Burlington, NC vs Myrtle Beach, SC: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, living costs in Myrtle Beach, SC and Burlington, NC are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Burlington works out to about $75,400 in Myrtle Beach, before taxes.
- Housing is 6.7% higher in Myrtle Beach, goods 0.3% lower and other services 0.1% higher, which roughly cancel out.
- Typical asking rent is $1,722 a month in Myrtle Beach and $1,339 in Burlington, $4,596 a year more in Myrtle Beach (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $340,000 in Myrtle Beach and $291,000 in Burlington.
- The gap has narrowed since 2019, when Myrtle Beach was 3.0% more expensive than Burlington.
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Overall prices are about the same in Burlington and Myrtle Beach
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Burlington, NC
- Myrtle Beach, SC
All items Burlington, NC: 93.2 Myrtle Beach, SC: 93.6
Goods Burlington, NC: 96.6 Myrtle Beach, SC: 96.3
Housing (rents) Burlington, NC: 77.9 Myrtle Beach, SC: 83.1
Utilities Burlington, NC: 89.2 Myrtle Beach, SC: 88.0
Other services Burlington, NC: 98.2 Myrtle Beach, SC: 98.3
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Burlington, NC | Myrtle Beach, SC | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 93.2 | 93.6 |
| Goods | 96.6 | 96.3 |
| Housing (rents) | 77.9 | 83.1 |
| Utilities | 89.2 | 88.0 |
| Other services | 98.2 | 98.3 |
| Category | Burlington | Myrtle Beach | Myrtle Beach vs Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 93.2 | 93.6 | +0.5% |
| Goods | 96.6 | 96.3 | −0.3% |
| Housing (rents) | 77.9 | 83.1 | +6.7% |
| Utilities | 89.2 | 88.0 | −1.4% |
| Other services | 98.2 | 98.3 | +0.1% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,339 | $1,722 | +28.6% |
| Typical home value | $291,000 | $340,000 | +16.8% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Burlington | $75,000 | $75,400 | +0.5% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Burlington and Myrtle Beach has narrowed since 2008: 2.4 points then, 0.4 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Burlington, NC
- Myrtle Beach, SC
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Burlington, NC | Myrtle Beach, SC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 92.5 | 95.0 |
| 2009 | 91.9 | 94.9 |
| 2010 | 92.5 | 94.0 |
| 2011 | 93.5 | 95.4 |
| 2012 | 93.3 | 96.7 |
| 2013 | 93.8 | 93.5 |
| 2014 | 92.7 | 95.5 |
| 2015 | 93.2 | 95.0 |
| 2016 | 92.2 | 96.2 |
| 2017 | 92.2 | 94.9 |
| 2018 | 91.4 | 91.7 |
| 2019 | 90.4 | 93.1 |
| 2020 | 89.7 | 92.0 |
| 2021 | 89.4 | 94.2 |
| 2022 | 92.0 | 94.0 |
| 2023 | 93.0 | 93.8 |
| 2024 | 93.2 | 93.6 |
Goods
- Burlington, NC
- Myrtle Beach, SC
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Burlington, NC | Myrtle Beach, SC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.4 | 97.4 |
| 2009 | 95.4 | 95.2 |
| 2010 | 97.0 | 96.9 |
| 2011 | 97.0 | 96.8 |
| 2012 | 97.2 | 96.8 |
| 2013 | 97.1 | 97.0 |
| 2014 | 97.4 | 97.7 |
| 2015 | 96.5 | 96.4 |
| 2016 | 97.2 | 97.1 |
| 2017 | 97.1 | 97.0 |
| 2018 | 95.7 | 95.3 |
| 2019 | 95.7 | 95.7 |
| 2020 | 95.4 | 95.4 |
| 2021 | 96.2 | 96.1 |
| 2022 | 95.6 | 94.5 |
| 2023 | 96.8 | 95.9 |
| 2024 | 96.6 | 96.3 |
Housing (rents)
- Burlington, NC
- Myrtle Beach, SC
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Burlington, NC | Myrtle Beach, SC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 70.3 | 86.2 |
| 2009 | 72.3 | 90.1 |
| 2010 | 69.3 | 81.6 |
| 2011 | 70.8 | 85.4 |
| 2012 | 68.6 | 89.1 |
| 2013 | 76.9 | 77.8 |
| 2014 | 70.0 | 84.3 |
| 2015 | 70.8 | 82.6 |
| 2016 | 63.6 | 84.8 |
| 2017 | 67.4 | 83.2 |
| 2018 | 68.4 | 76.1 |
| 2019 | 69.8 | 85.1 |
| 2020 | 70.4 | 82.8 |
| 2021 | 62.5 | 82.1 |
| 2022 | 70.7 | 83.9 |
| 2023 | 75.0 | 84.2 |
| 2024 | 77.9 | 83.1 |
Utilities
- Burlington, NC
- Myrtle Beach, SC
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Burlington, NC | Myrtle Beach, SC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 88.9 | 85.9 |
| 2009 | 89.9 | 87.3 |
| 2010 | 91.0 | 90.1 |
| 2011 | 90.3 | 91.6 |
| 2012 | 92.4 | 94.0 |
| 2013 | 91.7 | 94.1 |
| 2014 | 91.6 | 96.6 |
| 2015 | 91.1 | 96.3 |
| 2016 | 88.6 | 95.1 |
| 2017 | 85.5 | 92.2 |
| 2018 | 88.2 | 91.8 |
| 2019 | 90.8 | 95.1 |
| 2020 | 88.8 | 93.0 |
| 2021 | 86.2 | 90.1 |
| 2022 | 83.9 | 88.8 |
| 2023 | 84.9 | 85.4 |
| 2024 | 89.2 | 88.0 |
Other services
- Burlington, NC
- Myrtle Beach, SC
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Burlington, NC | Myrtle Beach, SC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.8 | 98.5 |
| 2009 | 98.2 | 98.1 |
| 2010 | 99.7 | 99.7 |
| 2011 | 101.2 | 101.1 |
| 2012 | 100.8 | 101.0 |
| 2013 | 100.3 | 100.5 |
| 2014 | 100.6 | 100.2 |
| 2015 | 101.1 | 100.8 |
| 2016 | 102.3 | 102.2 |
| 2017 | 100.5 | 100.5 |
| 2018 | 98.3 | 97.9 |
| 2019 | 95.8 | 95.7 |
| 2020 | 95.5 | 95.0 |
| 2021 | 99.6 | 99.9 |
| 2022 | 99.7 | 99.4 |
| 2023 | 98.7 | 97.9 |
| 2024 | 98.2 | 98.3 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,722 in Myrtle Beach vs $1,339 in Burlington
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Burlington, NC
- Myrtle Beach, SC
