City comparison
Columbus, GA vs Savannah, GA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Savannah, GA are 6.6% higher than in Columbus, GA. Someone earning $100,000 in Columbus, GA would need about $106,600 in Savannah, GA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,533 a month in Savannah, GA versus $939 in Columbus, GA. On $100,000, that's 25% of take-home pay in Savannah, GA and 15% in Columbus, 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 Columbus, GA to Savannah, GA ($112,556 → $106,437), while prices change by +6.6%. Net effect of the transfer: −11.3% in real buying power.
- Columbus, GA: price level 89.3 (much cheaper)
- 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
| Columbus, GA | Savannah, GA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 89.3 | 95.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $106,618 in Savannah | $93,792 in Columbus |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $939/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 | 15% | 25% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $43,540 | $47,240 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Atlanta-Athens-Clarke County-Sandy Springs, GA-AL | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Columbus, GA-AL HUD Metro FMR Area and Savannah, GA MSA. Metro areas: Columbus, GA-AL and Savannah, GA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Columbus | Savannah |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 61.2 | 86.0 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 96.3 |
| Utilities | 89.7 | 88.6 |
| Other services | 98.6 | 98.7 |
| Overall | 89.3 | 95.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Columbus, GA → Savannah, GA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −6.2%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
49 Fair offer
Savannah, GA → Columbus, GA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +6.6%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
89 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Columbus, 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 Columbus, GA to Savannah, GA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Columbus, GA | Savannah, GA | Real change, Columbus → Savannah |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $65,271 | $61,722 | −11.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $78,972 | $74,678 | −11.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $94,654 | $89,508 | −11.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $112,556 | $106,437 | −11.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $133,007 | $125,776 | −11.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Columbus, GA | Savannah, GA | Savannah pay in Columbus dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,360 | $63,710 | $59,755 (−2.6%) |
| Software Developers | $116,150 | $123,220 | $115,571 (−0.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $73,640 | $79,790 | $74,837 (+1.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $82,500 | $86,760 | $81,374 (−1.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.