01 · the cities
Savannah
Savannah is 22 oak-shaded squares draped in Spanish moss, ghost tours by candlelight, and shrimp and grits so good they should be regulated. The historic district is a working film set that just happens to be a real city, kept lively by SCAD students keeping the cafes weird. To-go cups of cocktails are legal in the historic district, which tells you exactly how the city wants you to spend a Saturday. The oldest art museum in the South is here too, in case you need a culture alibi.
full dispatch→Columbia
Columbia is the South Carolina capital, USC Gamecock country, and home to one of the largest urban rivers (the Congaree) flowing right past downtown. The Saluda River outside town is a tubing destination locals swear by, and Congaree National Park's old-growth cypress is a 30-minute drive. The state museum is a sleeper good time. Slower-paced than Charleston, less touristy.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$1,770/mo
$1,551/mo
$219/mo less than Savannah (14%)
Median home price
Median home price
$349k
$255k
$94k less than Savannah
State income tax
State income tax
5.5%
6.5%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$6,106/mo
$6,241/mo
Columbia has $135/mo more gross after rent at $100k
Gross left after rent reflects state income tax but not federal, based on $100k salary. Enter your salary to find your ideal city.
03 · the weather
Pleasant days/yr
Pleasant days/yr
209 days
189 days
20 fewer than Savannah
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
19 days
27 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
2 days
days below 20°F per year
Columbia has 8 more days above 95°F each year than Savannah.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
52 / 100
55 / 100
3.0 pts ahead of Savannah
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
13 routes
10 routes
3 fewer direct routes than Savannah
Metro size
Metro size
425k metro
857k metro
Savannah has 1.2x fewer events per month than Columbia.
the verdict
4
Savannah
categories won
4
Columbia
categories won
Savannah wins on weather, Columbia wins on money. Dead even.
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