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Burlington, NC | Myrtle Beach, SC | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | – | $952 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | – | $972 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | – | $990 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $670 | $990 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $691 | $1,005 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $693 | $1,015 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $697 | $1,029 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $697 | $1,021 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $719 | $1,048 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $728 | $1,073 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $731 | $1,078 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $747 | $1,073 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $758 | $1,099 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $788 | $1,125 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $797 | $1,126 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $778 | $1,123 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $818 | $1,150 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $838 | $1,163 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $863 | $1,171 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $831 | $1,178 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $859 | $1,207 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $893 | $1,209 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $895 | $1,223 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $919 | $1,232 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $958 | $1,289 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $989 | $1,358 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,025 | $1,457 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,047 | $1,494 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,118 | $1,546 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,141 | $1,631 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,175 | $1,656 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,183 | $1,624 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,191 | $1,628 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,203 | $1,664 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,228 | $1,676 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,211 | $1,647 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,259 | $1,666 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,270 | $1,686 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,293 | $1,725 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,292 | $1,677 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,308 | $1,690 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,307 | $1,687 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,302 | $1,684 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,325 | $1,670 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,330 | $1,698 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,324 | $1,705 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,339 | $1,722 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $340,000 in Myrtle Beach vs $291,000 in Burlington
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Burlington, NC
- Myrtle Beach, SC
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Burlington, NC | Myrtle Beach, SC | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | – | $179K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | – | $181K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | – | $183K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | – | $185K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $145K | $187K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $145K | $188K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $146K | $189K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $149K | $191K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $151K | $193K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $153K | $195K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $155K | $197K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $157K | $200K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $160K | $203K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $162K | $205K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $165K | $208K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $167K | $211K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $170K | $214K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $172K | $217K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $172K | $219K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $174K | $222K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $177K | $224K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $181K | $226K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $186K | $231K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $194K | $241K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $201K | $249K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $211K | $263K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $221K | $279K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $226K | $294K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $242K | $313K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $260K | $335K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $266K | $344K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $267K | $344K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $269K | $340K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $273K | $344K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $278K | $347K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $282K | $348K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $284K | $349K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $289K | $350K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $288K | $348K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $289K | $346K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $290K | $344K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $288K | $340K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $288K | $338K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $290K | $338K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $294K | $339K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $293K | $339K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $291K | $340K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.