City comparison
Savannah, GA vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Washington, DC are 14.4% higher than in Savannah, GA. Someone earning $100,000 in Savannah, GA would need about $114,400 in Washington, DC to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $2,015 a month in Washington, DC versus $1,533 in Savannah, GA. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 25% in Savannah, GA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $964 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Savannah, GA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +14.4% moving from Savannah, GA to Washington, DC ($106,437 → $121,785), while prices change by +14.4%. Net effect of the transfer: +0.0% in real buying power.
- Savannah, GA: price level 95.2 (cheaper)
- Washington, DC: price level 108.9 (much pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Savannah, GA | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.2 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $114,367 in Washington | $87,438 in Savannah |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,533/mo | $2,015/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,613 | $73,649 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,567 (GA) | $5,532 (DC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 25% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,240 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Savannah, GA MSA and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Savannah, GA and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Savannah | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 86.0 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 88.6 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 98.7 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 95.2 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Savannah, GA → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −12.6%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$964/yr.
26 Weak offer
Washington, DC → Savannah, GA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +14.4%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax −$964/yr.
100 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Savannah, GA is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Washington, DC is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Savannah, GA to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Savannah, GA | Washington, DC | Real change, Savannah → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $70,623 | +0.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $85,447 | +0.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $102,415 | +0.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $121,785 | +0.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $143,913 | +0.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Savannah, GA | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Savannah dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,710 | $79,470 | $69,487 (+9.1%) |
| Software Developers | $123,220 | $154,930 | $135,468 (+9.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,790 | $102,140 | $89,309 (+11.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $86,760 | $102,710 | $89,808 (+3.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.