City comparison
Raleigh, NC vs Savannah, GA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Raleigh, NC are 3.1% higher than in Savannah, GA. Someone earning $100,000 in Savannah, GA would need about $103,100 in Raleigh, NC to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,596 a month in Raleigh, NC and $1,533 in Savannah, GA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,086 a year higher in Savannah, GA than in Raleigh, NC.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −4.2% moving from Raleigh, NC to Savannah, GA ($111,147 → $106,437), while prices change by −3.0%. Net effect of the transfer: −1.3% in real buying power.
- Raleigh, NC: price level 98.2 (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
| Raleigh, NC | Savannah, GA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 98.2 | 95.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $96,994 in Savannah | $103,100 in Raleigh |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,596/mo | $1,533/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,699 | $74,613 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,481 (NC) | $4,567 (GA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 25% | 25% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,990 | $47,240 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Raleigh-Cary, NC MSA and Savannah, GA MSA. Metro areas: Raleigh-Cary, NC and Savannah, GA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Raleigh | Savannah |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 103.5 | 86.0 |
| Goods | 96.6 | 96.3 |
| Utilities | 89.0 | 88.6 |
| Other services | 98.2 | 98.7 |
| Overall | 98.2 | 95.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Raleigh, NC → Savannah, GA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +3.1%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax +$1,086/yr.
78 Strong offer
Savannah, GA → Raleigh, NC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.0%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax −$1,086/yr.
59 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Raleigh, NC is in the Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC pay area; Savannah, GA is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Raleigh, NC to Savannah, GA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Raleigh, NC | Savannah, GA | Real change, Raleigh → Savannah |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,453 | $61,722 | −1.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,983 | $74,678 | −1.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,468 | $89,508 | −1.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,147 | $106,437 | −1.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,342 | $125,776 | −1.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Raleigh, NC | Savannah, GA | Savannah pay in Raleigh dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,170 | $63,710 | $65,685 (+9.2%) |
| Software Developers | $132,770 | $123,220 | $127,039 (−4.3%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $81,950 | $79,790 | $82,263 (+0.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $84,830 | $86,760 | $89,449 (+5.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.