Can I retire in Myrtle Beach on $2,500 a month?

Yes, with some care. $2,500 a month sits above CostLiving’s budget tier for Myrtle Beach of $1,965 and below the moderate benchmark of $3,275, so a single retiree can make it work but should plan around housing. The way most people do it is to buy or rent inland rather than on the strand, in communities like Conway, Socastee, or one of the many 55-plus developments away from the oceanfront, where a modest home or one-bedroom leaves enough for groceries, utilities, a car, and the occasional round of golf or meal out. Two costs need respect on this budget: home insurance, which is elevated by hurricane and coastal-flood risk and can be a meaningful monthly line, and healthcare, which retirees should factor around Medicare. South Carolina helps by not taxing Social Security and offering retirement-income deductions, plus low property taxes, so more of that $2,500 stays spendable than in many states. What $2,500 will not cover is an oceanfront address or the full year-round vacation lifestyle. For a retiree happy to live a few minutes from the beach, though, it is enough for a comfortable, low-key life. For the wider US retirement picture, see our USA cost of living insight. Full tier breakdown on our Myrtle Beach cost of living page.