Travel Nurse Housing in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina: Complete Guide
Myrtle Beach is the centerpiece of South Carolina’s Grand Strand, a 60-mile stretch of Atlantic coastline with beaches, boardwalks, and affordable living. Travel nurses find steady demand and no-frills beach-town living.
Grand Strand Medical Center and Conway Medical Center serve the area.
Whether you are heading to Myrtle Beach for your first travel nursing assignment or returning for another contract, this guide will help you navigate the housing market, understand what to expect from local costs, and find a neighborhood that fits your needs. Myrtle Beach has a lot to offer travel nurses, and a little planning goes a long way toward making your assignment a success.
Major Hospitals and Health Systems
Myrtle Beach is home to several major hospitals and health systems that consistently hire travel nurses across a wide range of specialties. Knowing which facilities are in the area helps you plan your housing search around commute times and gives you a sense of where demand is concentrated.
Grand Strand Medical Center — A major hospital with Level III trauma designation, cardiac care, and comprehensive services.
Conway Medical Center — A community hospital in nearby Conway with medical and surgical services.
Tidelands Health Waccamaw Community Hospital — A hospital in Murrells Inlet serving the southern Grand Strand.
Travel nurse demand in Myrtle Beach is generally steady, with ICU, ED, med-surg, and telemetry being among the most frequently requested specialties. Contract availability tends to be strong year-round, though demand typically peaks during summer tourist season and winter snowbird season. If you are flexible on specialty or shift, you will have even more options to choose from in this market.
Best Neighborhoods for Travel Nurses
Choosing the right neighborhood is one of the most important decisions you will make during your Myrtle Beach assignment. Where you live affects your commute, your safety, your access to amenities, and ultimately your quality of life for the duration of your contract. Here are the top neighborhoods that travel nurses should consider when searching for housing in Myrtle Beach.
Market Common
A walkable mixed-use development on a former Air Force base.
Pros: Walkable, modern, shops, restaurants, lake, community feel
Cons: Higher rents for the area, removed from beach, newer area
North Myrtle Beach
A quieter beach community north of the main tourist strip.
Pros: Quieter beaches, more affordable, residential feel, less tourist traffic
Cons: Farther from hospitals, car-dependent, fewer restaurants
Conway
A historic river town about 15 minutes inland with affordable housing.
Pros: Most affordable, historic charm, Waccamaw River, quieter
Cons: Inland location, commute to hospitals, fewer amenities
When choosing where to live, prioritize keeping your commute under 30 minutes whenever possible. Car required. The Grand Strand is spread out along 60 miles of coastline. If you are unfamiliar with the area, connect with other travel nurses who have worked in Myrtle Beach through Facebook groups or online forums to get firsthand recommendations on neighborhoods.
Average Housing Costs
Housing costs in Myrtle Beach are slightly below the national average. Here is a general overview of what you can expect to pay for rental housing in the area. Keep in mind that prices vary by neighborhood, season, and the specific amenities included with the unit.
- Studio apartment: $800 to $1,300 per month
- One-bedroom apartment: $950 to $1,550 per month
- Furnished apartment (travel nurse friendly): $1,200 to $1,900 per month
Myrtle Beach is affordable year-round but summer weekly rentals can be pricey. Look for monthly rates. Inland areas like Conway save significantly.
Many travel nurses in Myrtle Beach find their housing through Furnished Finder , which connects healthcare travelers with landlords who specifically offer furnished, short-term rentals designed for assignment-length stays. It is one of the most widely used housing platforms in the travel nursing industry and an excellent starting point for your search. You can also explore local Facebook groups, Craigslist, and extended-stay hotels to compare your options and find the best fit for your budget and preferences.
GSA Stipend Rate
The General Services Administration publishes per diem rates that many travel nursing agencies use as a baseline for calculating housing and meals and incidentals stipends. The GSA rate for the Myrtle Beach, SC area varies by time of year, with higher rates typically applying during peak travel seasons and lower rates during off-peak months.
It is essential to check the current GSA per diem rate for your specific assignment dates and location, as rates are updated annually each October and can change significantly from year to year. You can look up the exact rate on the GSA website or ask your recruiter for the figures they are using to calculate your pay package. Keep in mind that your actual stipend may differ from the published GSA rate depending on your agency’s internal pay structure and policies.
Understanding how your stipend fits into your total compensation is key to evaluating any travel nursing contract. For help breaking down the numbers, use our pay calculator to compare packages side by side and see your estimated take-home pay after taxes, stipends, and deductions.
Housing Tips for Myrtle Beach
Every city has its own quirks and considerations when it comes to finding and securing travel nurse housing. Here are tips specific to Myrtle Beach that will help you avoid common pitfalls, stretch your housing stipend further, and settle in more quickly.
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South Carolina is tax-friendly — Relatively low state income tax and affordable cost of living.
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Tourist season changes the vibe — Summer brings millions of visitors. Off-season is quieter and more affordable.
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Hurricane preparedness — Hurricane season runs June through November. Know your facility’s emergency plan.
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Golf capital of the world — Over 80 golf courses in the Myrtle Beach area at affordable rates.
For a comprehensive overview of the housing search process from start to finish, including how to spot scams and negotiate lease terms, check out our complete travel nurse housing guide. It covers everything you need to know regardless of which city you are heading to.
Cost of Living Overview
Myrtle Beach’s cost of living is below the national average, making it one of the more affordable coastal destinations for travel nurses.
When budgeting for your Myrtle Beach assignment, factor in all of your regular expenses beyond rent. Walmart, Publix, and Food Lion are common grocery stores. Seafood restaurants offer good value. Tracking your spending during the first two weeks of your assignment will give you a realistic picture of your monthly costs and help you adjust your budget accordingly.
Things to Do on Days Off
One of the greatest perks of travel nursing is the opportunity to explore a new city on your days off. Myrtle Beach has plenty to offer whether you prefer outdoor adventures, cultural experiences, or simply relaxing and recharging between shifts.
- Beach and Boardwalk — Miles of sandy beaches with a classic boardwalk featuring a SkyWheel, arcades, and restaurants.
- Golf — Over 80 golf courses with affordable green fees make Myrtle Beach the golf capital of the world.
- Brookgreen Gardens — A stunning sculpture garden and wildlife preserve in Murrells Inlet.
- Barefoot Landing and Broadway at the Beach — Entertainment and shopping complexes with restaurants and attractions.
Take full advantage of your time in Myrtle Beach. Exploring the local culture, trying restaurants you have never heard of, and visiting nearby attractions are what make travel nursing more than just a paycheck. Many travel nurses find that their days off are when they truly fall in love with a new city.
Final Thoughts
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina offers travel nurses South Carolina’s Grand Strand with affordable living, steady nursing demand, miles of beaches, world-class golf, and a boardwalk lifestyle that balances work and play. With Grand Strand Medical Center and Conway Medical Center and a below average cost of living, it is a market well worth considering whether you are a first-time traveler or a seasoned veteran looking for your next destination.
Start your housing search as early as possible, ideally four to six weeks before your assignment start date. The best furnished rentals tend to go quickly, especially in popular neighborhoods near major hospitals. Furnished Finder is an excellent resource for finding travel nurse housing in Myrtle Beach, and joining local travel nurse social media groups can give you insider tips and real-time availability updates.
For more resources on finding and securing great travel nurse housing anywhere in the country, explore our complete housing guide. And when you are comparing pay packages for Myrtle Beach assignments, our pay calculator can help you break down the numbers and understand your true compensation.
We wish you the best on your Myrtle Beach assignment. It is a great place to be a travel nurse.