Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Myrtle Beach, SC?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 36.4% of gross income.

Myrtle Beach rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (South Carolina state estimate).

Myrtle Beach median rent
$1,676/mo
Firefighter salary (South Carolina)
$55,273/yr
Rent as % of income
36.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,606, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,382/mo in rent. Myrtle Beach's median rent of $1,676 exceeds that threshold by $294/mo, putting a firefighter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A firefighter works roughly 63.1 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a firefighter salary

Firefighter base pay plus typical overtime sits modestly above the US median household income, but local rent levels determine whether that translates into affordability or rent burden. At the national-average firefighter base salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,570 a month in rent. The per-city pages compare local rent against local firefighter-pay estimates so renters can see where rent stays in range.

Cheaper rent nearby

These South Carolina cities have lower median rent than Myrtle Beach, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Conway, SC
$1,675/mo (36.4% of income)
Conway, SC
$1,675/mo (36.4% of income)
Hanahan, SC
$1,675/mo (36.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Myrtle Beach

View full rent data for Myrtle Beach, SC

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Myrtle Beach, SC?

Median rent in Myrtle Beach is $1,676 a month. A typical firefighter in South Carolina earns about $55,273 a year, which makes that rent 36.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a firefighter afford in Myrtle Beach?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in South Carolina (~$55,273/yr) supports up to $1,382 a month in rent. Myrtle Beach's current median rent is $1,676/mo, which is $294/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a firefighter work to cover rent in Myrtle Beach?

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a firefighter in South Carolina works roughly 63.1 hours a month to cover Myrtle Beach's median rent of $1,676.

Where is rent cheaper than Myrtle Beach for a firefighter?

Nearby South Carolina cities with lower median rent include Conway ($1,675/mo), Conway ($1,675/mo), Hanahan ($1,675/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived South Carolina state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Myrtle Beach, SC. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.