According to U.S. News and World Report, Myrtle Beach is ranked #1 as the best place to live in South Carolina and followed up with the 18th best place to live in the U.S., the fastest-growing city in the country, and one of the 28 best places to retire.
This is an incredible achievement for Myrtle Beach. No wonder many people are moving to Myrtle Beach and into our communities within Kingston Plantation. Resort living has become very popular with snowbirds and retirees.
Why Myrtle Beach is Rated the Best Place to Live
Why is Myrtle Beach rated as the best place to live? People have been vacationing and moving here for quite some time, and there are several reasons.
- Warm Weather
- Beaches
- Low Cost of Living
- Seafood and Dining
- Entertainment
- Golf
To name a few. There’s no place quite like Myrtle Beach, so let’s discover why it was voted one of the best places to live in South Carolina.
Beaches and the Gorgeous Myrtle Beach Atlantic Ocean
Myrtle Beach is a small coastal town in South Carolina, known for its beautiful sandy beaches and rolling Atlantic ocean waves.
The Myrtle Beach ocean is a sight to behold. Its deep blue waters are filled with sea life, and it’s home to playful dolphins you can spot from the shore.
You will find many treasures when walking the beach: Sand Dollars, shark teeth, jellyfish, and all types of shells.
People gather along the beach every morning to watch the sun rise above the horizon line and cast its golden glow over the water.
The sunset is equally beautiful, and the reflection of the sun setting on the ocean’s surface creates a breathtaking display.
The ocean has been an integral part and main attraction of the local culture since the town was incorporated in 1938 and became a city in 1957.
People gather along the beach every morning to watch the sun rise above the horizon line and cast its golden glow over the water.
The sunset is equally beautiful, and the reflection of the sun setting on the ocean’s surface creates a breathtaking display.
Ocean Activities; Fun in the Sun
The Myrtle Beach ocean is also great for fun activities for the entire family. Activities like;
- Swimming
- Fishing
- Scuba diving
- Paddleboarding
- Kayaking
- Surfboarding
And so much more. Visitors can also take boat tours to explore the area or go deep-sea fishing to catch some local seafood.
For those who want a more relaxed experience, plenty of beach chairs, cabanas, and picnic tables are available for a quiet day by the ocean. Read more about the health benefits of living near the sea.
No matter what type of experience visitors seek, Myrtle Beach has something to offer everyone. And the millions of visitors who enjoy the vast beaches and warm weather often find they never want to leave.
Low Cost Of Living For Residents of Myrtle Beach
The cost of living in Myrtle Beach is 8% lower than the national average. The housing costs are 39% below the national average. This is a rough estimate from all states.
For example, if you are moving from New Jersey, living costs are 23.5% lower, and housing costs are 55.5% lower.
If you are moving from Nashville, Tennessee, the cost of living is 5.6% lower, and the housing costs are 36.1% lower.
Are you moving from the west? If you move here from Denver, Colorado, the cost of living is 16.6% lower, and the housing costs are 50.1% lower.
If you want to know the exact pricing differences and how much you can save by moving to Myrtle Beach, the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber has a cost-of-living calculator you can use.
You can see why many people love to live in Myrtle Beach and why we are rated the number one place to live.
Myrtle Beach Seafood and Dining Experiences
The Myrtle Beach area is literally swimming in seafood, with local waters producing some of the best hauls of fish, shrimp, crab, and oysters you have ever tasted.
The 60-mile stretch of coastline that makes up the Grand Strand includes two of the best fishing ports on the East Coast, named the Seafood Capital of the world.
According to MyrtleBeach.com, “As you’d guess from the sheer number of seafood restaurants in Myrtle Beach, this is THE staple food in the area. Both nearby towns named the Seafood Capital of the World are in Calabash and Murrells Inlet, but many places along the Grand Strand could take the title.”
The area’s delectable selection of;
- Sushi
- Lowcountry boils
- Steam pots
- Grilled fish
And the seafood platters are just a few seafood items that can satisfy whatever your seafaring appetite desires.
There are so many options. With over 173 seafood buffets, finding your favorite place can be challenging.
Before diving into some of them, it’s worth noting many of our chefs and restaurants have been featured on renowned cuisine and lifestyle networks.
One of Myrtle Beach’s Famous spots is the Hook and Barrel Restaurant. It is owned and operated by Heidi Vukov, a highly award-winning chef.
Top 4 Local Seafood Restaurant Favorites
- Sea Captains House Seafood
- Bimini’s Oyster Bar
- Benjamins Seafood Buffet
- Groupers at Apache Pier (formerly known as Croakers
And if you are in the mood for any other type of food, you will find many casual and upscale choices for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Steaks, burgers, bagels, and ice cream, oh my! And yes, GRITS!
Don’t forget the drinks!
Myrtle Beach has local sports bars, cocktail bars, and wine-tasting events.
