Chicago, IL vs Colorado Springs, CO
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Chicago, IL outspends Colorado Springs, CO by a wide margin per resident — $34,551 versus $13,222, a 161% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Chicago, IL edges Colorado Springs, CO on the Fiscal Health Score by 2 points — 61/100 (grade C) to 59/100 (grade C). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
On debt, Chicago, IL carries the lighter load at $977 per resident versus $3,063 for Colorado Springs, CO. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: fire protection leads in Chicago, IL at $10,754 per resident and in Colorado Springs, CO at $1,266.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Chicago, IL and 13% in Colorado Springs, CO.
Summary
Chicago spends 161.3% more per capita than Colorado Springs ($21,329/person difference). Chicago, IL has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 61/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $26 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $74 | $257 |
| Income Tax | $229 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $85,083 | $6,902 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,847 | $5,676 |
| Other | $3,463 | $2,678 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $10,754 | $1,266 |
| Highways & Roads | $930 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $1,858 | $575 |
| Health | $426 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $1,444 | $416 |
| Parks & Recreation | $122 | $376 |
| Housing | $6,520 | $2,713 |
| Sewerage | $129 | $0 |
| Utilities | $2,983 | $2,566 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $190 |
| Other | $9,385 | $5,120 |
Compare More Cities
Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.