City comparison
Huntsville, AL vs Savannah, GA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Savannah, GA are 2.3% higher than in Huntsville, AL. Someone earning $100,000 in Huntsville, AL would need about $102,300 in Savannah, GA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,533 a month in Savannah, GA versus $1,136 in Huntsville, AL. On $100,000, that's 25% of take-home pay in Savannah, GA and 18% in Huntsville, AL.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,735 a year in AL and $4,567 in GA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −4.0% moving from Huntsville, AL to Savannah, GA ($110,847 → $106,437), while prices change by +2.3%. Net effect of the transfer: −6.1% in real buying power.
- Huntsville, AL: price level 93.1 (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
| Huntsville, AL | Savannah, GA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 93.1 | 95.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $102,293 in Savannah | $97,759 in Huntsville |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,136/mo | $1,533/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,445 | $74,613 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,735 (AL) | $4,567 (GA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 25% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,740 | $47,240 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Huntsville-Decatur, AL-TN | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Huntsville, AL MSA and Savannah, GA MSA. Metro areas: Huntsville, AL and Savannah, GA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Huntsville | Savannah |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 77.9 | 86.0 |
| Goods | 96.4 | 96.3 |
| Utilities | 83.9 | 88.6 |
| Other services | 96.7 | 98.7 |
| Overall | 93.1 | 95.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Huntsville, AL → Savannah, GA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.2%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax −$168/yr.
62 Fair offer
Savannah, GA → Huntsville, AL
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.3%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$168/yr.
76 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Huntsville, AL is in the Huntsville-Decatur, AL-TN pay area; Savannah, GA is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Huntsville, AL to Savannah, GA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Huntsville, AL | Savannah, GA | Real change, Huntsville → Savannah |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,279 | $61,722 | −6.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,772 | $74,678 | −6.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,216 | $89,508 | −6.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $110,847 | $106,437 | −6.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $130,987 | $125,776 | −6.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Huntsville, AL | Savannah, GA | Savannah pay in Huntsville dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $62,250 | $63,710 | $62,282 (+0.1%) |
| Software Developers | $128,080 | $123,220 | $120,458 (−6.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,220 | $79,790 | $78,002 (−1.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $77,090 | $86,760 | $84,815 (+10.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.