Rents are 13% below what Myrtle Beach's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,697 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
April. Asking rents in Myrtle Beach usually run 0.8% below trend in April and 1.1% above it in August, about $32 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Myrtle Beach is 0.5% below its high of $1,705 in October 2024, at $1,697 as of September 2026.
Rent in Myrtle Beach changed +0.9% over the year to September 2026. Across the 54 South Carolina cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.1%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Myrtle Beach rose 43.5% while median household income rose 39.8% ($43,200 to $60,394). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Myrtle Beach is 39.9% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent rose in 6 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($60,394) is $1,510 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,453); a 3-bedroom is $1,833.
The priciest of 4 ZIP codes in Myrtle Beach, 29579 ($1,769/mo), costs 16% more than the cheapest, 29572 ($1,528/mo).
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Myrtle Beach. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Myrtle Beach, SC is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income below the national average, 33.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Myrtle Beach, SC has changed in 5 years
Compared with 2021, rent in Myrtle Beach, SC has climbed by $393 per month, settling near $1,697 after starting the period at $1,304. Household income in the area moved from $45,701 to $60,394 across the same window, up 32.2% versus 2021. Headcount in the area went from 35,116 to 38,371 between 2021 and 2024, a 9.3% change. About 39.5% of households rent today, against 42.1% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 30.5% to 33.5%. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Myrtle Beach, SC look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
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Can you afford rent in Myrtle Beach on your salary?
At $1,697/mo, how Myrtle Beach rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Myrtle Beach rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Myrtle Beach. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Myrtle Beach
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Myrtle Beach is $1,697/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,173/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,453/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,238/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,833/mo.
At 34% of local median household income ($60,394/yr), Myrtle Beach ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 0.9% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Myrtle Beach?
At $1,697/mo, rent takes ~34% of Myrtle Beach's median household income ($60,394/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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