Need a little Southern charm and Spanish moss everywhere you go? Consider living in Savannah.

This beautiful town is a true melting pot of old and new. Period architecture sits beside trendy shops. Innovative coastal cuisine comes before a walking ghost tour, steeped in pirates and the past.

With a reputation for hospitality and grace, Savannah gives residents a small town with a lot of diversity. This is especially true as your branch out beyond the central, historic neighborhoods. You'll easily find your niche in a place like Savannah, and, if you're lucky, have a waterfront view to go with it.

What is the average rent in Savannah?

Drawing in history buffs, fashionistas, art lovers and more, it's nice that Savannah is a relatively affordable place to call home. Although Average Rent in Savannah is up a little over 2 percent from last year, you can still find the perfect neighborhood within your budget.

Expect to pay $1,181 per month, on average, for a one-bedroom apartment. That's about 26 percent lower than 2020's national average.

How much do I need to make to live in Savannah?

To balance the basic expenses of renting, and still have money left over to have fun in Savannah, it's important to budget. Starting with rent, most experts say that you shouldn't spend more than 30 percent of your pre-tax income on housing. This leaves plenty left over for bills and recurring expenses like groceries and fun money.

Taking into account the average monthly rent in Savannah is $1,181, you'd need to make a minimum of $47,240 per year to hit that 30 percent mark. This means most residents in this Southern city are doing fine. The average salary is $56,000.

Since there will always be opportunities to up your rent for a more luxurious apartment, it's best to calculate what you can really afford based on your actual salary and budget. This rent calculator takes the guesswork out of the process.

The cost of living in Savannah

Although figuring out an ideal budget for rent comes first, what follows is making sure you can afford all the other expenses life brings. This includes everyday items and regular services you'll need to rely on from time to time. These elements come together to help you assess Savannah's cost of living index.

Luckily, the cost of living here is 11.2 percent lower than the national average. Here are some of the main contributing factors to this livable number.

• Housing: The cost of housing in Savannah is 34.9 percent less than the national average.
• Groceries: The cost of groceries in Savannah 5.9 percent less than the national average.
• Utilities: The cost of utilities, such as electricity and gas, in Savannah is 4.1 percent less than the national average.
• Miscellaneous goods and services: The cost of miscellaneous good and services in Savannah is 1.7 percent less than the national average.
• Transportation: The cost of transportation in Savannah, which includes public buses, shuttles and ferries, is 1.9 percent less than the national average.
• Healthcare: The cost of healthcare in Savannah is 7.1 percent higher than the national average.

So many of these contributing factors, to the overall cost of living, are below the national average. This means considering calling Savannah home is getting better and better.

The most and least expensive neighborhoods in Savannah

The city seems to divide itself almost in half when looking at average rent across neighborhoods. In the north, where you'll find the city's center and most of its historic communities, you'll also find the highest rents. Neighborhoods with lower rents tend to cluster below Downtown Savannah.

While there seems to be a North-South dividing line, neighborhoods at both ends of the rent scale spread out to the east and west.

No matter which direction you look to find your next home, you'll see historic architecture, plenty of huge, old trees and a laid-back and kind atmosphere. You'll quickly feel right at home.

The most expensive Savannah neighborhoods

The downtown area of Savannah truly is the center of the more expensive neighborhoods in the city. Surrounding the city center are all the historic districts. They show off the buildings, plaques and statues that promote Savannah's rich history. You'll see Southern charm, bump up against urban living and smack into the riverfront's beauty.

For an architectural taste of history, and some pretty unique places to live, check out the South Historic District. Here you'll see antebellum mansions and gothic revival churches among clusters of trendy cafes. You can also wander through Forsyth Park and enjoy the ornate, landmark fountain.

Home styles get a little more modern as you move into Pine Gardens, where you'll find the Savannah Golf Club. Here, the average home was built as late as 1969. Even so, this high-end neighborhood mixes history with its suburban feel, paying homage to all that Savannah holds dear.

As you get to the bottom of the most-expensive list, you'll find Chatham Parkway, which trades in its focus on history for proximity to more modern pursuits. From here, it's an easy commute to the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) and Memorial Health University Medical Center.

The least expensive Savannah neighborhoods

Neighborhoods in Savannah with the lowest average rent may congregate in the southern part of the city, but Midtown isn't that far from downtown. Situated right in the middle of the least-expensive list, it's a busy part of town with plenty of hotels, restaurants, boutiques and antique shops. It also has a lively nightlife scene.

Shopping is a common thread in these neighborhoods as well. But you will still find a combination of architectural styles, waterfront and more.

Then, there are the college “towns" on this list. Both Armstrong Atlantic and Windsor Forest are close to the Armstrong Campus for Georgia Southern University as well as Armstrong Atlantic State University. The proximity for students most likely contributes to why these two communities have seen a rise in rent prices over the last year.

While some less expensive Savannah neighborhoods are rising in price, others are experiencing drops in rent. Even MidTown, with all its fun and activity, is becoming a more affordable neighborhood. Rents dropped almost 30 percent over last year.

Average rent prices in Savannah neighborhoods

It's nice to have options when apartment hunting in Savannah. Based on your own budget, you can go from looking at a downtown property for $1,871 per month to finding the perfect place for under $1,000 just a few miles away.

Here are how Savannah neighborhoods stack up when it comes to renting.

Find your Savannah neighborhood

Savannah is one of those cities it's easy to fall in love with after just one visit. The oak trees and city squares give off a vibe that's hard to find elsewhere. It may be all the history, or maybe the ghosts. It also could be the relaxed, friendly air that permeates the city.

No matter what, it might be time to consider living in Savannah. All you need to do now is decide which neighborhood is right for you.

Rent prices are based on a rolling weighted average from Apartment Guide and Rent.com's multifamily rental property inventory of one-bedroom apartments. Data was pulled in February 2021 and goes back for one year. We use a weighted average formula that more accurately represents price availability for each individual unit type and reduces the influence of seasonality on rent prices in specific markets.

Neighborhoods with insufficient inventory were excluded.

Cost of living data comes from the Council for Community and Economic Research.

The rent information included in this article is used for illustrative purposes only. The data contained herein do not constitute financial advice or a pricing guarantee for any apartment.

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