City comparison
Austin, TX vs Savannah, GA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Austin, TX are 3.0% higher than in Savannah, GA. Someone earning $100,000 in Savannah, GA would need about $103,000 in Austin, TX to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,562 a month in Austin, TX and $1,533 in Savannah, GA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,567 a year higher in Savannah, GA than in Austin, TX.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −2.7% moving from Austin, TX to Savannah, GA ($109,428 → $106,437), while prices change by −2.9%. Net effect of the transfer: +0.2% in real buying power.
- Austin, TX: price level 98.1 (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
| Austin, TX | Savannah, GA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 98.1 | 95.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $97,084 in Savannah | $103,004 in Austin |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,562/mo | $1,533/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $74,613 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (TX) | $4,567 (GA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 25% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $56,950 | $47,240 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX MSA and Savannah, GA MSA. Metro areas: Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX and Savannah, GA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Austin | Savannah |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 120.4 | 86.0 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 96.3 |
| Utilities | 82.0 | 88.6 |
| Other services | 96.2 | 98.7 |
| Overall | 98.1 | 95.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Austin, TX → Savannah, GA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +3.0%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax +$4,567/yr.
78 Strong offer
Savannah, GA → Austin, TX
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.9%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$4,567/yr.
60 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Austin, TX is in the Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX pay area; Savannah, GA is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Austin, TX to Savannah, GA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Austin, TX | Savannah, GA | Real change, Austin → Savannah |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,457 | $61,722 | +0.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $76,777 | $74,678 | +0.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $92,023 | $89,508 | +0.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $109,428 | $106,437 | +0.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $129,311 | $125,776 | +0.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Austin, TX | Savannah, GA | Savannah pay in Austin dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,270 | $63,710 | $65,624 (+7.1%) |
| Software Developers | $134,120 | $123,220 | $126,922 (−5.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $83,120 | $79,790 | $82,187 (−1.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $97,890 | $86,760 | $89,366 (−8.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.