Myrtle Beach, SC vs Oak Ridge, TN: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Oak Ridge, TN has a modeled overall cost index 6.6% lower than Myrtle Beach, SC.

Myrtle Beach, SC · modeled 2BR rent: $1,430 / month
Oak Ridge, TN · modeled 2BR rent: $1,360 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Myrtle Beach, SC and Oak Ridge, TN using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Myrtle Beach, SC

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $330/month in Oak Ridge, TN

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $146,044 in Oak Ridge, TN

Regional cost estimates: Myrtle Beach, SC uses Fayetteville, NC. Oak Ridge, TN uses Nashville, TN. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 6.6%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$330

Savings

Annual Impact

$4.0K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Myrtle Beach, SC

Population:40K

Cost Index:

91.1

100 = national average

Typical Home:$294K

Oak Ridge, TN

Population:33K

Cost Index:

85.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$315K

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Myrtle Beach, SC

The Palmetto State

40K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in South Carolina, this city has a population of 40K residents.

Oak Ridge, TN

The Volunteer State

33K

Population

State Tax

No Income Tax

Located in Tennessee, this city has a population of 33K residents.

💡 Advantage: Tennessee has no state income tax!

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Myrtle Beach, SC vs Oak Ridge, TN

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Myrtle Beach, SC	Oak Ridge, TN	Difference	Change
Transportation	$1,309/mo	$1,166/mo	↓ $143less	10.9%
Groceries	$1,050/mo	$949/mo	↓ $101less	9.6%
Healthcare	$658/mo	$607/mo	↓ $50.92less	7.7%
All Utilities	$568/mo	$519/mo	↓ $49.33less	8.7%
Other	$1,750/mo	$1,763/mo	↑ $13.32more	0.8%
Housing	$2,165/mo	$2,166/mo	↑ $1.43more	0.1%

Transportation

↓ 10.9%

Myrtle Beach, SC

$1,309

Oak Ridge, TN

$1,166

Difference

$143

less

Groceries

↓ 9.6%

Myrtle Beach, SC

$1,050

Oak Ridge, TN

$949

Difference

$101

less

Healthcare

↓ 7.7%

Myrtle Beach, SC

$658

Oak Ridge, TN

$607

Difference

$50.92

less

All Utilities

↓ 8.7%

Myrtle Beach, SC

$568

Oak Ridge, TN

$519

Difference

$49.33

less

Other

↑ 0.8%

Myrtle Beach, SC

$1,750

Oak Ridge, TN

$1,763

Difference

$13.32

Housing

↑ 0.1%

Myrtle Beach, SC

$2,165

Oak Ridge, TN

$2,166

Difference

$1.43

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,120

To$1,100

↓ $20.00

1 Bed

From$1,200

To$1,100

↓ $100

2 Bed

From$1,430

To$1,360

↓ $70.00

3 Bed

From$1,760

To$1,740

↓ $20.00

Myrtle Beach, SCZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,190–$1,210/mo

Oak Ridge, TNZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,100–$1,100/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Myrtle Beach, SC

$7,170

Monthly in Oak Ridge, TN

$330

Difference

Home Values

Myrtle Beach

Oak Ridge

$294K

Median Value

$315K

↓ -5.3%

YoY Change

↑ +2.2%

↑ +37.4%

5-Year Change

↑ +64.6%

$274K - $313K

Price Range

$315K

Homes in Oak Ridge are 7% more expensive than Myrtle Beach

Calculate payment - Myrtle Beach Calculate payment - Oak Ridge

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↑ $10.0K

Per year

Monthly Difference

$830

More take-home

Effective Rate Diff

6.6%

Rate difference

Myrtle Beach, SC

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

South Carolina State Tax

Effective: 6.6%

$10.0K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 31.3%

$47.0K

Take-Home Pay

$8,586/month

$103.0K

Oak Ridge, TN

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Tennessee State Tax

No state income tax

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 24.7%

$37.0K

Take-Home Pay

$9,416/month

$113.0K

Additional Tax Information

Myrtle Beach, SC Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%

Property Tax:0.6%

Oak Ridge, TN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:9.5%

Property Tax:0.7%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Myrtle Beach

Oak Ridge

46 Good

Air Quality

50 Good

63.7%

Good Air Days

51.6%

89 Moderate

Climate Risk

97 High

🌀🌪

Top Hazards

🌊🫨🌪

▲+2.5°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.8°F

36 days

Heat Days >95°F

42 days

▲+2.5°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.8°F

36 days

Heat Days >95°F

42 days

Before moving from Myrtle Beach, SC to Oak Ridge, TN

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Oak Ridge, TN for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Myrtle Beach, SC. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Myrtle Beach to Oak Ridge moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Oak Ridge, TN by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Myrtle Beach, SC vs Oak Ridge, TN

How do the cost estimates for Myrtle Beach, SC and Oak Ridge, TN compare?

Oak Ridge, TN has a modeled overall cost index 6.6% lower than Myrtle Beach, SC. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Myrtle Beach, SC, the model estimates $146,044 in Oak Ridge, TN. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Myrtle Beach, SC and Oak Ridge, TN?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,430/month in Myrtle Beach, SC and $1,360/month in Oak Ridge, TN. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between South Carolina and Tennessee on TaxTakeHome.com