City comparison
Savannah, GA vs Worcester, MA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent, state taxes and federal GS pay.
Key findings
- Prices in Worcester, MA are 7.7% higher than in Savannah, GA. Someone earning $100,000 in Savannah, GA would need about $107,700 in Worcester, MA to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,533 a month in Savannah, GA and $1,599 in Worcester, MA.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,567 a year in GA and $4,780 in MA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +13.3% moving from Savannah, GA to Worcester, MA ($106,437 → $120,548), while prices change by +7.7%. Net effect of the transfer: +5.2% in real buying power.
- Savannah, GA: price level 95.2 (cheaper)
- Worcester, MA: price level 102.5 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Savannah, GA | Worcester, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.2 | 102.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $107,685 in Worcester | $92,863 in Savannah |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,533/mo | $1,599/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,613 | $74,400 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,567 (GA) | $4,780 (MA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 25% | 26% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,240 | $57,830 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT |
Rent areas: Savannah, GA MSA and Worcester, MA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Savannah, GA and Worcester, MA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Savannah | Worcester |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 86.0 | 113.0 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 97.0 |
| Utilities | 88.6 | 155.2 |
| Other services | 98.7 | 101.2 |
| Overall | 95.2 | 102.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Savannah, GA → Worcester, MA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −7.1%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$213/yr.
45 Fair offer
Worcester, MA → Savannah, GA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +7.7%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax −$213/yr.
93 Strong offer
Federal employees: GS pay
Savannah, GA is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Worcester, MA is in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT. The last column shows what a transfer from Savannah, GA to Worcester, MA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Savannah, GA | Worcester, MA | Real change, Savannah → Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $69,905 | +5.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $84,579 | +5.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $101,375 | +5.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $120,548 | +5.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $142,452 | +5.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Savannah, GA | Worcester, MA | Worcester pay in Savannah dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Information Security Analysts | $102,630 | $128,630 | $119,450 (+16.4%) |
| Software Developers | $123,220 | $146,950 | $136,462 (+10.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,790 | $94,070 | $87,356 (+9.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $86,760 | $100,240 | $93,086 (+7.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.