Atlanta vs Savannah
Compare Atlanta, GA and Savannah, GA on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Savannah is the cheaper metro on paper: ACS median rent runs $1,266/mo versus $1,446/mo in Atlanta — a gap of about $180/mo — and HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents show $1,445/mo against $1,844/mo. Across the four public-data screens Atlanta comes out ahead (264 vs 249 summed points), though Savannah still wins specific categories below.
Their climates screen similarly — summer highs near 89°F and 91°F respectively. If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Savannah; if walkable daily life matters more, Atlanta screens stronger on the walkability proxy (21 vs 15). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Savannah leads 66 to 63 on the cost and climate screen.
Atlanta leads 77 to 73 on the work screen.
Atlanta leads 55 to 51 on the daily life screen.
Atlanta leads 69 to 59 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Atlanta is roughly $99,167 in Savannah using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Atlanta | Savannah | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $1,446/mo | $1,266/mo | Savannah |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,844/mo | $1,445/mo | Savannah |
| Median home value | $300,000 | $250,000 | Savannah |
| State income tax | 5.2% | 5.2% | Tie |
| Average commute | 34.2 min | 26.8 min | Savannah |
| Safety score | 55/100 | 53/100 | Atlanta |
| School score | 7/10 | 5/10 | Atlanta |
| Walkability estimate | 21/100 | 15/100 | Atlanta |
| Outdoor score | 7/10 | 6/10 | Atlanta |
| Restaurants per 100k | 199.3 | 242.5 | Savannah |
| Mountain distance | 30 mi | 205 mi | Atlanta |
| Coast distance | 224 mi | 11 mi | Savannah |
What stands out
Atlanta stronger signals
- Major airport access
- Strong food and nightlife amenities score
- Trail access within 46 miles
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
Atlanta tradeoffs
- Higher natural disaster risk
Savannah stronger signals
- Strong food and nightlife amenities score
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
- Named beach within 9 miles
- Coast access within 11 miles
Savannah tradeoffs
- Higher natural disaster risk
Common questions
Is Atlanta cheaper than Savannah?
On public benchmarks Savannah is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $1,446/mo in Atlanta vs $1,266/mo in Savannah; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,844/mo vs $1,445/mo; state income tax is 5.2% vs 5.2%.
Is Atlanta or Savannah safer?
Atlanta screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 55/100 for Atlanta and 53/100 for Savannah (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Atlanta or Savannah?
School screens show 7/10 for Atlanta vs 5/10 for Savannah, alongside the safety scores above. It is a metro-level screen; verify specific school districts before weighting it heavily.
How different is the climate between Atlanta and Savannah?
Atlanta: summer highs near 89°F, winter lows near 34°F, disaster-risk band 3/3. Savannah: 91°F / 37°F, disaster-risk band 3/3 (NOAA climate normals).
Keep researching
Score this comparison with your own constraints
Public comparison pages use equal-weighted signals. The questionnaire reweights cities around your housing budget, climate preferences, work needs, family needs, and daily-life priorities.
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