Retiring to Myrtle Beach: A Complete Guide

Retirees are the largest single relocation segment on the Grand Strand. The why is straightforward: South Carolina exempts Social Security, the state restructured its income tax in 2026 to a low two-bracket system, owner-occupied primary residences get the 4% property-tax rate, and there's no estate or inheritance tax. Add mild winters, three competing hospital systems, a major airport, walkable downtowns and oceanfront communities, and the math and the lifestyle both line up.

This page is the long version: the tax case, the healthcare picture, the 55+ communities, the lifestyle, and what to think about if you're moving from a higher-tax state and keeping (or selling) a property up north.

The Tax Case for Retiring Here

The short version — for a retired couple drawing $60,000 of Social Security and $90,000 of pension/IRA income, the SC state tax bill typically lands in the low single thousands. SS is fully exempt. Retirees 65+ get up to a $10,000 retirement-income deduction plus a separate Age 65 deduction of up to $15,000 (combined cap $15,000 per taxpayer, so $30,000 per couple). Owner-occupied primary residences are assessed at 4%, which on a $500,000 home translates to roughly $1,500–$2,000 a year in property tax. No state estate or inheritance tax.

If you're moving from New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Illinois, or California, year-one state-tax savings typically run $8,000–$25,000. Full tax breakdown.

Healthcare on the Grand Strand

Three competing hospital systems serve the Grand Strand — meaningful for retirees because you have actual choice instead of one regional system.

Grand Strand Medical Center (HCA, Myrtle Beach) is the only Level I adult trauma center on the Strand. 403 beds. This is the trauma destination for serious cases across all 60 miles of coast.

Tidelands Health runs Tidelands Georgetown Memorial, Tidelands Waccamaw (Murrells Inlet), and 70+ outpatient sites. MUSC took a controlling interest in Tidelands in September 2025, which is bringing more academic-tier care — MUSC Charleston is one of the major medical centers in the Southeast — into the southern Strand.

McLeod Health covers Loris, Seacoast (Little River), and the brand-new McLeod Carolina Forest Hospital, which began admitting patients in January 2026 with full opening targeted for fall 2026. The Carolina Forest opening is the first new hospital in Horry County since 2011.

For specialized academic care not available locally, MUSC Charleston is roughly a 2-hour drive south. For most routine and specialty needs, the three Grand Strand systems are sufficient.

Full healthcare page, including notes on Medicare Advantage networks and stroke/cardiac certifications.

55+ Communities on the Grand Strand

The Grand Strand has several active-adult and age-restricted (55+) communities. Below are the established options. We can pull current listings, HOA budgets, and recent sales in any of them.

Del Webb at Grande Dunes (Myrtle Beach)

Age-restricted 55+ inside the Grande Dunes master plan. About 524 homes (single-family and attached). The amenity center is roughly 15,000 sq ft with indoor and outdoor pools, fitness, arts/crafts, and access to the Grande Dunes Ocean Club. Builder sold out — resale only.

Del Webb North Myrtle Beach

Age-restricted 55+, currently selling new homes. 12,000 sq ft amenity center, indoor lap pool, outdoor saltwater pool with hot tub, 8 pickleball courts, bocce, tennis, putting green, walking trails, amphitheater, and a full-time lifestyle director. HOA covers lawn care, pest control, internet, and cable. Golf-cart distance to the ocean.

Cresswind Myrtle Beach

Age-restricted 55+ by Kolter Homes, located near MYR airport. About 400 homes, built between 2013 and 2022 — resale only at this point. "The Club" is a 12,500 sq ft clubhouse with outdoor pool, pickleball, tennis, bocce, and walking paths.

Myrtle Trace (Conway / Carolina Forest area)

Age-restricted 55+ established neighborhood. 518 homes built 1980–2005. Clubhouse, outdoor pool, bocce, shuffleboard, horseshoes, library. HOA is low (around $90/month). Sister neighborhoods Myrtle Trace South and Myrtle Trace Grande are also 55+. Strong value relative to the newer Del Webb communities.

Seasons at Prince Creek West (Murrells Inlet)

Age-restricted 55+ inside the Prince Creek master plan, gated. 29,000 sq ft clubhouse, indoor and outdoor pools, tennis, bocce, shuffleboard, walking trails, and a full-time activities director. Located in the quieter south-end Murrells Inlet area.

A Note on Latitude Margaritaville Hilton Head

Several relocation buyers ask about Latitude Margaritaville thinking it's on the Grand Strand. It's not. The Hilton Head Latitude is in Hardeeville, about 3.5 hours south of Myrtle Beach. If you're considering both, they're effectively different markets.

Best Areas to Retire on the Grand Strand by Lifestyle

If you're not committed to age-restricted, the Grand Strand has strong all-ages neighborhoods that skew retiree.

Golfers and resort lifestyle. Barefoot Resort, Tidewater Plantation, Grande Dunes, Pine Lakes. Country club access, multiple courses, oceanfront cabanas.

Walkable downtown. Market Common (Myrtle Beach), downtown Conway, North Myrtle Beach's Main Street area. Shorter drives, more on foot.

Quieter, slower-pace. Pawleys Island, Litchfield, Murrells Inlet, Garden City. Less tourist traffic, more residential character, easy beach access.

Oceanfront condo. Cherry Grove, Crescent Beach, the older oceanfront condo buildings in Myrtle Beach proper, Litchfield By The Sea. Low-maintenance lifestyle, water views, often the best value per dollar of beach access.

Inland with land. Aynor, parts of Conway, the rural acreage west of Hwy 501. For retirees who want space, gardens, or horses.

