Cost Of Living in Surfside Beach, SC

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C+

12%

Overall NAT. AVG.

0%

Groceries NAT. AVG.

42%

Housing NAT. AVG.

Date & Last Updated: These cost of living estimates reflect 2026 modeled data using U.S. Census housing inputs and AI-assisted city-level pricing models.

The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living score is 90, then the estimated cost of living is 10% lower than the national average. If the score is 110, then the estimated cost of living is 10% higher than average. The overall index is calculated using weighted estimates across major everyday expense categories, including housing (30%), groceries (16%), transportation (12%), healthcare (10%), utilities (8%), lifestyle and entertainment (8%), household expenses (8%), and education and childcare (8%). All values are AI-assisted city-level estimates designed for directional comparisons.
Index	Surfside Beach	South Carolina	National
Cost of living	112	94	100
Groceries	100	99	100
Health care	97	98	100
Housing	142	81	100
Transportation	97	99	100
Utilities	100	101	100
Lifestyle & Entertainment	98	98	100
Household Items	99	99	100
Education & Childcare	99	98	100

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Homes For Sale In Surfside Beach, SC

1011 S Ocean Blvd #103

, SC

1210 N Ocean Blvd #103

Surfside Beach, SC

1027 Hickory Dr

Surfside Beach, SC

1210 S Ocean Blvd Unit A

Surfside Bch, SC

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

The cost of living in Surfside Beach is 19% higher than the South Carolina average
The cost of living in Surfside Beach is 12% higher than the national average
Surfside Beach housing is 42% higher than the national average
South Carolina general sales tax is 18% higher than the national average
South Carolina state income tax is 100% lower than the national average

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Price difference in compared to

Cost of living index
Groceries index
Health care index
Housing index
Transportation index
Utilities index
Lifestyle index
Household index
Educare index

Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

Median Income	Per Year	Per Month	Max Budget (28% DTI)	Max Budget (36% DTI)
Owners	$93,391	$7,783	$2,179	$2,802
Renters	$60,781	$5,065	$1,418	$1,824

A good indicator of the general affordability of housing in Surfside Beach, SC, is the percentage of monthly income that should be spent on housing expenses, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). Generally speaking, no more than 28 percent of your total gross income should be spent on your housing expenses and not more than 36 percent of your gross income on total expenses, including debts. In Surfside Beach, the median monthly income is $93,391 for those who own their own homes. Under the standard rule, that income level would allow for $2,179 to be budgeted for housing expenses each month, at the most. Renters, on the other hand, earn about $60,781, per the median income in the area. That would allow for renters to spend up to $1,418 on monthly rental expenses.

South Carolina Sales Tax

State	General Sales Tax	With Max Surtax
South Carolina	6%	9%

South Carolina Income Tax

State	Income Tax (Low)	Income Tax (High)
South Carolina	0%	6.5%

Nearby cities with low cost of living

City	Population	Cost of Living Index	National Avg.
Bucksport, SC	621	84	16.1%
Garden City, SC	11,443	97	3.0%
Socastee, SC	26,401	98	1.7%
Red Hill, SC	16,638	98	1.7%
Atlantic Beach, SC	243	100	0.2%
Surfside Beach, SC	4,617	112	11.6%

Cities with similar population

City	Population	Cost of Living Index	National Avg.
Shelley, ID	4,617	97	3.1%
Millis-Clicquot, MA	4,617	141	41.0%
Millsboro, DE	4,616	112	11.7%
Barrhead, AB	4,616	n/a
Ogallala, NE	4,618	87	12.8%
Surfside Beach, SC	4,617	112	11.6%