Cost of Living in Savannah, GA
Savannah, GA — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Savannah, GA to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Savannah, GA?
With a price level of 95.2 (U.S. average = 100), Savannah, GA is cheaper than average. In detail, housing costs are 14% below average; everyday goods are 4% below average; utilities are 11% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining cost about the same as the national average. The biggest difference from the national average is in housing.
Prices in Savannah, GA vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 95.2 | −4.8% |
| Housing | 86.0 | −14.0% |
| Goods | 96.3 | −3.7% |
| Utilities | 88.6 | −11.4% |
| Other services | 98.7 | −1.3% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Savannah, GA
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,455 | $58,200/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,533 | $61,320/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,680 | $67,200/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,235 | $89,400/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,547 | $101,880/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Savannah, GA
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Savannah, GA | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $38,100 | $31,439 |
| $60,000 | $57,100 | $45,719 |
| $80,000 | $76,200 | $59,105 |
| $100,000 | $95,200 | $71,485 |
| $150,000 | $142,800 | $102,081 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Georgia 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Savannah, GA's median wage of $47,240 takes home about $3,192 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,533, which is 48% of take-home pay — well above the 30% guideline, so many workers here share housing or rent smaller units. That leaves about $1,659 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Savannah, GA
- Federal income tax$3,489
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,929
- Medicare (1.45%)$685
- Georgia income tax$1,829
- Take-home pay$38,308
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.19% state
Highest-paying jobs in Savannah, GA
| Job | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $86,760 | $65,986 | $69,308 |
| General and Operations Manager | $83,990 | $64,181 | $67,412 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver | $58,930 | $47,095 | $49,466 |
| Office Clerks, General | $40,750 | $33,431 | $35,114 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $38,250 | $31,552 | $33,140 |
| Customer Service Representative | $36,830 | $30,484 | $32,019 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,940 | $29,815 | $31,317 |
| Stocker and Order Filler | $35,510 | $29,492 | $30,977 |
| Retail Salesperson | $30,160 | $25,471 | $26,754 |
| Cashier | $29,140 | $24,704 | $25,948 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $27,460 | $23,421 | $24,600 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $20,830 | $18,305 | $19,227 |
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in Georgia cities
Half of Georgia’s 4,889,170 workers earn less than $48,170 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $35,700–$77,570 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Warner Robins, GA stretches a paycheck furthest, while Athens, GA is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta, GA | $51,170 | 100.1 | $1,646 | 48% | $1,793 | $41,238 |
| Chattanooga, TN | $46,700 | 91.5 | $1,263 | 40% | $1,896 | $41,440 |
| Augusta, GA | $45,990 | 91.9 | $1,110 | 36% | $2,004 | $40,661 |
| Savannah, GA | $47,240 | 95.2 | $1,533 | 48% | $1,659 | $40,237 |
| Columbus, GA | $43,540 | 89.3 | $936 | 32% | $2,025 | $39,786 |
| Gainesville, GA | $45,900 | 96.8 | $1,381 | 44% | $1,727 | $38,548 |
| Athens, GA | $41,220 | 93.3 | $1,183 | 42% | $1,632 | $36,193 |
| Macon, GA | $45,160 | 88.5 | $1,145 | 37% | $1,917 | $41,507 |
| Warner Robins, GA | $48,600 | 93.8 | $1,193 | 36% | $2,085 | $41,935 |
| Dalton, GA | $42,210 | 89.8 | $879 | 31% | $1,998 | $38,431 |
| Albany, GA | $43,620 | 87.7 | $1,006 | 34% | $1,960 | $40,593 |
| Valdosta, GA | $39,110 | 88.3 | $921 | 34% | $1,762 | $36,476 |
| Brunswick, GA | $41,940 | 87.7 | $1,105 | 39% | $1,755 | $39,135 |
| Rome, GA | $42,670 | 90.2 | $923 | 32% | $1,983 | $38,679 |
| Hinesville, GA | $46,670 | 93.9 | $1,232 | 39% | $1,925 | $40,327 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Savannah, GA vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Savannah, GA | 95.2 | $1,533 | $47,240 | 198,360 |
| Manchester, NH | 105.7 | $1,596 | $56,530 | 199,560 |
| Santa Maria, CA | 108.8 | $2,746 | $51,690 | 200,760 |
| Springfield, MA | 96.1 | $1,382 | $51,930 | 201,240 |
| Modesto, CA | 104.1 | $1,356 | $50,610 | 195,230 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 92.7 | $1,115 | $45,350 | 192,580 |
| Boulder, CO | 105.2 | $1,795 | $69,580 | 192,390 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Savannah, GA expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Savannah, GA metro area are 95.2% of the U.S. average, with housing at 86.0%. It is the #163 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Savannah, GA?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $57,124 in Savannah, GA (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $47,240.
Can you afford Savannah, GA on the median wage?
A single worker on the $47,240 median wage takes home about $3,192 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,533 would take 48% of that.
How much is rent in Savannah, GA?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Savannah, GA are $1,455 for a studio, $1,533 for one bedroom, $1,680 for two bedrooms and $2,235 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Savannah, GA
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $83,990
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $86,760
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- Cooks, Restaurant — $35,940
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,460
- Waiter and Waitress — $20,830
Sales and Related Occupations
- Retail Salesperson — $30,160
- Cashier — $29,140
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- Office Clerks, General — $40,750
- Customer Service Representative — $36,830
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $58,930
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $38,250
- Stocker and Order Filler — $35,510