Lifestyle

Golf is the headline — the Grand Strand has more golf courses per capita than almost anywhere in the country. But the broader retiree lifestyle picks up several other threads:

Arts and entertainment. Brookgreen Gardens (Murrells Inlet) is one of the most visited sculpture gardens in the country. The Carolina Opry, Pirates Voyage, Alabama Theatre, and Myrtle Beach Theatre run year-round. The Conway Arts District and the new Arts and Innovation Center at HGTC are growing.

Outdoors. The beach is the obvious one. Beyond it: Huntington Beach State Park, Myrtle Beach State Park, the Waccamaw River, the Intracoastal Waterway, and Brookgreen's walking paths. Kayaking, fishing, and birding are strong year-round.

Volunteer and faith communities. The Strand has a deep network of churches across every denomination and a long list of volunteer organizations — Habitat for Humanity, Helping Hand of Myrtle Beach, Meals on Wheels, the Children's Recovery Center, and more.

Dining. Murrells Inlet's Marshwalk is the most famous restaurant row on the coast. Downtown Conway has a small but strong farm-to-table scene. Pawleys Island and Litchfield have several long-standing favorites. Myrtle Beach proper covers everything from local seafood to chain restaurants to fine dining at Grande Dunes.

Climate and Hurricane Reality for Retirees

Annual mean temperature about 65°F. January averages a 55°F high and 36°F low; July averages an 87°F high. About 218 sunny days a year. Most retirees moving from northern states find the winters startlingly mild.

Hurricane risk is real but not constant. The Grand Strand has had four direct hurricane hits in the last 70 years (Hazel 1954, Hugo 1989, Matthew 2016, Ian 2022). Significant inland flooding occurred during Florence (2018). NHC climatology places the Carolinas coast at a tropical system landfall of any category every 5–7 years on average. Modern coastal building code, the right flood zone, and proper insurance make the risk manageable. We walk every relocation buyer through the flood-zone and elevation questions on the specific property. Full climate and hurricane page.

If You're Snowbirding

Plenty of our retiree clients keep a property up north and split the year. SC will treat the Myrtle Beach home as a second residence (6% property tax ratio) unless you formally establish SC domicile. Establishing domicile means filing your SC tax return from the Myrtle Beach address, registering your vehicles in SC, and using the home as your principal residence. For most retirees the SC domicile saves money (no SS tax, no estate tax, the 4% property rate); for some the math runs the other way. Worth a 30-minute call with a CPA before you decide. More on the 4% vs 6% question.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Myrtle Beach a good place to retire?

For most retirees moving from a higher-tax state, yes. SC exempts Social Security, restructured income tax in 2026, has no estate or inheritance tax, assesses primary homes at 4% for property tax, and offers three competing hospital systems on the Grand Strand. Combined with mild winters, walkable downtowns, and oceanfront and golf-resort housing options, the practical case is strong. The buyers who don't love the move tend to be people who underestimated coastal home-insurance costs or picked the wrong submarket for their lifestyle — both fixable with the right agent.

What are the best 55+ communities on the Grand Strand?

Age-restricted: Del Webb at Grande Dunes (resale only, established), Del Webb North Myrtle Beach (new construction, currently selling), Cresswind Myrtle Beach (resale only), Myrtle Trace (established, low HOA), and Seasons at Prince Creek West (gated, full amenities). Each appeals to a different buyer — we can walk you through the trade-offs based on what you actually want from a community.

How much does it cost to retire in Myrtle Beach?

For a couple retiring with a $500,000 primary home, the after-tax cost picture typically includes ~$1,500–$2,000/year in property tax at the 4% ratio, $2,000–$4,000/year in homeowners insurance (higher for oceanfront), low state income tax thanks to the retirement deductions, and 8% sales tax on most purchases. Healthcare costs run roughly 20% below the national average. HOA fees vary widely by community — from $30/month in older neighborhoods to $300–$600/month in active-adult communities with full amenities. Full cost of living page.

Does SC tax retirement income (pensions, IRAs, 401(k))?

Yes — but at age 65+ you can claim up to $10,000 retirement-income deduction plus up to a $15,000 Age 65 deduction against any income, with a combined cap of $15,000 per taxpayer ($30,000 per couple where both are 65+). Combined with the new 2026 income tax structure, the effective state tax on retirement income is low for most retirees.

Should I retire in Myrtle Beach or somewhere south like Florida?

SC has Florida-like winters without Florida insurance costs or Florida property taxes on a $500,000 home. Florida has no state income tax (SC has a low one). For retirees with significant retirement income (pensions, IRA distributions), Florida's zero-tax-on-income edge usually wins on income tax but loses on property tax and insurance. The total picture depends on your income profile and your home value. We've had plenty of clients move here after looking at Florida and concluding the all-in cost was lower.

Is healthcare on the Grand Strand good enough for serious medical issues?

For most things, yes. Grand Strand Medical Center is the only Level I adult trauma center on the Strand and handles serious cases. Tidelands and McLeod cover routine, specialty, cardiac, and stroke care. McLeod Carolina Forest Hospital opens fully in fall 2026, adding meaningful capacity in the fastest-growing inland part of the Strand. For specialized academic care (rare cancers, complex transplants, etc.) MUSC Charleston is ~2 hours south and is one of the major academic medical centers in the Southeast.

What about hurricanes — is it safe to retire here?

It's a real risk, not a deal-breaker. Four direct hurricane hits in 70 years on the Grand Strand. Modern building code, flood zone selection, and proper insurance make the risk manageable. If you're considering oceanfront, we walk you through the FEMA flood-zone map, elevation certificate, and insurance picture on the specific property before you make an offer. Full climate and hurricane page.

Keep Reading

Back to the relocation guide

SC taxes for relocation buyers

Healthcare on the Grand Strand

Cost of living

Climate & hurricane risk