55+ Communities in Myrtle Beach / Grand Strand

Myrtle Beach and the wider Grand Strand hit a sweet spot for retirees who want an East Coast beach lifestyle without Florida-level prices. The region runs about 60 miles from Little River down through North Myrtle Beach, Myrtle Beach proper, Surfside, Murrells Inlet, Litchfield, and Pawleys Island to Georgetown — a mix of resort towns, quiet coastal villages, and inland options like Conway and Carolina Forest. South Carolina fully exempts Social Security from state income tax and gives residents 65+ meaningful retirement-income deductions plus a $50,000 senior homestead exemption, which is a big reason retirees keep landing here from the Northeast and Midwest.

The Grand Strand overall runs roughly 7–8% below the national average, with housing doing most of the heavy lifting. Redfin puts Myrtle Beach 7% below the national average overall; housing is about 30% cheaper, transportation about 7% cheaper, and healthcare roughly on par with the national average — while utilities run about 17–19% higher (air conditioning is not optional here). Groceries are within a few percent of the national average. The median home sale price sits around $271,000–$284,000 (well below the national median of about $400,000), median rent for a two-bedroom runs about $1,600–$1,700, and a single retiree can live comfortably on roughly $2,400–$3,000/month before discretionary spending.

Retiree Specific: South Carolina does not tax Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits at any income level. Residents 65+ can claim up to $10,000 in retirement-income deduction against pensions, IRA, and 401(k) withdrawals, plus a separate age-65 deduction of up to $15,000 against any income (the two are coordinated, not simply additive). Military retirement pay is separately exempt. The top state income tax rate is 5.21% in 2026, but retirees rarely pay it on their full income after exclusions. South Carolina has no estate tax and no inheritance tax. Property taxes are among the lowest in the country: Horry County's median effective rate is roughly 0.43%, and owner-occupied primary residences are assessed at 4% of market value (versus 6% for second homes and investment properties) — you have to actively apply for the 4% Legal Residence classification after closing. At 65+, residents who've lived in SC for at least a year get an additional $50,000 Homestead Exemption off assessed value. Combined state and local sales tax is 8% in most of Horry County and 9% inside Myrtle Beach city limits.

Additional Considerations: Homeowners insurance is the single biggest cost surprise. Average premiums run $2,500–$3,100/year for $300,000 of coverage — roughly 50% above the SC state average of about $1,640 — driven by hurricane and wind exposure. Wind deductibles are typically 2–5% of the home's value during storm season. Standard homeowners policies do not cover flood damage; NFIP flood insurance averages about $386/year in Myrtle Beach proper, ~$476 in North Myrtle Beach, and ~$647 in Surfside Beach, with high-risk AE or VE zones running $1,000–$3,000+ annually. Newer 55+ communities carry HOA fees for amenity access (clubhouses, pools, pickleball, lifestyle director). Compared to Florida, Myrtle Beach housing and insurance both come in meaningfully cheaper, which is a big part of why retirees pick SC over the Florida coast; compared to North Carolina, day-to-day costs are similar but SC's Social Security exemption and $50K senior homestead give retirees an edge.