your life will be stress-free when you are older.
4. Dive Into The Job Market Before Moving To Myrtle Beach
Financial security is essential when you move to a new city. Thus, it is always best to secure a job before moving to Myrtle Beach.
Statistics show that you’ll have more opportunities to secure a job in Myrtle Beach than in other cities. The job growth in Myrtle Beach increased by 1.6% since last year (2020). Additionally, the expected future job growth in ten years is 38.8%, higher than the national expectation of 33.5%.
The biggest industries in this city are hospitality, entertainment, government, healthcare, and aerospace. Hospitality is the most dominant sector because Myrtle Beach is a hot tourist destination.
If you plan to advance your career in these sectors, you are welcome to dive into Myrtle Beach’s job market. As your benchmark, the average annual salary in Myrtle Beach ranges between $43,218 to $62,854.
5. Education For Your Children
If you have children that need to transfer to a school in Myrtle Beach, there’s no cause for worry because there are some highly rated schools around the city.
For K-12, the Horry County School District consists of 51 schools. Within the school district, there are two academies that are concentrated in technology, science and arts, as well as an Early College High School.
This public school received a grade A in student performance. It means once graduated, your children will be ready to compete with students from the other parts of the country for a seat in a university or college.
Myrtle Beach has Coastal Carolina University located in the Conway area for higher education. This public university offers more than 100 majors for undergraduate programs. There are also 28 master’s degree programs and two doctoral programs.
6. Places To Visit Around The City
Living in Myrtle Beach Means you have plenty of places to explore. Take the time to make a bucket list for places you want to visit in Myrtle Beach. For an even better experience, try inviting your new local friend to show you around.
Below are some of the places you must visit at least once when living in Myrtle Beach:
- Family Kingdom Amusement Park
- Brookgreen Gardens
- Broadway at the Beach
- Ripley’s Aquarium
- WonderWorks
7. The Best Beaches In Myrtle Beach
Of course, we will give you recommendations for the beaches in Myrtle Beach. Living in a beach town would be such a waste if you do not spend time at the beaches.
Here are some of the beaches that are highly recommended, especially for a newcomer:
- Cherry Grove Beach;
- North Myrtle Beach;
- Central Myrtle Beach;
- Surfside Beach; and
- Pawleys Island.
Along the city beaches, there are restaurants, bars, and nightlife entertainment for the tourists. You’ll be able to enjoy the view of the ocean from the restaurants along the beach area.
8. The Brilliant Tips To Know When Preparing Your Relocation To Myrtle Beach
When preparing for your relocation, do not forget to follow these tips to make your relocation less complicated.
Write Your Moving Checklist
Always have a checklist of things you need to do, documents, things to pack, and important contacts.
It will be stressful if you try to memorise all these things without a checklist. This way will also allow you to track what has been done, the obstacles, and what should be prioritised.
Make A Budget
To be honest, without a budget, relocating, especially to another city, is not a wise decision.
Calculate how much you need for the preparation, the moving trip, and living expenses until you receive your first salary or income. This budget will help you determine how much you need to save for moving costs.
Start A Quote At Sanelo
Sanelo is a professional mover with experience and expertise in assisting local and international relocation. Engage Sanelo to schedule the shipping of your belongings. Our team will explain the details of the service, and feel free to consult your needs during the moving process.
Conclusion About Moving To Myrtle Beach
Moving to Myrtle Beach is an excellent decision if you want to live in vacation mode every day. This city has beautiful beaches, nice weather, and all types of restaurants. Besides the city attractions, positive job growth, affordability and top-rated schools also make Myrtle Beach an ideal city for many young professionals, families, and even retirees.
To make your moving process seamless, you must have a checklist to help you memorise what you need to do before the moving trip. It is also important to have a moving budget to prepare you to come to Myrtle Beach.
If you do not want a stressful relocation process, engage Sanelo to ship your belongings. Do not try to carry all your belongings by yourself during the trip. Sanelo can even give total protection for any damage during the shipping journey or while your belongings are in storage.
Frequently Asked Questions About Moving To Myrtle Beach
What Is The Median Household Income In Myrtle Beach?
The median household income in Myrtle Beach is $43,200. You’ll have opportunities to increase your income once you manage to develop your career.
Do I Have To Switch My Driver’s License In Myrtle Beach?
You have to switch your driver’s license if you are from another state or overseas. You need a South Carolina driver’s license to be able to drive in Myrtle Beach.
Can Sanelo Help The Shipment Of My Belongings If I Am From Overseas?
Yes, Sanelo can assist an international move. We will make sure to help you through the paperwork and the custom clearance.
How Do I Contact Sanelo?
Visit Sanelo official website and contact us to consult your needs regarding your relocation to Myrtle Beach. Our team can adjust and arrange the process to fit your needs.
If you need more information about moving to tourist towns around the States, you can visit the following articles.