Retirees can forget Florida, this East Coast state has beaches, low property taxes, and a quieter coastal lifestyle

Although the Palmetto State of South Carolina may be better known for crowded beaches like Hilton Head and Myrtle Beach, it also has quieter coastal escapes. About 25 miles from Charleston, Beachwalker Park on Kiawah Island offers retirees a peaceful place to relax. Huntington Beach State Park, meanwhile, is an excellent destination for birdwatching and fishing.

Plus, this state contains plenty of peaceful towns, away from the congestion and noise of some of the state's big cities. Examples include McClellanville, a small town of 700 people where four in ten people are aged 60 and up. This cozy locale is so walkable that much of it centers around a single main street. Located along Jeremy Creek in the state's Lowcountry region, the town still has a working fishing industry, with shrimp boats lining the waterfront. As another choice, Bluffton rests along the May River with Spanish moss covering the town's oak trees on its historic streets. About 33,000 people call Bluffton home with about one-third of them are age 60 or older. 

In South Carolina, retirees can enjoy their golden years in a state with lower property taxes. According to the Tax Foundation's analysis of the U.S. Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey, South Carolina's effective property tax rate is 0.49%, with state averages nationwide ranging from 0.29% to 1.88%. Sales taxes, however, are comparatively higher. The state's base sales tax is 6%, ranking 17th nationally. Counties may also add up to 1% through local option sales taxes, subject to voter approval.

Read more: 11 Reasons Retirees Regret Moving To California

Affordability of South Carolina retirement varies

According to LivingCost.org, South Carolina's overall cost of living is slightly below the national average, though affordability varies considerably across the state. Hilton Head ranks as one of the country's most expensive places to retire. BestPlaces gives it an affordability score that's 4.3% higher than the national average while,  according to Zillow, the average home costs a whopping $789,690 in July 2026, more than double the national average of $372,995.

Life can be much more reasonably priced in South Carolina, though. For example, Surfside Beach is an affordable town on the South Carolina seaside. BestPlaces reports that Surfside Beach is about 9.6% more affordable than the national average, while Zillow lists the average home value at $360,900, below the national average. As another cost-savvy choice, Conway nestles along the Waccamaw River, an affordable South Carolina town by Myrtle Beach where one in four of the 27,000 population are older adults. Its costs of living are similar to Surfside Beach with home values even more affordable at $289,137. 

As far as access to quality healthcare, U.S. News & World Report recognized nine South Carolina hospitals as Best Regional Hospitals, with MUSC Health-University Medical Center ranked No. 1 in the state. The main MUSC campus is located in Charleston with satellite centers around the state. Center on Healthcare ranks South Carolina No. 20 overall based on residents' evaluations of healthcare quality, placing it in the upper half of the country.

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