Myrtle Beach, SC vs Burlington, NC: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, living costs in Burlington, NC and Myrtle Beach, SC are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Myrtle Beach works out to about $74,600 in Burlington, before taxes.
- Housing is 6.3% lower in Burlington, goods 0.3% higher and other services 0.1% lower, which roughly cancel out.
- Typical asking rent is $1,339 a month in Burlington and $1,722 in Myrtle Beach, $4,596 a year less in Burlington (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $291,000 in Burlington and $340,000 in Myrtle Beach.
- The gap has narrowed since 2019, when Burlington was 2.9% less expensive than Myrtle Beach.
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 Myrtle Beach and Burlington
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Myrtle Beach, SC
- Burlington, NC
All items Myrtle Beach, SC: 93.6 Burlington, NC: 93.2
Goods Myrtle Beach, SC: 96.3 Burlington, NC: 96.6
Housing (rents) Myrtle Beach, SC: 83.1 Burlington, NC: 77.9
Utilities Myrtle Beach, SC: 88.0 Burlington, NC: 89.2
Other services Myrtle Beach, SC: 98.3 Burlington, NC: 98.2
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Myrtle Beach, SC | Burlington, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 93.6 | 93.2 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 96.6 |
| Housing (rents) | 83.1 | 77.9 |
| Utilities | 88.0 | 89.2 |
| Other services | 98.3 | 98.2 |
| Category | Myrtle Beach | Burlington | Burlington vs Myrtle Beach |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 93.6 | 93.2 | −0.5% |
| Goods | 96.3 | 96.6 | +0.3% |
| Housing (rents) | 83.1 | 77.9 | −6.3% |
| Utilities | 88.0 | 89.2 | +1.4% |
| Other services | 98.3 | 98.2 | −0.1% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,722 | $1,339 | −22.2% |
| Typical home value | $340,000 | $291,000 | −14.4% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Myrtle Beach | $75,000 | $74,600 | −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 Myrtle Beach and Burlington has narrowed since 2008: 2.4 points then, 0.4 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Myrtle Beach, SC
- Burlington, NC
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Myrtle Beach, SC | Burlington, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 95.0 | 92.5 |
| 2009 | 94.9 | 91.9 |
| 2010 | 94.0 | 92.5 |
| 2011 | 95.4 | 93.5 |
| 2012 | 96.7 | 93.3 |
| 2013 | 93.5 | 93.8 |
| 2014 | 95.5 | 92.7 |
| 2015 | 95.0 | 93.2 |
| 2016 | 96.2 | 92.2 |
| 2017 | 94.9 | 92.2 |
| 2018 | 91.7 | 91.4 |
| 2019 | 93.1 | 90.4 |
| 2020 | 92.0 | 89.7 |
| 2021 | 94.2 | 89.4 |
| 2022 | 94.0 | 92.0 |
| 2023 | 93.8 | 93.0 |
| 2024 | 93.6 | 93.2 |
Goods
- Myrtle Beach, SC
- Burlington, NC
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Myrtle Beach, SC | Burlington, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.4 | 97.4 |
| 2009 | 95.2 | 95.4 |
| 2010 | 96.9 | 97.0 |
| 2011 | 96.8 | 97.0 |
| 2012 | 96.8 | 97.2 |
| 2013 | 97.0 | 97.1 |
| 2014 | 97.7 | 97.4 |
| 2015 | 96.4 | 96.5 |
| 2016 | 97.1 | 97.2 |
| 2017 | 97.0 | 97.1 |
| 2018 | 95.3 | 95.7 |
| 2019 | 95.7 | 95.7 |
| 2020 | 95.4 | 95.4 |
| 2021 | 96.1 | 96.2 |
| 2022 | 94.5 | 95.6 |
| 2023 | 95.9 | 96.8 |
| 2024 | 96.3 | 96.6 |
Housing (rents)
- Myrtle Beach, SC
- Burlington, NC
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Myrtle Beach, SC | Burlington, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 86.2 | 70.3 |
| 2009 | 90.1 | 72.3 |
| 2010 | 81.6 | 69.3 |
| 2011 | 85.4 | 70.8 |
| 2012 | 89.1 | 68.6 |
| 2013 | 77.8 | 76.9 |
| 2014 | 84.3 | 70.0 |
| 2015 | 82.6 | 70.8 |
| 2016 | 84.8 | 63.6 |
| 2017 | 83.2 | 67.4 |
| 2018 | 76.1 | 68.4 |
| 2019 | 85.1 | 69.8 |
| 2020 | 82.8 | 70.4 |
| 2021 | 82.1 | 62.5 |
| 2022 | 83.9 | 70.7 |
| 2023 | 84.2 | 75.0 |
| 2024 | 83.1 | 77.9 |
Utilities
- Myrtle Beach, SC
- Burlington, NC
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Myrtle Beach, SC | Burlington, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 85.9 | 88.9 |
| 2009 | 87.3 | 89.9 |
| 2010 | 90.1 | 91.0 |
| 2011 | 91.6 | 90.3 |
| 2012 | 94.0 | 92.4 |
| 2013 | 94.1 | 91.7 |
| 2014 | 96.6 | 91.6 |
| 2015 | 96.3 | 91.1 |
| 2016 | 95.1 | 88.6 |
| 2017 | 92.2 | 85.5 |
| 2018 | 91.8 | 88.2 |
| 2019 | 95.1 | 90.8 |
| 2020 | 93.0 | 88.8 |
| 2021 | 90.1 | 86.2 |
| 2022 | 88.8 | 83.9 |
| 2023 | 85.4 | 84.9 |
| 2024 | 88.0 | 89.2 |
Other services
- Myrtle Beach, SC
- Burlington, NC
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Myrtle Beach, SC | Burlington, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.5 | 98.8 |
| 2009 | 98.1 | 98.2 |
| 2010 | 99.7 | 99.7 |
| 2011 | 101.1 | 101.2 |
| 2012 | 101.0 | 100.8 |
| 2013 | 100.5 | 100.3 |
| 2014 | 100.2 | 100.6 |
| 2015 | 100.8 | 101.1 |
| 2016 | 102.2 | 102.3 |
| 2017 | 100.5 | 100.5 |
| 2018 | 97.9 | 98.3 |
| 2019 | 95.7 | 95.8 |
| 2020 | 95.0 | 95.5 |
| 2021 | 99.9 | 99.6 |
| 2022 | 99.4 | 99.7 |
| 2023 | 97.9 | 98.7 |
| 2024 | 98.3 | 98.2 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,339 in Burlington vs $1,722 in Myrtle Beach
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Myrtle Beach, SC
- Burlington, NC
