Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Philadelphia, PA
VS
Savannah, GA
🏆 Savannah leads 13 of 21 categories
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$57,537 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High
Population
1,593,208 ✓ Larger
Savannah
Georgia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,748
Violent Crime Index
5 ✓ Safer
Population
147,583
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Households earn $2,789 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (908.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4548.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 7.2%)
Longer commutes — 32.8 min average each way
Savannah, GA
Pros
98% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (20.3 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (7.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 42°F
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Philadelphia
Cons
Median income trails Philadelphia by $2,789/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Philadelphia
Median Income
$2,789
$57,537 vs $54,748/yr
Savannah
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 95.6 vs 103.5 (100 = US avg)
Savannah
Violent Crime
98% lower
20.3 vs 908.7 per 100k
Savannah
Median Home Value
$12k less
$203,300 vs $215,500
Savannah
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
7.2% vs 8.6% unemployment
Savannah
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.3°F vs 89.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Philadelphia, PA | Savannah, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.5⚠ High | 95.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $215,500 | $203,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 | $1,216 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,537 ✓ Higher | $54,748 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 7.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.8 min⚠ High | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 230⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 239⚠ High | 5 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.6% ✓ Higher | 31.1% |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Philadelphia City SD | Savannah-Chatham County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.6°F | 61.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.3°F | 92.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.7" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger | 147,583 |
| Median Age | 34.8 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.2% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% ✓ More | 20.1% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 14.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Philadelphia's cost of living index is 103.5 vs Savannah's 95.6 (US average = 100).
Savannah is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Savannah leads 13 of 21 categories. Philadelphia wins 8 and Savannah wins 13. 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 Philadelphia to Savannah or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($215,500 vs $203,300 median home), income ($57,537 vs $54,748), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Philadelphia, PA and Savannah, GA are about 647 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.