City comparison
Chicago, IL vs Savannah, GA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Chicago, IL are 8.8% higher than in Savannah, GA. Someone earning $100,000 in Savannah, GA would need about $108,800 in Chicago, IL to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,581 a month in Chicago, IL and $1,533 in Savannah, GA.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,805 a year in IL and $4,567 in GA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −10.5% moving from Chicago, IL to Savannah, GA ($118,984 → $106,437), while prices change by −8.1%. Net effect of the transfer: −2.7% in real buying power.
- Chicago, IL: price level 103.6 (pricier)
- 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
| Chicago, IL | Savannah, GA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 103.6 | 95.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $91,902 in Savannah | $108,811 in Chicago |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,581/mo | $1,533/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,375 | $74,613 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,805 (IL) | $4,567 (GA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 26% | 25% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $54,720 | $47,240 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL HUD Metro FMR Area and Savannah, GA MSA. Metro areas: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN and Savannah, GA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Chicago | Savannah |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 112.0 | 86.0 |
| Goods | 107.3 | 96.3 |
| Utilities | 83.6 | 88.6 |
| Other services | 100.5 | 98.7 |
| Overall | 103.6 | 95.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Chicago, IL → Savannah, GA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +8.8%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax −$238/yr.
96 Strong offer
Savannah, GA → Chicago, IL
Same pay buys less
Buying power −8.1%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$238/yr.
43 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Chicago, IL is in the Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI pay area; Savannah, GA is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Chicago, IL to Savannah, GA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Chicago, IL | Savannah, GA | Real change, Chicago → Savannah |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $68,999 | $61,722 | −2.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $83,482 | $74,678 | −2.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $100,059 | $89,508 | −2.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $118,984 | $106,437 | −2.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $140,604 | $125,776 | −2.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Chicago, IL | Savannah, GA | Savannah pay in Chicago dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $78,390 | $63,710 | $69,324 (−11.6%) |
| Software Developers | $134,380 | $123,220 | $134,077 (−0.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $82,360 | $79,790 | $86,821 (+5.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $100,490 | $86,760 | $94,405 (−6.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.