Myrtle Beach Rent Prices in 2026

Myrtle Beach sells a specific dream. Sixty miles of coastline, mild winters, a low cost of living, and no need for a fortune to live near the water. For retirees, snowbirds, and remote workers, that dream has made the Grand Strand one of the fastest-growing stretches of the Carolinas. The rental math mostly holds up, but there is a seasonal wrinkle worth understanding before you sign. Here is what 2026 looks like across price, apartment size, the five-year trend, the neighboring beach towns, and value.

What rent costs in Myrtle Beach

The median rent in Myrtle Beach is about $1,691, up just 0.4 percent over the past year, essentially flat. That is below the national median of about $1,930, and for a beach town it is a genuine value. By apartment size, studios run about $1,173, one-bedrooms around $1,238, two-bedrooms near $1,453, three-bedrooms about $1,833, and four-bedroom and larger units close to $2,133. Those are some of the most reasonable coastal rents in the country, which is exactly why the area keeps drawing people who want the ocean without California or Florida Gulf Coast prices.

The five-year picture

Myrtle Beach rent is up about 29 percent over the past five years, most of it during the pandemic-era rush to the Sun Belt and to anywhere with a beach. Since then the market has leveled off, which the flat year-over-year number confirms. A 29 percent five-year rise is meaningful, but it came off a very low base, so even after the run-up the absolute rent remains modest by coastal standards.

The Grand Strand: nearby beach towns

The wider Grand Strand gives you several options at different price points. North Myrtle Beach is the priciest neighbor at about $1,830, quieter and more residential than the main strip. Inland, Conway runs about $1,688, a historic river town with a college and a lower-key feel. For the most affordable coastal options, Surfside Beach sits near $1,630 and Little River near $1,578, both small towns at the edges of the strand. If you want a bigger-city alternative on the South Carolina coast, Charleston runs far higher at about $2,193.

The seasonal catch

Here is the part the brochures skip. Myrtle Beach is a tourism economy, and that shapes the rental market in two ways. First, a chunk of the housing stock is built for vacationers, so you will see short-term and seasonal listings mixed in with year-round rentals, and the seasonal ones can carry very different pricing. Confirm any listing is a true year-round lease before you fall for the rate. Second, local wages reflect a service and hospitality economy, with a median household income near $60,000, lower than the national figure. So while the rent is cheap in absolute terms, it still takes a meaningful share of a typical local paycheck, roughly a third at the median. If you are arriving with outside income, a remote job, or a pension, Myrtle Beach is a steal. If you are planning to earn your living locally, budget carefully, because the wage side of the equation is softer than the rent side suggests.

Is it a good value?

By our Rent Reality Score, yes. Myrtle Beach scores a 74, meaning rents are sitting below the city own long-term trend rather than running hot. Combined with flat year-over-year growth and rents well under the national median, it is one of the better-value coastal rental markets in the country in 2026, especially for anyone bringing income with them. Just go in knowing the difference between a year-round lease and a dressed-up seasonal rental, and weigh the rent against your actual income rather than the low sticker alone. See the full Myrtle Beach rent data, or compare it to another coastal town in the RentDataNow compare tool.

Sources

Rent figures: RentDataNow, June 2026, with medians and five-year history anchored to the Zillow Observed Rent Index. Median household income: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.