Surprise, this popular vacation town does have affordable homes — and right on the beach, too! Far from a sleepy beach town, Myrtle Beach has more than 1700 restaurants, 100 golf courses and 60 miles of beautiful beaches along the Grand Strand. And even better, it has one of the most affordable housing markets on the beach in America, with a median home value in Myrtle Beach around $167,000, according to SmartAsset.com.

This Grand Strand beachfront rental includes your own private boardwalk to the beach, oceanfront sun deck, and pool, all for $257 a night. Bonus: This budget-friendly 4-bedroom, 3-bath beach house is just 6 blocks from the arcade and restaurants. 

A coveted beachfront home in pricey Palm Beach will cost you around $894,000, according to Zillow. For a fraction of the price tag, a home in Pensacola, Florida, comes in at the budget-friendly price of $115, 000. Ranked one of Trip Advisor’s Top 25 Beaches in the US, Pensacola has miles of unspoiled snow-white beaches and a lively downtown full of restaurants, cafes, boutiques and theatres.

Forgo Florida’s more crowded beaches and vacation in this less tourist-trodden gem on the Northern Panhandle. With breathtaking views of the Gulf of Mexico, this 2-bedroom beachfront Pensacola vacation rental also has resort-style amenities including two pools and a spa for only $159 a night.