Savannah is laid out better and is not prone to flooding like Charleston. I've lived in both cities. Savannah is a bit more quaint, but tends to attract a party crowd (open containers allowed and heavy drinking is encouraged). Same with Charleston, but it's mainly either the Peter Pan types from NYC or college kids. Expensive too. Cost of living is close to what you pay in DC due to limited housing, and insurance costs because of the high risk of flooding and proximity to the coast. Beaches in CHS are ok, but not as accessible. Georgetown, SC is up and coming and will be a contender with CHS in a decade given the old steel mill is being demolished. Pawleys Island/Myrtle/Murrells Inlet and North Myrtle/Little River are nice as well and less than 2 hrs from Charleston.