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Charleston vs Savannah

Savannah costs less to buy into: about $437 a month less on the typical home. Savannah has the milder winters.

By Sol Lakein. Updated November 2026.

Charleston$479,450 · $2,635/moSavannah$399,900 · $2,198/mo

Side by side

The better number in each row is green, with a check mark.

Money

  • Typical home for sale1
    Charleston
    $479,450
    Savannah
    Lower$399,900
  • Monthly mortgage on it2
    Charleston
    $2,635
    Savannah
    Lower$2,198
  • 2-bedroom rent3
    Charleston
    $1,817
    Savannah
    Lower$1,676
  • Price per square foot1
    Charleston
    $256
    Savannah
    Lower$209
  • Everyday prices4
    Charleston
    1% above avg
    Savannah
    Lower5% below avg
  • Housing costs4
    Charleston
    20% above avg
    Savannah
    Lower14% below avg
  • Salary that matches $150,000 in New York4
    Charleston
    $134,541
    Savannah
    $126,870

Weather

  • January low5
    Charleston
    38.9°F
    Savannah
    Milder40°F
  • July high5
    Charleston
    Cooler91.3°F
    Savannah
    92.3°F
  • Snow per year5
    Charleston
    0.3 in
    Savannah
    No data

Trips home and more

  • Nonstop to New York6
    Charleston
    Yes, CHS
    Savannah
    Yes, SAV
  • Net move-ins from other US metros, 2024-257
    Charleston
    +9,911
    Savannah
    No data
  • Average commute, one way8
    Charleston
    30 min
    Savannah
    Shorter27 min
  • Pays you to move9
    Charleston
    No program
    Savannah
    No program
See it as one table, with sources
MeasureCharlestonSavannahSource
Typical home for sale$479,450$399,900Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026
Monthly mortgage on it$2,635$2,198Principal and interest, 20% down, 7.32%
2-bedroom rent$1,817$1,676Census ACS 2025, incl. utilities
Price per square foot$256$209Realtor.com via FRED
Everyday prices1% above avg5% below avgBEA regional price parities, 2024
Housing costs20% above avg14% below avgBEA, 2024
Salary that matches $150,000 in New York$134,541$126,870BEA price parities, 2024
January low38.9°F40°FNOAA 1991-2020 normals
July high91.3°F92.3°FNOAA 1991-2020 normals
Snow per year0.3 inNo dataNOAA 1991-2020 normals
Nonstop to New YorkYes, CHSYes, SAVAirport route pages, October 2026
Net move-ins from other US metros, 2024-25+9,911No dataUS Census Bureau, Vintage 2025
Average commute, one way30 min27 minCensus ACS 2025 1-year, table S0801, mean travel time to work (one way, workers who do not work from home), 2025
Pays you to moveNo programNo programOfficial program pages, October 2026

Which one fits you

Pick Charleston if you want

  • Cooler summers
Cost of living in Charleston

Pick Savannah if you want

  • Lower home prices
  • A smaller monthly payment
  • Lower rent
  • More space for the money
  • Lower everyday prices
  • Lower housing and rent costs
  • Milder winters
  • A shorter commute
Cost of living in Savannah

More comparisons

Charleston vs Savannah: questions people ask

Is Charleston or Savannah cheaper?

Savannah has the lower median listed home ($399,900 against $479,450, Realtor.com via FRED). On a mortgage for each median home that is about $437 a month less in principal and interest. Everyday prices: 101.0 in Charleston, 95.2 in Savannah (BEA, 2024, US = 100).

Which has milder winters, Charleston or Savannah?

Savannah. January lows average 38.9°F in Charleston and 40°F in Savannah (NOAA 1991-2020 normals).

What changes if I move from Charleston to Savannah?

The monthly payment on the median listed home goes from $2,635 to $2,198, and a salary of $100,000 in Charleston buys what about $94,299 buys in Savannah (Realtor.com via FRED; BEA regional price parities, 2024). Moving the other way, from Savannah to Charleston, reverses both numbers.

Is it better to live in Charleston or Savannah?

Charleston comes out ahead on cooler summers. Savannah comes out ahead on lower home prices, a smaller monthly payment, lower rent. The right one depends on which of those matters most to your household.

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Notes on the numbers
  1. 1Home prices: the typical home is the median listing price, with price per square foot, from Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026.
  2. 2Monthly mortgage: Principal and interest on the median listed home with 20% down, 30-year fixed at 7.32% (Freddie Mac 30-year fixed average, week of October 22, 2026). Excludes taxes, insurance and HOA. Rate source
  3. 3Rent: Census ACS 2025 1-year, median gross rent for 2-bedroom units (rent plus utilities). Census table
  4. 4Everyday prices, housing costs and the matching salary: BEA regional price parities, 2024, compared with the US average. Everyday price bars run from 75 to 135 and housing bars from 40 to 160, where the US average is 100.
  5. 5Weather: NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals.
  6. 6Flights: airport route pages, October 2026.
  7. 7Net move-ins: US Census Bureau, Vintage 2025.
  8. 8Commute: Census ACS 2025 1-year, table S0801, mean travel time to work (one way, workers who do not work from home), 2025. Census table
  9. 9Incentives: official program pages, October 2026.
Sources for this page