City comparison
Savannah, GA vs Springfield, MA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Savannah, GA (95.2) and Springfield, MA (96.1, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Savannah, GA goes as far as $100,900 in Springfield, MA.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,533 a month in Savannah, GA versus $1,382 in Springfield, MA. On $100,000, that's 25% of take-home pay in Savannah, GA and 22% in Springfield, MA.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,567 a year in GA and $4,780 in MA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +12.8% moving from Savannah, GA to Springfield, MA ($106,437 → $120,094), while prices change by +0.9%. Net effect of the transfer: +11.8% in real buying power.
- Savannah, GA: price level 95.2 (cheaper)
- Springfield, MA: price level 96.1 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Savannah, GA | Springfield, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.2 | 96.1 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,898 in Springfield | $99,110 in Savannah |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,533/mo | $1,382/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,613 | $74,400 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,567 (GA) | $4,780 (MA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 25% | 22% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,240 | $51,930 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA |
Rent areas: Savannah, GA MSA and Springfield, MA MSA. Metro areas: Savannah, GA and Springfield, MA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Savannah | Springfield |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 86.0 | 75.8 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 97.0 |
| Utilities | 88.6 | 155.0 |
| Other services | 98.7 | 101.2 |
| Overall | 95.2 | 96.1 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Savannah, GA → Springfield, MA
Roughly even
Buying power −0.9%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$213/yr.
66 Fair offer
Springfield, MA → Savannah, GA
Roughly even
Buying power +0.9%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax −$213/yr.
72 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Savannah, GA is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Springfield, MA is in Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA. The last column shows what a transfer from Savannah, GA to Springfield, MA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Savannah, GA | Springfield, MA | Real change, Savannah → Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $69,642 | +11.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $84,260 | +11.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $100,992 | +11.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $120,094 | +11.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $141,915 | +11.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Savannah, GA | Springfield, MA | Springfield pay in Savannah dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,710 | $79,640 | $78,931 (+23.9%) |
| Software Developers | $123,220 | $127,740 | $126,603 (+2.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,790 | $92,010 | $91,191 (+14.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $86,760 | $98,410 | $97,534 (+12.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.