Moving from Savannah, GA to Houston, TX

A move from Savannah, GA to Houston, TX covers 968 mi and around 18h 11m of driving through 5 state(s). At this range plan for a two- or three-day drive, a hauler or PODS container for household goods, and a noticeable shift in weather, tax jurisdiction, and housing market. The sections below pull the current BEA, Census, Zillow, BLS, and NOAA figures into one view.

968 mi · 18h 11m by car · TX → LA → MS → AL → GA

COL +3.6% Home values -19.0% Δ +3.1°F annual

Distance & route

Driving
968 mi
Drive time
18h 11m
States
5
Fuel (25 mpg)
39 gal
Route throughTX → LA → MS → AL → GA
Primary highwaysI 10, I 65, I 16
Major cities en routeSugar Land, Pearland, Pasadena, League City, Beaumont

Route via OSRM driving profile. Actual time varies with traffic and season.

Cost of living

SavannahHoustonU.S. avg
All items (RPP)95.20698.629100.0
Rents88.60395.288100.0
Goods96.269100.639100.0
Services86.012104.51100.0

Overall cost of living in Houston and Savannah is within ±5% on the BEA Regional Price Parity (2024) — plan your budget on category-level differences instead.

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (MSA-level · MSA-level); 2024.

Housing prices

Savannah — typical home
$326,509
Houston — typical home
$264,336
Savannah — typical rent
$1,745/mo
Houston — typical rent
$1,541/mo

Typical home value in Houston is 3.6% below Savannah ($264,336 vs $326,509 on Zillow ZHVI, 2026-03).

YoY change: Savannah -3.5%, Houston -2.9%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.

Climate

1991–2020 normalsSavannahHouston
Annual avg temperature68°F71°F
January avg low40°F44°F
July avg high92°F93°F
Annual snowfall0.0"0.0"
Annual precipitation48.1"54.1"

Annual average temperatures in Savannah (67.5°F) and Houston (70.6°F) stay within 5°F of each other (NOAA normals).

Houston gets essentially no annual snowfall on the NOAA 1991–2020 normals — winter gear can largely stay in storage.

Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (stations: SAVANNAH INTL AP, GA US, HOUSTON-PORT, TX US).

Demographics

ACS 5-year 2023SavannahHouston
Population147,5462,300,419
Median household income$56,782$62,894
Median age33.734.3
Bachelor's degree or higher20.6%21.3%
Avg household size2.522.51

Median household income in Houston is 3.6% above Savannah ($56,782 → $62,894, ACS 2023).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2023.

Jobs & wages

Savannah MSA — median wage
$43,490
Houston MSA — median wage
$46,960
Savannah MSA — employment
188,970
Houston MSA — employment
3,179,460

Top occupations in Houston MSA

OccupationEmploymentMedian wage
Office and Administrative Support Occupations 387,430 $41,570
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations 305,780 $39,450
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations 288,170 $27,490
Sales and Related Occupations 269,160 $35,450
Management Occupations 268,670 $109,460

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.

Moving between Georgia and Texas

Georgia income tax
5.39% top marginal
Texas income tax
no state income tax

State income-tax top marginal rates are from the Tax Foundation, updated annually. Check Texas's DMV for the current deadline to transfer driver license and vehicle registration after establishing residency. Consult a tax professional for your specific filing situation — state tax treatment depends on residency, sourcing, and reciprocity agreements.

Best time to move

Moving companies typically charge 20–30% more between Memorial Day and Labor Day (peak season). October through April offers the lowest rates and better mover availability.

To avoid mid-semester school transfers, most U.S. families schedule moves between mid-June and mid-August. Public school calendars typically run late August or early September through late May or early June.

Packing & arrival checklist

  • Air conditioning matters: July highs in Houston average 93°F on NOAA normals. If the new place has window-unit or no AC, plan that purchase for the first week.
  • Pack rain gear on top: Houston averages 54.1 in of annual precipitation — waterproof jackets and boots are worth unpacking before the big boxes.
  • Coastal Texas sees hurricanes June through November; inland areas face severe thunderstorms and occasional tornadoes in spring.
  • Arrange utility connection (power, internet, gas, water) two weeks ahead of move-in.
  • Update mailing address with USPS change-of-address within the first week post-move.
  • Register to vote in Texas after establishing residency.

Frequently asked

Is Houston more expensive than Savannah?

Based on BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), overall price level in Houston is 3.6% higher than Savannah (98.629 vs 95.206, U.S. average = 100). Rent and services typically carry most of this gap.

When is the best time to move from Savannah to Houston?

Moving companies usually charge 20–30% less between October and April (off-peak). Memorial Day through Labor Day is peak pricing. For a 968 mi drive, weather on the route matters too — see the timing section above for state-specific winter warnings.

How does the job market in Houston compare to Savannah?

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show median wages of $46,960 in the Houston MSA vs $43,490 in the Savannah MSA, on total employment of 3,179,460 and 188,970 respectively. Top occupations on the destination side appear in the Jobs & wages section above.

How does household income compare in Savannah vs Houston?

Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $62,894 in Houston vs $56,782 in Savannah — a 10.8% higher figure. Compare this against the cost-of-living gap above when budgeting.

How much do homes cost in Houston compared to Savannah?

Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $264,336 in Houston vs $326,509 in Savannah — a 19.0% lower figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.

What is the climate difference between Savannah and Houston?

On NOAA 1991–2020 normals, annual average temperature is 70.6°F in Houston vs 67.5°F in Savannah (3.1°F warmer). Annual snowfall: 0.0 in vs 0.0 in. Annual precipitation: 54.1 in vs 48.1 in.

How far is Houston, TX from Savannah, GA?

The driving distance is 968 mi and the route typically takes 18h 11m via I 10 and I 65. The trip crosses 5 state(s). Actual time varies with traffic and season.

Plan the move

Estimate costs with our moving cost calculator, or see where else to move from Savannah.

City profiles: Savannah, GA · Houston, TX.

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