City comparison
Reno, NV vs Savannah, GA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Reno, NV are 6.1% higher than in Savannah, GA. Someone earning $100,000 in Savannah, GA would need about $106,100 in Reno, NV to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,489 a month in Reno, NV 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 Reno, NV.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −0.4% moving from Reno, NV to Savannah, GA ($106,855 → $106,437), while prices change by −5.7%. Net effect of the transfer: +5.7% in real buying power.
- Reno, NV: price level 101.0 (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
| Reno, NV | Savannah, GA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.0 | 95.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $94,250 in Savannah | $106,100 in Reno |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,489/mo | $1,533/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $74,613 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (NV) | $4,567 (GA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 23% | 25% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,660 | $47,240 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Reno-Fernley, NV | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Reno, NV HUD Metro FMR Area and Savannah, GA MSA. Metro areas: Reno, NV and Savannah, GA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Reno | Savannah |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 123.5 | 86.0 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 96.3 |
| Utilities | 89.3 | 88.6 |
| Other services | 98.7 | 98.7 |
| Overall | 101.0 | 95.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Reno, NV → Savannah, GA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +6.1%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax +$4,567/yr.
88 Strong offer
Savannah, GA → Reno, NV
Same pay buys less
Buying power −5.7%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax −$4,567/yr.
51 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Reno, NV is in the Reno-Fernley, NV pay area; Savannah, GA is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Reno, NV to Savannah, GA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Reno, NV | Savannah, GA | Real change, Reno → Savannah |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,965 | $61,722 | +5.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,972 | $74,678 | +5.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,859 | $89,508 | +5.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,855 | $106,437 | +5.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $126,271 | $125,776 | +5.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Reno, NV | Savannah, GA | Savannah pay in Reno dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $62,430 | $63,710 | $67,597 (+8.3%) |
| Software Developers | $125,710 | $123,220 | $130,737 (+4.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $82,370 | $79,790 | $84,658 (+2.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $107,520 | $86,760 | $92,053 (−14.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.