Head-to-Head · City Comparison
McAllen, TX
VS
Savannah, GA
🏆 McAllen leads 12 of 21 categories
McAllen
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39
Population
142,722
Savannah
Georgia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.6
Median Household Income
$54,748
Violent Crime Index
5 ✓ Safer
Population
147,583 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
McAllen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $45k less ($158,700 vs $203,300)
Rent averages $261/mo less ($955 vs $1,216)
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (5.4%)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Savannah
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.6)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Savannah, GA
Pros
86% less violent crime than McAllen
Violent crime is well below the national average (20.3 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 98°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 10% higher than McAllen
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
McAllen
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 95.6 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Median Income
$1,578
$56,326 vs $54,748/yr
McAllen
Median Home Value
$45k less
$158,700 vs $203,300
McAllen
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
5.4% vs 7.2% unemployment
McAllen
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 92.3°F
Savannah
Violent Crime
86% lower
20.3 vs 150.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | McAllen, TX | Savannah, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 95.6 |
| Median Home Value | $158,700 ✓ Lower | $203,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $955 ✓ Lower | $1,216 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,326 ✓ Higher | $54,748 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.5% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 | 5 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% ✓ Higher | 31.1% |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MCALLEN ISD | Savannah-Chatham County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer | 61.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer | 92.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 27.4" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,722 | 147,583 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 33.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.4% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 28.3% ✓ More | 20.1% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% | 14.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
McAllen's cost of living index is 85.6 vs Savannah's 95.6 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, McAllen leads 12 of 21 categories. McAllen wins 12 and Savannah wins 9. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from McAllen to Savannah or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,700 vs $203,300 median home), income ($56,326 vs $54,748), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
McAllen, TX and Savannah, GA are about 1,103 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.