Myrtle Beach vs Sarasota — 55+ Community Comparison

Both are coastal retirement destinations. Both have strong 55+ community infrastructure. The differences are real and matter. Price: Sarasota communities run $150K–$400K higher at comparable quality. Del Webb Grande Dunes at $400K–$600K competes with the bottom of Sarasota's premium market (Esplanade at Lakewood Ranch starts above $450K, HOA runs $1,100+/month). For comparable product in the $300K–$550K range, Myrtle Beach delivers meaningfully more per dollar. Insurance: This is where the comparison gets complicated. Sarasota homeowners insurance on a $500K home runs $3,500–$6,000+/year. Inland Horry County (Seasons, Myrtle Trace) runs $900–$1,800. Coastal Grand Strand (Del Webb communities) runs $2,500–$4,500. Florida CDD fees: most Sarasota communities carry Community Development District bonds of $1,500–$5,000/year that do not exist in Horry County SC. When you add CDD fees and higher insurance to the Sarasota cost base, the annual housing cost advantage of Myrtle Beach is significant even at comparable home prices. State tax: Florida and South Carolina are comparable — both have 0% income tax on Social Security, both have low or zero state income tax on most retirement income. The SC property tax stacked exemptions are marginally better than Florida's homestead exemption for most buyers. Lifestyle: Sarasota is culturally richer — better arts scene, closer to Tampa Bay healthcare, Gulf Coast beaches with calmer water. Myrtle Beach is louder, more entertainment-focused, with Atlantic Ocean beaches. Neither is objectively better — they are different.