City comparison
Milwaukee, WI vs Savannah, GA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Milwaukee, WI are 1.8% higher than in Savannah, GA. Someone earning $100,000 in Savannah, GA would need about $101,800 in Milwaukee, WI to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,533 a month in Savannah, GA versus $1,119 in Milwaukee, WI. On $100,000, that's 25% of take-home pay in Savannah, GA and 18% in Milwaukee, WI.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $648 a year higher in Savannah, GA than in Milwaukee, WI.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −4.4% moving from Milwaukee, WI to Savannah, GA ($111,310 → $106,437), while prices change by −1.8%. Net effect of the transfer: −2.6% in real buying power.
- Milwaukee, WI: price level 96.9 (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
| Milwaukee, WI | Savannah, GA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 96.9 | 95.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,214 in Savannah | $101,818 in Milwaukee |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,119/mo | $1,533/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,261 | $74,613 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,919 (WI) | $4,567 (GA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 25% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,160 | $47,240 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI MSA and Savannah, GA MSA. Metro areas: Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI and Savannah, GA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Milwaukee | Savannah |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 97.1 | 86.0 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 96.3 |
| Utilities | 91.6 | 88.6 |
| Other services | 99.4 | 98.7 |
| Overall | 96.9 | 95.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Milwaukee, WI → Savannah, GA
Roughly even
Buying power +1.8%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax +$648/yr.
74 Strong offer
Savannah, GA → Milwaukee, WI
Roughly even
Buying power −1.8%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$648/yr.
63 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Milwaukee, WI is in the Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI pay area; Savannah, GA is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Milwaukee, WI to Savannah, GA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Milwaukee, WI | Savannah, GA | Real change, Milwaukee → Savannah |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,548 | $61,722 | −2.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $78,098 | $74,678 | −2.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,606 | $89,508 | −2.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,310 | $106,437 | −2.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,535 | $125,776 | −2.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Milwaukee, WI | Savannah, GA | Savannah pay in Milwaukee dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,480 | $63,710 | $64,868 (+5.5%) |
| Software Developers | $123,730 | $123,220 | $125,460 (+1.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,290 | $79,790 | $81,241 (+1.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $97,360 | $86,760 | $88,337 (−9.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.