Cost of Living in Georgetown
Georgetown's cost of living runs genuinely more affordable than several other Grand Strand markets in this batch, with real, disclosed housing-price source disagreement and Georgetown County's comparatively lower sales tax.
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Learn moreHousing: genuinely affordable, but sources disagree on the exact level
Zillow's average home value was $250,282 (down 1.7% YoY) -- notably lower than Redfin's 3-month-trailing median sale price of $325,000 (down 7.2% YoY) and Movoto's $344,202 median sold price (July 2026). This real, disclosed spread likely reflects a mix of older/inland housing stock pulling Zillow's broader average down relative to Redfin's median of actual closed sales. Either way, Georgetown reads more affordable than several pricier Grand Strand markets in this batch.
Georgetown County's lower sales-tax floor
Georgetown County's minimum combined sales tax rate is cited at 7% -- lower than Horry County's 8% minimum documented elsewhere in this dataset's Grand Strand batch.
South Carolina's real, current two-bracket income tax
Act 110 set South Carolina's income tax at 1.99% on the first $30,000 of SC taxable income and 5.21% above that, effective tax year 2026. Social Security is fully exempt; the age-65 and retirement-income deductions are coordinated for a combined $15,000 maximum.
A real economic headwind worth factoring into any cost-of-living comparison
International Paper's complete Georgetown exit (2024-2026, ~800 combined jobs) is a real, current labor-market disruption for a city of under 9,000 people -- factor local job availability into any cost-of-living comparison, not just housing and tax rates.
Key takeaways
- Housing runs genuinely more affordable than several other Grand Strand markets, though sources disagreed on the exact level this session ($250,282-$344,202 depending on source).
- Georgetown County's 7% minimum combined sales tax runs lower than Horry County's 8% documented elsewhere in this batch.
- South Carolina's two-bracket income tax (2026): 1.99% under $30,000 taxable income, 5.21% above.
- A real, current economic disruption (International Paper's exit) should factor into any cost-of-living-vs-job-availability comparison.
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