City comparison
Olympia, WA vs Savannah, GA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Olympia, WA are 8.9% higher than in Savannah, GA. Someone earning $100,000 in Savannah, GA would need about $108,900 in Olympia, WA to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,682 a month in Olympia, WA versus $1,533 in Savannah, GA. On $100,000, that's 25% of take-home pay in Olympia, WA and 25% in Savannah, GA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,567 a year higher in Savannah, GA than in Olympia, WA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −11.0% moving from Olympia, WA to Savannah, GA ($119,630 → $106,437), while prices change by −8.2%. Net effect of the transfer: −3.1% in real buying power.
- Olympia, WA: price level 103.7 (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
| Olympia, WA | Savannah, GA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 103.7 | 95.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $91,836 in Savannah | $108,890 in Olympia |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,682/mo | $1,533/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $74,613 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (WA) | $4,567 (GA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 25% | 25% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $61,960 | $47,240 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Seattle-Tacoma, WA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA MSA and Savannah, GA MSA. Metro areas: Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA and Savannah, GA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Olympia | Savannah |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 116.7 | 86.0 |
| Goods | 105.0 | 96.3 |
| Utilities | 91.7 | 88.6 |
| Other services | 99.5 | 98.7 |
| Overall | 103.7 | 95.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Olympia, WA → Savannah, GA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +8.9%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax +$4,567/yr.
97 Strong offer
Savannah, GA → Olympia, WA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −8.2%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax −$4,567/yr.
42 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Olympia, WA is in the Seattle-Tacoma, WA pay area; Savannah, GA is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Olympia, WA to Savannah, GA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Olympia, WA | Savannah, GA | Real change, Olympia → Savannah |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $69,373 | $61,722 | −3.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $83,935 | $74,678 | −3.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $100,602 | $89,508 | −3.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $119,630 | $106,437 | −3.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $141,367 | $125,776 | −3.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Olympia, WA | Savannah, GA | Savannah pay in Olympia dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $104,650 | $63,710 | $69,374 (−33.7%) |
| Software Developers | $124,060 | $123,220 | $134,174 (+8.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $94,470 | $79,790 | $86,883 (−8.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $125,020 | $86,760 | $94,473 (−24.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.