City comparison
San Diego, CA vs Savannah, GA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in San Diego, CA are 17.5% higher than in Savannah, GA. Someone earning $100,000 in Savannah, GA would need about $117,500 in San Diego, CA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $2,459 a month in San Diego, CA versus $1,533 in Savannah, GA. On $100,000, that's 40% of take-home pay in San Diego, CA and 25% in Savannah, GA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $503 a year higher in San Diego, CA than in Savannah, GA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −12.5% moving from San Diego, CA to Savannah, GA ($121,585 → $106,437), while prices change by −14.9%. Net effect of the transfer: +2.9% in real buying power.
- San Diego, CA: price level 111.9 (much 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
| San Diego, CA | Savannah, GA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 111.9 | 95.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $85,091 in Savannah | $117,521 in San Diego |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $2,459/mo | $1,533/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,110 | $74,613 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $5,070 (CA) | $4,567 (GA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 40% | 25% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $58,690 | $47,240 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA MSA and Savannah, GA MSA. Metro areas: San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA and Savannah, GA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | San Diego | Savannah |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 179.3 | 86.0 |
| Goods | 108.0 | 96.3 |
| Utilities | 174.2 | 88.6 |
| Other services | 99.6 | 98.7 |
| Overall | 111.9 | 95.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
San Diego, CA → Savannah, GA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +17.5%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax −$503/yr.
100 Strong offer
Savannah, GA → San Diego, CA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −14.9%; rent takes 40% of take-home; state tax +$503/yr.
15 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
San Diego, CA is in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA pay area; Savannah, GA is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from San Diego, CA to Savannah, GA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | San Diego, CA | Savannah, GA | Real change, San Diego → Savannah |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $70,507 | $61,722 | +2.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $85,307 | $74,678 | +2.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $102,246 | $89,508 | +2.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $121,585 | $106,437 | +2.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $143,677 | $125,776 | +2.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | San Diego, CA | Savannah, GA | Savannah pay in San Diego dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $97,000 | $63,710 | $74,873 (−22.8%) |
| Software Developers | $163,270 | $123,220 | $144,809 (−11.3%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $96,340 | $79,790 | $93,770 (−2.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $139,520 | $86,760 | $101,961 (−26.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.