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Myrtle Beach, SC | Burlington, NC | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $952 | – | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $972 | – | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $990 | – | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $990 | $670 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $1,005 | $691 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $1,015 | $693 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,029 | $697 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,021 | $697 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,048 | $719 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,073 | $728 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,078 | $731 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,073 | $747 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,099 | $758 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,125 | $788 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,126 | $797 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,123 | $778 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,150 | $818 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,163 | $838 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,171 | $863 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,178 | $831 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,207 | $859 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,209 | $893 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,223 | $895 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,232 | $919 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,289 | $958 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,358 | $989 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,457 | $1,025 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,494 | $1,047 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,546 | $1,118 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,631 | $1,141 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,656 | $1,175 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,624 | $1,183 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,628 | $1,191 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,664 | $1,203 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,676 | $1,228 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,647 | $1,211 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,666 | $1,259 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,686 | $1,270 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,725 | $1,293 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,677 | $1,292 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,690 | $1,308 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,687 | $1,307 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,684 | $1,302 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,670 | $1,325 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,698 | $1,330 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,705 | $1,324 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,722 | $1,339 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $291,000 in Burlington vs $340,000 in Myrtle Beach
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Myrtle Beach, SC
- Burlington, NC
- 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
| Myrtle Beach, SC | Burlington, NC | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $179K | – | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $181K | – | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $183K | – | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $185K | – | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $187K | $145K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $188K | $145K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $189K | $146K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $191K | $149K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $193K | $151K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $195K | $153K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $197K | $155K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $200K | $157K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $203K | $160K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $205K | $162K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $208K | $165K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $211K | $167K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $214K | $170K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $217K | $172K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $219K | $172K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $222K | $174K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $224K | $177K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $226K | $181K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $231K | $186K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $241K | $194K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $249K | $201K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $263K | $211K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $279K | $221K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $294K | $226K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $313K | $242K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $335K | $260K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $344K | $266K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $344K | $267K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $340K | $269K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $344K | $273K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $347K | $278K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $348K | $282K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $349K | $284K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $350K | $289K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $348K | $288K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $346K | $289K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $344K | $290K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $340K | $288K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $338K | $288K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $338K | $290K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $339K | $294K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $339K | $293K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $340K | $291K | $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.