Charlotte, NC vs San Antonio, TX
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
San Antonio, TX and Charlotte, NC spend within 6.9% of each other per resident — $16,943 versus $15,854 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
San Antonio, TX edges Charlotte, NC on the Fiscal Health Score by 5 points — 68/100 (grade B) to 63/100 (grade C). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
On debt, San Antonio, TX carries the lighter load at $2,131 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 Charlotte, NC at $1,571 per resident and in San Antonio, TX at $1,045.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Charlotte, NC at 10% of total revenue, whereas San Antonio, TX relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 17%.
Summary
San Antonio spends 6.4% more per capita than Charlotte ($1,089/person difference). San Antonio, TX has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 68/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $9 |
| Sales Tax | $541 | $293 |
| Income Tax | $366 | $1,000 |
| Intergovernmental | $1,859 | $14,312 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,459 | $4,025 |
| Other | $4,866 | $3,184 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $463 | $396 |
| Highways & Roads | $41 | $158 |
| Education | $0 | $23 |
| Public Welfare | $672 | $1,188 |
| Health | $0 | $293 |
| Hospitals | $1,243 | $993 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,571 | $1,045 |
| Housing | $3,944 | $3,570 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $100 |
| Utilities | $2,244 | $3,826 |
| Interest on Debt | $2,226 | $0 |
| Other | $3,448 | $5,352 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.