Richmond vs Savannah

USA · North America

Richmond

is Jackson Ward
USA · North America

Savannah

is Starland District

Richmond and Savannah are both Southern cities wearing their history on their sleeves - but they wear it differently. Richmond is scrappier, louder, a little more confrontational about its past. Jackson Ward doesn't let you forget what it was. Savannah drapes moss over everything and hands you a drink. The Starland District is cheaper, weirder, and easier to disappear into for a weekend. Richmond hits harder. Savannah goes down smoother.

The Brooklyn of

Richmond is Jackson Ward.

Jackson Ward was the Harlem of the South long before anyone started making comparisons to Brooklyn. The historic Black business district along 2nd Street still pulses with soul food joints, Ethiopian coffee, and weekend crowds that spill onto Broad Street. Iron-laced porches line every block.

The Mending Walls project spans 16 murals created by 30 local artists across a 42-square-block neighborhood that once housed over 100 Black-owned businesses.
The Brooklyn of

Savannah is Starland District.

Starland District is where Savannah gets weird. Bull Street is the spine, lined with converted mid-century buildings now housing breweries, tiki bars, and a record shop full of taxidermy. SCAD kids mix with lifers over cheap beer and excellent tacos. The moss-draped squares are a mile north. Down here, people actually live.

Sulfur Studios on Bull Street alone houses 26 small artist galleries, all part of the monthly First Friday art walk that strings together the district's 35-odd blocks.
The numbers

At a glance.

Richmond Savannah
Region North America North America
Country USA USA
Neighborhood Jackson Ward Starland District
Currency USD USD
Language English English
Cost level $$$ Moderate to expensive $$ Moderate
Best months October, then April and May March to early May, and October to mid-November
Local time UTC-4 UTC-4
Plug US plug US plug
Emergency 911 911
Vibe overlap

What they share, and what they don't.

Both

Richmond only

Savannah only

The verdict

It depends on the weekend.

Richmond Richmond wins on street art, soul food, and a music scene that actually has something to say.

Savannah Savannah wins on price, porch culture, and the kind of slow afternoon you'll never want to end.

Read Richmond in full → Read Savannah in full →
Common questions

Richmond or Savannah, answered.

Is Richmond or Savannah better for live music?
Richmond, if you want a music scene with something to say. Jackson Ward's history as the Harlem of the South still feeds a soul and live-music culture that hits hard. Savannah's Starland District leans on cheap beer, breweries, and tiki bars where SCAD students and locals mix. Savannah goes down smoother. Richmond carries more weight.
Is Savannah cheaper than Richmond?
Yes. Savannah's Starland District runs at $$ against Richmond's $$$, and price is one of Savannah's real wins. You get cheap beer, excellent tacos, and slow porch afternoons for less. Richmond costs more but pays you back in street art, soul food, and a louder, scrappier music scene. For a low-cost weekend, Savannah is the easier call.
Which is cooler, Jackson Ward or the Starland District?
Depends what you want. Jackson Ward is heavier and more confrontational - a historic Black business district along 2nd Street with soul food, Ethiopian coffee, and iron-laced porches on every block. The Starland District is weirder and cheaper, with converted mid-century buildings, breweries, and a record shop full of taxidermy. Jackson Ward for substance, Starland for an easy, strange weekend.
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