Thinking of moving to Savannah?
Although I’ve never lived in Savannah, I’ve been there dozens of times to see if it’s a good place to live since I got a job proposal.
Here’s what I found out about the pros and cons of living in Savannah.
Contents
- Is Savannah A Good Place To Live?
- Pros Of Living In Savannah, GA
- Step into the past with Ghost Tours
- A Culinary Adventure Awaits
- Get More Bang for Your Buck
- A Beach Haven at Your Doorstep
- Picture-Perfect Charm
- A Promising Job Market
- Cons Of Living In Savannah, GA
- Poor Air Quality
- Crime is High
- Extreme Weather Conditions
- Pesky Insects
- Difficult Parking
- Tourists
- Living in Savannah
Is Savannah A Good Place To Live?
Savannah, with its charming streets and Southern allure, captures the hearts of many.
But like any city, you’ll find both pros and cons.
Reasons To Live In Savannah
Living in Savannah is gentle on the wallet, with costs of living often below the national average.
The beach is a short 30-minute drive away, making it convenient for quick trips or spontaneous after-work visits.
The rich history and stunning architecture fill the city, ensuring there’s always something intriguing around every corner.
Reasons Not To Live In Savannah
Crime can be a concern, so it’s a good idea to visit potential neighborhoods before making a decision.
The city’s status as a tourist hotspot can also be a mixed blessing.
Downtown areas often see a surge of tourists, leading to crowded streets and venues, especially during peak seasons or special events.
And while the atmosphere can be lovely, the city’s humid subtropical climate makes summers scorching and sticky.
All in all, Savannah offers a blend of history, charm, and affordability.
Still, challenges like crime and an influx of tourists can’t be ignored. Making a move always involves weighing the good with the not-so-good.
Pros Of Living In Savannah, GA
Here are many great reasons to call Savannah home:
Step into the past with Ghost Tours
This city is full of historic buildings and homes with a story. But did you know that Savannah is also renowned for its ghost tours?
These spine-tingling tours take you through the haunted and mysterious side of Savannah’s history.
Imagine walking through the cobblestone streets at night, lantern in hand, as a knowledgeable guide shares spine-chilling tales of the city’s haunted places.
A Culinary Adventure Awaits
Are you a food lover? Then Savannah will be a paradise for your taste buds!
This city boasts a vibrant food scene, with various restaurants offering diverse cuisines, from Southern comfort food to international delicacies.
Whether you’re looking for low-country favorites like shrimp and grits or craving fresh seafood from the coast, you’ll find it all here. And remember to indulge in delicious Southern-style desserts like pralines or pecan pie.
The food scene in Savannah will keep you coming back for more, and it’s just one of the many reasons locals can’t get enough of this city.
Get More Bang for Your Buck
In Savannah, you can have an excellent quality of life even if you’re not a six-figure earner.
Compared to other metropolitan areas in the United States, Savannah has a lower cost of living at 10% below the national average.
Housing prices are more affordable, 28% cheaper than the U.S. average, meaning you can get more space for your money.
Reasonably priced groceries, dining out, and entertainment options allow you to stretch your budget further.
With its diverse job market and lower taxes, Savannah offers a great economic opportunity to its residents.
MORE: 5 Cheapest Places to Live in Georgia in 2023
A Beach Haven at Your Doorstep
What’s better than having a beach just a few minutes away from your home?
Tybee Island is within a short drive from the city and has miles of sandy beaches where you can get into the great outdoors.
Picture-Perfect Charm
Savannah is unique due to its 22 amazing squares.
You can walk around them, enjoying the oak trees, Spanish moss, and tidy gardens. They’re peaceful places in the city, great for picnics, reading, or just taking in the beauty of Savannah.
A Promising Job Market
As I mentioned, I recently got this job offer that would mean moving to Savannah. Naturally, I started looking into what the job scene is like there.
There are steady jobs in manufacturing, trade, and transport, the unemployment rate’s going down but not every field’s hot right now – some, like IT and business services, aren’t seeing much growth.
Cons Of Living In Savannah, GA
While the Hostess City of the South has much to offer, it’s important to highlight some cons that potential residents should know.
Poor Air Quality
The air isn’t that great. It’s not as clean as in some other places.
Due to the heavy humidity, industrial activities, and abundant old oak trees, residents often experience higher pollen and air pollution levels.
This might bother some folks if fresh air is important to you.
Crime is High
Unfortunately, Savannah has a reputation for high crime rates, 33% higher than the national average.
You might not hear about it a lot on the local news because they try to keep the city’s image good for tourists.
But many folks in the city feel it, especially at night. Most of the trouble comes from gangs, so regular folks usually aren’t the targets.
But places like Forsythe Park? It’s best to stay away when it gets dark.
Even some parts of downtown can feel unsafe at night.
If you are looking for a safer place to live, then you should check out one of these safest cities in Georgia.
Extreme Weather Conditions
Living in Savannah means embracing hot, humid summers and mild, damp winters.
You might find the city’s weather monotonous if you are a fan of four distinct seasons.
The summer heat and humidity can be quite intense, with temperatures frequently exceeding 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius).
Savannah often experiences heavy rainfall throughout the year, leading to occasional flooding in low-lying areas.
Pesky Insects
As much as we love the lush green landscapes of Savannah, they come with a side effect – pesky mosquitoes and other outdoor pests.
The warmer climate and proximity to abundant marshlands make the city a breeding ground for these bothersome creatures.
Mosquitoes love to make their presence known, particularly during the summer when they can put a damper on outdoor activities.
In addition to mosquitoes, residents may encounter other critters such as cockroaches, palmetto bugs, and fire ants.
Are you ready to fight against these tiny yet persistent unwanted guests?
Difficult Parking
Parking in Savannah can be an arduous task.
The city’s historic district is famous for its narrow, cobblestoned streets, making it challenging to find parking spaces, especially during peak tourist seasons.
It’s common to spend significant time searching for a parking spot only to park a considerable distance from your destination.
Parking on the streets often requires paying hefty fees at meters.
Tourists
Savannah downtown is almost always busy. Streets get filled with tourist buses and slow-moving rides all year round. It’s especially bad over St. Patrick’s Day weekend and when SCAD students are moving in.
A big part of the tourist crowd? Bachelorette parties. While they can be fun to watch sometimes, they can also get annoying fast.
The high number of tourists also means getting into good restaurants becomes a task.
If you’re hoping to eat at a nice place downtown, especially in the historic area, you need to book table weeks in advance.
Sure, there are spots where you can walk in and find a seat, but the really popular places? They get booked up fast, especially on weekends.
Living in Savannah
If you’re looking to live on the shore with a decent cost of living, then you should consider Savannah. It’s not the kind of place where you can buy a beach house for under $100k, but it won’t cost an arm and a leg either.
If you’re thinking about moving other places, don’t forget to check out:
14 Pros & Cons Of Living In Atlanta