This South Carolina Town Offers Affordable Southern Living Near Myrtle Beach

About 15 miles inland from downtown Myrtle Beach rests the tree-lined historic town of Conway, South Carolina. Founded in 1732 along the Waccamaw River, Conway exhibits old-fashioned Southern charm thanks to its antebellum architecture and local shops and eateries. Residents enjoy affordable living in this small community of just over 30,000 people. According to Best Places, a single person would typically need $2,900 a month or $34,800 annually to live in Conway. That's 39.2% less than the U.S. average. The site estimates a family of four could live in Conway for 21.1% less than the national average, at $4,260 per month or $51,120 annually. 

Best Places has calculated Conway's cost-of-living score at 90.4, taking into account factors like the price of housing, taxes, food, and other necessities. That score is 9.6% less than the national average, though 1.2% higher than the average community in the state. World Population Review notes an average household income in Conway at just under $70,000. Although buying a home in Conway doesn't offer oceanfront opportunities like Myrtle Beach, people can get a waterfront view along the Waccamaw River. Zillow lists the average value of a Conway home in October 2025 as $284,066, while Myrtle Beach homes average $318,244. 

In Conway, residents also benefit from South Carolina's lower property tax rates. According to Rocket Mortgage, this state's taxes are among the lowest, with an effective rate of .51%. Residents with a home priced at the median value typically pay about $1,199 in property taxes each year. The highest effective tax rate in 2023 was 2.23% in New Jersey — which works out to about $9,541 a year for a median-valued home. 

A sneaky reason exists why homeowner's insurance rates can go up — and it applies to homes in South Carolina, given its coastal location. Homeowner's insurance is affecting the housing market because of weather events like hurricanes. Insurify predicted a 4% increase in South Carolina premiums in 2025 (to an average of $4,172). Although the impact of Trump's tariffs on the housing market is still debated, the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis shows construction material prices are near 70-year highs, which can drive up the cost for homeowners repairing hurricane damage.

Natural areas and many free attractions can help keep the cost of living in Conway low, however. Residents can enjoy sunshine, mild winters, gorgeous natural locales along the Conway Riverwalk, proximity to Myrtle Beach and the Atlantic Ocean, community festivals, and a family-friendly environment. To get a sense of its past, the Horry County Museum, located in a 1905 school, allows visitors to tour for free. Besides offering historic artifacts and gorgeous quilts, the museum also houses an aquarium that allows visitors to check out what species live in local waterways. The L.W. Paul Living History Museum, connected to the Horry County Museum, demonstrates how rural people lived in the early 20th century. Another place that enriches life in this small community is Coastal Carolina University, which offers cultural events, musical concerts, films, and sports teams to cheer.