Savannah, GA vs Atlanta, GA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Atlanta, GA and Savannah, GA spend within 4.8% of each other per resident — $25,457 versus $24,281 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Atlanta, GA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 85/100 (grade A) against 57/100 (grade C) for Savannah, GA — a 28-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Atlanta, GA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Savannah, GA carries $9 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Savannah, GA at $1,980 per resident and in Atlanta, GA at $1,274.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Savannah, GA at 28% of total revenue, whereas Atlanta, GA relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 6%.
Summary
Atlanta spends 4.6% more per capita than Savannah ($1,176/person difference). Atlanta, GA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 85/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $18 | $419 |
| Sales Tax | $1,601 | $0 |
| Income Tax | $2,611 | $1,292 |
| Intergovernmental | $413 | $9,121 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,501 | $5,645 |
| Other | $5,349 | $5,461 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $315 |
| Fire Protection | $408 | $464 |
| Highways & Roads | $402 | $513 |
| Education | $157 | $25 |
| Public Welfare | $3,035 | $1,587 |
| Hospitals | $0 | $55 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,980 | $1,274 |
| Housing | $4,362 | $4,594 |
| Sewerage | $266 | $343 |
| Utilities | $5,827 | $8,026 |
| Other | $7,844 | $8,262 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.