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Data from U.S. Census Bureau · 2026 · Methodology
CitySpend

Atlanta, GA vs Oklahoma City, OK

Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)

Reviewed by CitySpend Editorial Team · Updated

Atlanta, GA spends 41% more per resident than Oklahoma City, OK: $25,457 against $18,074. That gap is large enough to show up across most functional budget categories below.

Atlanta, GA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 85/100 (grade A) against 65/100 (grade B) for Oklahoma City, OK — a 20-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.

Atlanta, GA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Oklahoma City, OK carries $3,520 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Atlanta, GA at $1,274 per resident and in Oklahoma City, OK at $2,014.

On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 6% of total revenue in Atlanta, GA and 19% in Oklahoma City, OK.

Summary

Atlanta spends 40.9% more per capita than Oklahoma City ($7,384/person difference). Atlanta, GA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 85/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Atlanta, GA
Pop. 494,838
A
85/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency64
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Oklahoma City, OK
Pop. 681,088
B
65/100
Budget Balance80
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency97
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Atlanta
Oklahoma City
Total Spending
$12.6B
$12.3B
Spending / Capita
$25,457
$18,074
Total Revenue
$77.6B
$23.9B
Revenue / Capita
$156,803
$35,156
Total Debt
$0
$2.4B
Debt / Capita
$0
$3,520
Population
494,838
681,088
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Atlanta$315
Oklahoma City$0
Fire Protection
Atlanta$464
Oklahoma City$513
Highways & Roads
Atlanta$513
Oklahoma City$0
Parks & Recreation
Atlanta$1,274
Oklahoma City$2,014
Education
Atlanta$25
Oklahoma City$0
Health
Atlanta$0
Oklahoma City$5

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

AtlantaOklahoma City
Property Tax
$419
$0
Sales Tax
$0
$763
Income Tax
$1,292
$1,037
Intergovernmental
$9,121
$6,852
Charges & Fees
$5,645
$3,256
Other
$5,461
$1,836

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

AtlantaOklahoma City
Police
$315
$0
Fire Protection
$464
$513
Highways & Roads
$513
$0
Education
$25
$0
Public Welfare
$1,587
$1,525
Health
$0
$5
Hospitals
$55
$2,044
Parks & Recreation
$1,274
$2,014
Housing
$4,594
$2,857
Sewerage
$343
$0
Utilities
$8,026
$4,523
Interest on Debt
$0
$707
Other
$8,262
$3,886
A
Atlanta, GA
Fiscal Health Score: 85/100
Excellent fiscal health
B
Oklahoma City, OK
Fiscal Health Score: 65/100
Good fiscal health

Compare More Cities

Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.