A+
3%
Overall NAT. AVG.
2%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
5%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Savannah Georgia National
Cost of living9793100
Goods & Services9897100
Groceries10298100
Health care109100100
Housing9586100
Transportation9694100
Utilities9086100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Savannah, GA

Understanding the cost of living in Savannah can help future residents assess whether their current financial situation aligns with the expenses they will encounter. It enables them to plan for potential changes in their budget and lifestyle. The Savannah cost of living index is 97, which is 3% lower than the national average. The cost of living index is calculated by taking into account multiple categories, which encompass both the cost of everyday expenditures and larger expenses as well.

In Savannah, daily expenses such as food, housing, goods and services, transportation and health care are in line with comparable areas and about average when compared to all cities across the nation. This ensures that the cost of living in Savannah will resemble that of an average city, contributing to a manageable cost of living.

Is Savannah Affordable?

Is Savannah an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Savannah, the median home price is 12.1% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 10.5% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Savannah come in at $46,149, which is 16.6% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Savannah?

Housing: Elevated demand for housing within coveted locales has the propensity to escalate both property values and rental rates, thereby serving as a primary catalyst for an augmented cost of living. Conversely, areas witnessing diminished housing demand, particularly within less desirable environs, often experience an inversely proportional effect, leading to price reductions and subsequently contributing to a more modest cost of living. In Savannah, the housing index is 5.3% lower than the national average.

Transportation: If public transportation is limited or not available, residents may need to own and maintain vehicles, which can add to the cost of living. Gas, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or finance payments will all need to be paid on a monthly basis. In Savannah, the transportation index is 3.7% lower than the national average.

Groceries: Grocery costs have continued to increase significantly over the last 2-3 years. In some markets the cost of food has gone up by more than 20% in that period. While other markets have managed to see only a moderate uptick. These food costs can have a major impact on the cost of living in any area. In Savannah, the groceries index is 2.3% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Savannah cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, it compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services. These items have been meticulously selected to represent various consumer expenditure categories, in 6 categories. Weightings assigned to cost differentials draw from government survey data tracking spending patterns among professional and executive households. While the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Savannah is 5% higher than the Georgia average
  • The cost of living in Savannah is 3% lower than the national average
  • Savannah housing is 5% lower than the national average
  • Georgia general sales tax is 22% lower than the national average
  • Georgia state income tax is 56% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Savannah

See all the best places to live around Savannah

Compare Savannah, GA Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

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      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$64,618$5,385$1,508$1,939
      Renters$35,551$2,963$829$1,067
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Savannah is by simply calculating the maximum that should be spent on housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The plan is to avoid spending more than 28 percent of the gross income on costs that pertain to housing and no more than 36 percent on all expenses and debts. Savannah has a median income of about $64,618 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $1,508 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $35,551. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $829 on all rental costs if they want to maintain a non-impoverished standard of living.

      Georgia Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Georgia 4% 8%

      Georgia Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Georgia 1% 5.75%

      Goods & Services

      Item Savannah National avg. Difference
      Haircut $23.25$24.264.2%
      Beauty Salon $38.33$45.5615.9%
      Toothpaste $3.66$3.701.1%
      Shampoo $1.30$1.281.8%
      Movie $12.10$12.130.3%
      Bowling $22.40$18.0024.4%

      Groceries

      Item Savannah National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.23$5.846.7%
      Fried Chicken $1.46$1.577.4%
      Milk $4.75$4.671.7%
      Potatoes $5.33$4.938.0%
      Pizza $14.38$12.0919.0%
      Beer $10.13$10.412.7%

      Health Care

      Item Savannah National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $93.17$125.6825.9%
      Doctor $135.16$135.780.5%
      Dentist $142.17$113.2925.5%
      Ibuprofen $10.63$10.650.2%
      Lipitor $518.07$468.6010.6%

      Housing

      Item Savannah National avg. Difference
      Home Price $162,300.00$184,700.0012.1%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,681.21$2,346.6928.4%
      Apartment Rent $1,049.00$949.0010.5%

      Transportation

      Item Savannah National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.33$3.463.6%
      Tire Balancing $57.68$59.923.7%

      Utilities

      Item Savannah National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $163.38$193.9915.8%
      Phone $188.43$192.252.0%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Garden City, GA8,957928.1%
      Bloomingdale, GA2,801936.7%
      Rincon, GA10,187981.5%
      Georgetown, GA12,545990.6%
      Port Wentworth, GA8,8861022.2%
      Savannah, GA145,492973.0%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Paterson, NJ145,48411515.3%
      Kelowna, BC145,612n/a 
      Saguenay, QC145,134n/a 
      Bridgeport, CT145,0141098.9%
      Bellevue, WA146,145204104.0%
      Savannah, GA145,492973.0%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.