City comparison
Atlanta, GA vs Savannah, GA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent, state taxes and federal GS pay.
Key findings
- Prices in Atlanta, GA are 5.1% higher than in Savannah, GA. Someone earning $100,000 in Savannah, GA would need about $105,100 in Atlanta, GA to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,660 a month in Atlanta, GA versus $1,533 in Savannah, GA. On $100,000, that's 27% of take-home pay in Atlanta, GA and 25% in Savannah, GA.
- Both are in GA, so estimated state income tax is the same: $4,567 a year on $100,000.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −5.4% moving from Atlanta, GA to Savannah, GA ($112,556 → $106,437), while prices change by −4.8%. Net effect of the transfer: −0.6% in real buying power.
- Atlanta, GA: price level 100.1 (about average)
- Savannah, GA: price level 95.2 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Atlanta, GA | Savannah, GA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.1 | 95.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $95,151 in Savannah | $105,096 in Atlanta |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,660/mo | $1,533/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,613 | $74,613 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,567 (GA) | $4,567 (GA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 27% | 25% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,170 | $47,240 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Atlanta-Athens-Clarke County-Sandy Springs, GA-AL | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA HUD Metro FMR Area and Savannah, GA MSA. Metro areas: Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA and Savannah, GA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Atlanta | Savannah |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 111.0 | 86.0 |
| Goods | 100.4 | 96.3 |
| Utilities | 96.2 | 88.6 |
| Other services | 96.7 | 98.7 |
| Overall | 100.1 | 95.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Atlanta, GA → Savannah, GA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +5.1%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
85 Strong offer
Savannah, GA → Atlanta, GA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.8%; rent takes 27% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
51 Fair offer
Federal employees: GS pay
Atlanta, GA is in the Atlanta-Athens-Clarke County-Sandy Springs, GA-AL pay area; Savannah, GA is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Atlanta, GA to Savannah, GA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Atlanta, GA | Savannah, GA | Real change, Atlanta → Savannah |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $65,271 | $61,722 | −0.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $78,972 | $74,678 | −0.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $94,654 | $89,508 | −0.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $112,556 | $106,437 | −0.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $133,007 | $125,776 | −0.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Atlanta, GA | Savannah, GA | Savannah pay in Atlanta dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Information Security Analysts | $131,490 | $102,630 | $107,860 (−18.0%) |
| Software Developers | $132,960 | $123,220 | $129,500 (−2.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $85,820 | $79,790 | $83,856 (−2.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $100,490 | $86,760 | $91,182 (−9.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.