Charlotte, NC vs Las Vegas, NV
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Charlotte, NC outspends Las Vegas, NV by a wide margin per resident — $15,854 versus $9,085, a 74% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Las Vegas, NV holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 82/100 (grade A) against 63/100 (grade C) for Charlotte, NC — a 19-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Las Vegas, NV reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Charlotte, NC carries $2,690 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Charlotte, NC at $1,571 per resident and in Las Vegas, NV at $1,028.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on other revenue — 10% of total revenue in Charlotte, NC and 34% in Las Vegas, NV.
Summary
Charlotte spends 74.5% more per capita than Las Vegas ($6,768/person difference). Las Vegas, NV has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 82/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $50 |
| Sales Tax | $541 | $386 |
| Income Tax | $366 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $1,859 | $1,137 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,459 | $0 |
| Other | $4,866 | $2,806 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $945 |
| Fire Protection | $463 | $280 |
| Highways & Roads | $41 | $45 |
| Public Welfare | $672 | $705 |
| Hospitals | $1,243 | $356 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,571 | $1,028 |
| Housing | $3,944 | $23 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $332 |
| Utilities | $2,244 | $129 |
| Interest on Debt | $2,226 | $0 |
| Other | $3,448 | $5,243 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.