City comparison
Pittsburgh, PA vs Savannah, GA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Pittsburgh, PA (94.7) and Savannah, GA (95.2, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Pittsburgh, PA goes as far as $100,600 in Savannah, GA.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,533 a month in Savannah, GA versus $1,077 in Pittsburgh, PA. On $100,000, that's 25% of take-home pay in Savannah, GA and 17% in Pittsburgh, PA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,497 a year higher in Savannah, GA than in Pittsburgh, PA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −3.3% moving from Pittsburgh, PA to Savannah, GA ($110,047 → $106,437), while prices change by +0.6%. Net effect of the transfer: −3.8% in real buying power.
- Pittsburgh, PA: price level 94.7 (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
| Pittsburgh, PA | Savannah, GA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 94.7 | 95.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,565 in Savannah | $99,438 in Pittsburgh |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,077/mo | $1,533/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,110 | $74,613 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,070 (PA) | $4,567 (GA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 17% | 25% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,650 | $47,240 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Pittsburgh, PA HUD Metro FMR Area and Savannah, GA MSA. Metro areas: Pittsburgh, PA and Savannah, GA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Pittsburgh | Savannah |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 72.0 | 86.0 |
| Goods | 100.7 | 96.3 |
| Utilities | 107.7 | 88.6 |
| Other services | 97.7 | 98.7 |
| Overall | 94.7 | 95.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Pittsburgh, PA → Savannah, GA
Roughly even
Buying power −0.6%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax +$1,497/yr.
67 Fair offer
Savannah, GA → Pittsburgh, PA
Roughly even
Buying power +0.6%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$1,497/yr.
71 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Pittsburgh, PA is in the Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV pay area; Savannah, GA is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Pittsburgh, PA to Savannah, GA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Pittsburgh, PA | Savannah, GA | Real change, Pittsburgh → Savannah |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,815 | $61,722 | −3.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,211 | $74,678 | −3.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $92,543 | $89,508 | −3.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $110,047 | $106,437 | −3.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $130,042 | $125,776 | −3.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Pittsburgh, PA | Savannah, GA | Savannah pay in Pittsburgh dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $76,550 | $63,710 | $63,352 (−17.2%) |
| Software Developers | $124,500 | $123,220 | $122,528 (−1.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,940 | $79,790 | $79,342 (+3.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $82,370 | $86,760 | $86,272 (+4.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.