City comparison
Richmond, VA vs Savannah, GA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Richmond, VA are 2.8% higher than in Savannah, GA. Someone earning $100,000 in Savannah, GA would need about $102,800 in Richmond, VA to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,507 a month in Richmond, VA and $1,533 in Savannah, GA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $369 a year higher in Richmond, VA than in Savannah, GA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −4.3% moving from Richmond, VA to Savannah, GA ($111,183 → $106,437), while prices change by −2.7%. Net effect of the transfer: −1.6% in real buying power.
- Richmond, VA: price level 97.9 (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
| Richmond, VA | Savannah, GA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 97.9 | 95.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $97,290 in Savannah | $102,786 in Richmond |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,507/mo | $1,533/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,244 | $74,613 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,936 (VA) | $4,567 (GA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 25% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,460 | $47,240 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Richmond, VA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Richmond, VA HUD Metro FMR Area and Savannah, GA MSA. Metro areas: Richmond, VA and Savannah, GA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Richmond | Savannah |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 99.1 | 86.0 |
| Goods | 96.8 | 96.3 |
| Utilities | 89.2 | 88.6 |
| Other services | 98.6 | 98.7 |
| Overall | 97.9 | 95.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Richmond, VA → Savannah, GA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.8%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax −$369/yr.
77 Strong offer
Savannah, GA → Richmond, VA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.7%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$369/yr.
60 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Richmond, VA is in the Richmond, VA pay area; Savannah, GA is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Richmond, VA to Savannah, GA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Richmond, VA | Savannah, GA | Real change, Richmond → Savannah |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,475 | $61,722 | −1.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $78,009 | $74,678 | −1.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,499 | $89,508 | −1.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,183 | $106,437 | −1.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,385 | $125,776 | −1.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Richmond, VA | Savannah, GA | Savannah pay in Richmond dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,290 | $63,710 | $65,485 (+6.8%) |
| Software Developers | $132,120 | $123,220 | $126,652 (−4.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $84,220 | $79,790 | $82,013 (−2.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $93,580 | $86,760 | $89,177 (−4.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.