Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in North Myrtle Beach, SC?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 30.8% of gross income.

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

North Myrtle Beach median rent
$1,745/mo
Police Officer salary (South Carolina)
$67,998/yr
Rent as % of income
30.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,667, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,700/mo in rent. North Myrtle Beach's median rent of $1,745 exceeds that threshold by $45/mo, putting a police officer salary into the rent-burdened range here. A police officer works roughly 53.4 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a police officer salary

The gap between a police officer's base pay and the rent in the city they patrol is a widely tracked local affordability question. Many large-city departments now publish recruitment materials that include a local-rent comparison, because affordability has become a recruiting issue. At the national-average officer base pay, the 30% rule supports about $1,932 a month in rent. The per-city pages combine local rent with local officer-pay estimates to show where rent stays within that range.

Cheaper rent nearby

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

Inman, SC
$1,744/mo (30.8% of income)
Moore, SC
$1,743/mo (30.8% of income)
Hardeeville, SC
$1,742/mo (30.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for North Myrtle Beach

View full rent data for North Myrtle Beach, SC

Frequently asked questions

Can a police officer afford rent in North Myrtle Beach, SC?

Median rent in North Myrtle Beach is $1,745 a month. A typical police officer in South Carolina earns about $67,998 a year, which makes that rent 30.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a police officer afford in North Myrtle Beach?

Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in South Carolina (~$67,998/yr) supports up to $1,700 a month in rent. North Myrtle Beach's current median rent is $1,745/mo, which is $45/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in North Myrtle Beach?

At an hourly equivalent of about $33 an hour, a police officer in South Carolina works roughly 53.4 hours a month to cover North Myrtle Beach's median rent of $1,745.

Where is rent cheaper than North Myrtle Beach for a police officer?

Nearby South Carolina cities with lower median rent include Inman ($1,744/mo), Moore ($1,743/mo), Hardeeville ($1,742/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived South Carolina state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for North 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.