Airbnb Market Analytics & Investment Insights
Chalet Research Team
Myrtle Beach, SC — Market Intelligence Report
Researched by Chalet's Senior STR Analysts · Verified with local Myrtle Beach market partners
Myrtle Beach delivers what most East Coast beach markets cannot: scale, accessibility, and double-digit gross yields at entry prices 46% below the national median. The Grand Strand's 60 miles of coastline, 78 golf courses, and 18.2 million annual visitors generate a $13.2 billion tourism economy that powers more than 8,000 active short-term rental listings across the metro area. Chalet data shows the market producing $33,258 in median annual revenue at 52% occupancy with a $198 average daily rate, translating to an 11% gross yield — competitive with any major beach market on the eastern seaboard. This is a condo-dominated market where a 2-bedroom oceanfront unit represents the sweet spot: $222 ADR and $41,936 in annual revenue on a median home value of $316,358.
North Myrtle Beach's Cherry Grove corridor (29582) commands the highest performance in the metro, with $54,075 in annual revenue, a $277 ADR, and a 14% gross yield across 4,164 active listings. Three-bedroom properties here generate $65,611 annually at 53% occupancy, and summer months push ADR above $400. Median home values sit at $385,000, making this the premium tier — ideal for investors targeting families and golf groups willing to pay for newer, larger accommodations with less commercial congestion than central Myrtle Beach.
Central Myrtle Beach (29577) offers the lowest entry point at a $273,000 median home value, with $33,619 in annual revenue and a 12% gross yield spread across 2,784 listings — the densest concentration in the market. Surfside Beach (29575) balances both worlds: its "Family Beach" identity drives $42,443 in annual revenue and a 12% gross yield on a $346,000 median, with roughly 1,052 active listings creating a less saturated competitive environment. Carolina Forest (29579), the inland alternative at $350,000 median and only 240 listings, yields just 7% — confirming that in this market, proximity to sand is the primary revenue driver.
The investor case for Myrtle Beach rests on affordability and yield compression relative to Florida and Texas beach markets. Oceanfront 2-bedroom condos trade between $200,000 and $350,000 — a fraction of Destin or Hilton Head pricing — and South Carolina's property tax structure produces effective rates around 1.0–1.2% that undercut most competing states. DSCR loans remain viable for 3-bedroom and larger properties generating $50,000-plus in annual revenue, and the current buyer's market (7.2 months of inventory, homes selling 3–5% below asking) creates negotiation leverage that was absent two years ago. Investors considering entry should connect with a Chalet agent who understands which zoning districts permit short-term rentals and can model returns using the Chalet ROI calculator.
Risks are real and structural. Seasonality is extreme: July occupancy hits 78% at $299 ADR, but winter months collapse to 35% occupancy and $169 ADR, creating four to five months of negative or break-even cash flow annually. The condo market carries 7.8 months of inventory and faces rising HOA fees driven by insurance costs that have doubled since 2022 — aging oceanfront buildings from the 1970s–2000s now confront special assessments that can run $20,000 to $300,000 per unit. Tourism dipped in 2025 (accommodations tax revenue down 10.8%) and is projected to decline another 3% in 2026. City zoning restricts STRs to resort and commercial districts, and investors must verify permissible zones before acquisition — Myrtle Beach STR regulations detail the current framework.
Myrtle Beach is the highest-yield, lowest-barrier-to-entry major beach market on the East Coast, and investors who target 2–3 bedroom properties in STR-zoned oceanfront corridors of North Myrtle Beach or Surfside Beach — while avoiding aging condo stock with underfunded reserves — can build cash-flowing portfolios at price points that Florida and Texas retired a decade ago.
Get matched with top Myrtle Beach, SC realtors who specialize in short-term rentals — they know which neighborhoods actually cash flow and which to avoid.
Get matched with top Myrtle Beach, SC lenders who specialize in short-term rental financing — they understand STR underwriting and offer competitive rates for investment properties.
| 29575 |
| 12% |
| $42,443 |
| 1,052 |
| $346K |
| 3 | 29576 | 6% | $21,851 | 2 | $390K |
| 4 | 29577 | 12% | $33,619 | 2,784 | $273K |
| 5 | 29579 | 7% | $23,524 | 240 | $350K |
| 6 | 29588 | 9% | $28,606 | 36 | $317K |
For a complete breakdown, visit our guide to Airbnb laws in Myrtle Beach, SC