City comparison
Colorado Springs, CO vs Savannah, GA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Colorado Springs, CO are 5.8% higher than in Savannah, GA. Someone earning $100,000 in Savannah, GA would need about $105,800 in Colorado Springs, CO to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,464 a month in Colorado Springs, CO and $1,533 in Savannah, GA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $876 a year higher in Savannah, GA than in Colorado Springs, CO.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −2.6% moving from Colorado Springs, CO to Savannah, GA ($109,246 → $106,437), while prices change by −5.5%. Net effect of the transfer: +3.1% in real buying power.
- Colorado Springs, CO: price level 100.7 (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
| Colorado Springs, CO | Savannah, GA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.7 | 95.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $94,538 in Savannah | $105,778 in Colorado Springs |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,464/mo | $1,533/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,488 | $74,613 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,692 (CO) | $4,567 (GA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 23% | 25% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $52,710 | $47,240 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Colorado Springs, CO | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Colorado Springs, CO HUD Metro FMR Area and Savannah, GA MSA. Metro areas: Colorado Springs, CO and Savannah, GA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Colorado Springs | Savannah |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 116.2 | 86.0 |
| Goods | 96.1 | 96.3 |
| Utilities | 83.2 | 88.6 |
| Other services | 99.8 | 98.7 |
| Overall | 100.7 | 95.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Colorado Springs, CO → Savannah, GA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +5.8%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax +$876/yr.
87 Strong offer
Savannah, GA → Colorado Springs, CO
Same pay buys less
Buying power −5.5%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax −$876/yr.
52 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Colorado Springs, CO is in the Colorado Springs, CO pay area; Savannah, GA is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Colorado Springs, CO to Savannah, GA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Colorado Springs, CO | Savannah, GA | Real change, Colorado Springs → Savannah |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,351 | $61,722 | +3.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $76,650 | $74,678 | +3.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $91,870 | $89,508 | +3.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $109,246 | $106,437 | +3.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $129,096 | $125,776 | +3.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Colorado Springs, CO | Savannah, GA | Savannah pay in Colorado Springs dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,140 | $63,710 | $67,391 (+10.2%) |
| Software Developers | $134,280 | $123,220 | $130,340 (−2.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $85,000 | $79,790 | $84,400 (−0.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $96,140 | $86,760 | $91,773 (−4.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.