5 Cheap Waterfront Cities To Live in the South
Written by
Nicole Spector
Edited by
Molly Sullivan
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The South has a very different vibe from, say, the East Coast or the West Coast. It leans heavily on the concept of hospitality, boasting a welcoming spirit that may seem over-the-top if you’re coming from somewhere a little more rigid in tone. The summers are known to be especially hot and humid and the political climate runs pretty conservative, overall.
Some of the most affordable beach towns in the nation are located in the South — which may be surprising, considering that some of the cheapest ones aren’t terribly well known. Below, we looked at five especially “cheap” waterfront cities in the South, where you can buy a home for under $300,000, and, in some cases, under $200,000.
How much does it cost to buy a home in these cities in 2025? How much does it cost to rent? What is the cost of living, as compared to the national average? Where do they rank in livability? GOBankingRates looked at data from Zillow, Zumper, Livability.com, Payscale and AreaVibes to answer these questions.
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
- Average home value: $299,167
- Median monthly rent: $990
- Cost of living, as compared to the national average: 7% lower
- Livability: 67 out of 100
Corpus Christi, Texas
- Average home value: $215,707
- Median monthly rent: $1,400
- Cost of living, as compared to the national average: 10% lower
- Livability: 80 out of 100
Grand Isle, Louisiana
- Average home value: $203,128
- Median monthly rent: $1,139
- Cost of living, as compared to the national average: 13% lower
- Livability: 52 out of 100
Gulfport, Mississippi
- Average home value: $189,821
- Median monthly rent: $995
- Cost of living, as compared to the national average: 15% lower
- Livability: 71 out of 100
Pascagoula, Mississippi
- Average home value: $134,703
- Median monthly rent: $715
- Cost of living, as compared to the national average: 13% lower than the national average
- Livability: 70 out of 100
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