If you are a beer lover, you will want to check out the new addition to Kingston Plantation Resorts in Myrtle Beach, the new Black Drum Brewing.
With over 40 beers on tap from North and South Carolina, the entire menu is Carolina born and brewed.
Myrtle Beach Golfing at its Finest
Myrtle Beach is well known for its fantastic golf courses. Myrtle Beach has over 90 excellent award-winning golf courses in Myrtle Beach scattered across the Grand Strand. Two in Myrtle Beach are listed on the Golf Digest Top 100 U.S. Public Access Courses for 2022.
- The Dunes Golf & Beach Club at No. 59
- Caledonia Golf & Fish Club at No. 61.
Golf Digest ranked the following golf courses in the entire state of South Carolina.
- Dunes Golf & Beach Club at No. 13
- Dye Course at Barefoot Resort & Golf Club at No. 29
- TPC Myrtle Beach at No. 33.
According to PGA professionals, Myrtle Beach’s top 20 courses are Dunes Golf & Beach Club, Caledonia Golf & Fish Club, Tidewater Golf Club, Grande Dunes Resort Club, Prestwick Country Club, and TPC Myrtle Beach.
Did you know some of the greats designed Myrtle Beach courses?
- Robert Trent Jones designed the Dunes Course.
- Arnold Palmer designed Rivers Edge Golf Club and Myrtle Beach National’s West Course.
- Jack Nicklaus created Pawleys Plantation Golf Club.
- Greg Norman designed the Barefoot Course.
- The Wedgefield Country Club by Porter Gibson and Bob Toski
- Pete and P.B. Dye designed Prestwick Country Club.”
Recently, PGA TOUR announced that the Myrtle Beach Classic will debut on the PGA Tour in 2024. Grand Strand’s Dunes Golf and Beach Club will host the annual FedExCup event.
“A new PGA TOUR tournament, the Myrtle Beach Classic, sponsored by Visit Myrtle Beach, will debut in 2024 along South Carolina’s Grand Strand. A four-year agreement establishing the event was announced today during a ceremony at The Dunes Golf and Beach Club, with South Carolina Parks, Recreation and Tourism Director Duane Parrish in attendance along with representatives from the PGA TOUR, Visit Myrtle Beach, Golf Tourism Solutions, the City of Myrtle Beach and Horry County, South Carolina.” read more.
Myrtle Beach Attractions, Entertainment, and Nightlife
With thousands of attractions, entertainment, and nightlife here in Myrtle Beach, there is genuinely something FUN for everyone. Myrtle Beach has both family and adult-friendly activities. You can go out with the kids to the water park, go-carting, children’s museum, and the aquarium during the day and then enjoy a night out on the town.
Water Parks
Are you looking for some water fun? Myrtle Beach offers several water park adventures. From lazy rivers to water slides and just about everything in between, you will find a refreshing day of fun at all of them.
Shopping
If you love to shop, Myrtle Beach has several outlet malls, boutiques, and souvenir shops. You will drive by thousands, so bring lots of money and a great pair of walking shoes. Broadway at the Beach is popular among locals and tourists because it has almost everything you want all in one place. Tanger Outlets, Barefoot Landing, and Coastal Grand Mall are frequently visited.
Live Music & Shows
Myrtle Beach has many theaters, live music, and “Legendary” dinner shows. If you love to see a whirlwind of gymnastic flying pirates, Pirates Voyage Dinner and Show are amazing!
Photo Credit: Pirates Voyage
Legends in Concert is also a trendy music venue. Legends in Concert is known as the pioneer of live tribute shows. From the Blues Brothers to Britney Spears and every one of your favorite artists in between, you may find yourself at more than one of these fantastic shows. Here is a list of all tribute performers.
Myrtle Beach is also an autism-friendly destination certified by the Champion Autism Network (CAN) since January 2016.
Many parents and adults seek out places to visit and live where there are autism-friendly places to have fun. Myrtle Beach has resources and offerings;
- Sensory-friendly experiences
- Autism-aware trained staff
- Preferred entrances at attractions
- Travel discounts.
One of the most popular and sensory-friendly experiences can be found at Ripley’s Aquarium in Myrtle Beach.
Read the Visit Myrtle Beach guide for a complete list of attractions and entertainment.
In conclusion, many reasons exist to love Myrtle Beach and make it your forever home. Whether you are looking for a second home, a place to retire, or want more fun in the sun near the ocean with a lower cost of living, Myrtle Beach is for you.
Ready To Move To Myrtle Beach?
If you have dreamed of living near the ocean and want a low cost of living, we have real estate experts that have lived here for over 35 years.
Look at what the Kingston Plantation Lifestyle in Myrtle Beach can offer you. If you want to move to the number one place in South Carolina, Myrtle Beach, you can view our available listings or contact us at (800)382-3332
