Side-by-side comparison of Columbia, SC and Myrtle Beach, SC — cap rates, rent, prices, and investment metrics.
Cash flow: Columbia has the edge with an estimated cap rate of 4.97% compared to Myrtle Beach's 4.08%. Neither city passes the 1% rule outright, so deal sourcing and value-add strategies become more important. Median home prices are $205,000 in Columbia vs $290,000 in Myrtle Beach, while rents come in at $1,150/mo and $1,400/mo respectively.
Growth & appreciation: Myrtle Beach is growing faster at 3.8% annually vs Columbia's 0.8%. Myrtle Beach leads on home value appreciation at 3.8% per year. Strong population growth typically translates to sustained rental demand and long-term price support.
Costs & risk: Property taxes are 0.56% in Columbia vs 0.58% in Myrtle Beach. Vacancy rates of 6% and 5.8% are mixed — Myrtle Beach has the tighter rental market.
Bottom line: Columbia edges out Myrtle Beach on most key metrics. While cap rates are moderate at 4.97%, Columbia's overall profile is stronger. Use our free calculators to model specific deals in Columbia or Myrtle Beach.