Albuquerque, NM vs Charlotte, NC
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Albuquerque, NM and Charlotte, NC spend within 8.7% of each other per resident — $17,237 versus $15,854 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Albuquerque, NM holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 81/100 (grade A) against 63/100 (grade C) for Charlotte, NC — a 18-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Albuquerque, NM carries the lighter load at $613 per resident versus $2,690 for Charlotte, NC. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Albuquerque, NM at $1,990 per resident and in Charlotte, NC at $1,571.
They also fund themselves differently: charges and fees is the largest single revenue source in Albuquerque, NM at 11% of total revenue, whereas Charlotte, NC relies most on other revenue at 10%.
Summary
Albuquerque spends 8.7% more per capita than Charlotte ($1,384/person difference). Albuquerque, NM has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 81/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $36 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $355 | $541 |
| Income Tax | $1,580 | $366 |
| Intergovernmental | $1,897 | $1,859 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,633 | $2,459 |
| Other | $2,174 | $4,866 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $440 | $463 |
| Highways & Roads | $172 | $41 |
| Public Welfare | $419 | $672 |
| Health | $291 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $328 | $1,243 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,990 | $1,571 |
| Housing | $4,080 | $3,944 |
| Utilities | $5,212 | $2,244 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,096 | $2,226 |
| Other | $3,209 | $3,448 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.