On the Georgia coast, Savannah is the old port city that everyone pictures when they think of Spanish moss and Southern charm. General Oglethorpe laid out the Historic District around a series of leafy squares in 1733, and walking between Forsyth Park, Chippewa Square and Monterey Square is the main event. River Street runs along the waterfront, Bonaventure Cemetery is stunning and a little eerie, and Tybee Island's beach is about 20 minutes away. Ghost tours are a local industry, and St. Patrick's Day is huge.
Around 150,000 people live here, and costs are close to the national average, so it is far cheaper than Charleston up the coast. The housing market has cooled slightly. Summers are hot and sticky, and gnats, mosquitoes and hurricane season come with the territory. Violent crime is above the Georgia average and is concentrated outside the Historic District, so use rideshare at night, and do not leave valuables in cars.
Cities with a similar character, anywhere on the site.
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- Known as
- The Hostess City of the South; Forest City (historic); Georgia's First City
- Founded
- Settled 1733 by James Oglethorpe (Georgia's first city); incorporated 1789
- Airports
- Savannah/Hilton Head International (SAV), about 9 miles (15 km) northwest of downtown; Hilton Head Island Airport (HXD) about 40 miles; Jacksonville International (JAX) about 140 miles; Charleston International (CHS) about 110 miles
- Tipping
- Restaurants and bars 18-20% of the pre-tax bill (check for auto-gratuity for large parties); bartenders $1-2 per drink; taxis and rideshare 15-20%; hotel housekeeping $3-5 per night; bellhops $2-3 per bag; tour guides and carriage drivers 15-20%
About this data
Population from Census July 1, 2025 estimates (city QuickFacts; MSA via FRED/ALFRED). Area and elevation from Wikipedia. Home prices from Redfin and Zillow (Aug 2026), rent from Zumper (Sept 2026), crime from NeighborhoodScout using 2024 FBI data. Cost of living index, hotel ranges, and daily budget are approximate estimates based on Kayak and general travel-cost sources; hotel ranges could not be confirmed against a single authoritative 2026 dataset. Distances, tipping norms, and event months are from general knowledge and the tourism site; event dates vary yearly
