City comparison
Baltimore, MD vs Savannah, GA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Baltimore, MD are 9.7% higher than in Savannah, GA. Someone earning $100,000 in Savannah, GA would need about $109,700 in Baltimore, MD to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,511 a month in Baltimore, MD and $1,533 in Savannah, GA.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,386 a year in MD and $4,567 in GA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −12.6% moving from Baltimore, MD to Savannah, GA ($121,785 → $106,437), while prices change by −8.9%. Net effect of the transfer: −4.1% in real buying power.
- Baltimore, MD: price level 104.5 (pricier)
- 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
| Baltimore, MD | Savannah, GA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 104.5 | 95.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $91,118 in Savannah | $109,748 in Baltimore |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,511/mo | $1,533/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,794 | $74,613 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,386 (MD) | $4,567 (GA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 25% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $59,070 | $47,240 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD MSA and Savannah, GA MSA. Metro areas: Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD and Savannah, GA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Baltimore | Savannah |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 118.2 | 86.0 |
| Goods | 102.4 | 96.3 |
| Utilities | 110.2 | 88.6 |
| Other services | 101.5 | 98.7 |
| Overall | 104.5 | 95.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Baltimore, MD → Savannah, GA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +9.7%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax +$181/yr.
99 Strong offer
Savannah, GA → Baltimore, MD
Same pay buys less
Buying power −8.9%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$181/yr.
41 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Baltimore, MD is in the Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA pay area; Savannah, GA is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Baltimore, MD to Savannah, GA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Baltimore, MD | Savannah, GA | Real change, Baltimore → Savannah |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $70,623 | $61,722 | −4.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $85,447 | $74,678 | −4.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $102,415 | $89,508 | −4.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $121,785 | $106,437 | −4.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $143,913 | $125,776 | −4.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Baltimore, MD | Savannah, GA | Savannah pay in Baltimore dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $76,400 | $63,710 | $69,921 (−8.5%) |
| Software Developers | $138,900 | $123,220 | $135,232 (−2.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $85,160 | $79,790 | $87,568 (+2.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $99,550 | $86,760 | $95,218 (−4.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.