Chicago, IL vs Denver, CO
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Chicago, IL and Denver, CO spend within 2.9% of each other per resident — $34,551 versus $33,582 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Chicago, IL holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 61/100 (grade C) against 51/100 (grade C) for Denver, CO — a 10-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Chicago, IL carries the lighter load at $977 per resident versus $5,126 for Denver, CO. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Chicago, IL leads with fire protection at $10,754 per resident, while Denver, CO leads with parks and recreation at $3,319.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Chicago, IL and 37% in Denver, CO.
Summary
Chicago spends 2.9% more per capita than Denver ($969/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 | $2,070 |
| Income Tax | $229 | $236 |
| Intergovernmental | $85,083 | $44,661 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,847 | $5,207 |
| Other | $3,463 | $10,100 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $2,455 |
| Fire Protection | $10,754 | $1,668 |
| Highways & Roads | $930 | $475 |
| Education | $0 | $821 |
| Public Welfare | $1,858 | $764 |
| Health | $426 | $693 |
| Hospitals | $1,444 | $2,855 |
| Parks & Recreation | $122 | $3,319 |
| Housing | $6,520 | $3,565 |
| Sewerage | $129 | $293 |
| Utilities | $2,983 | $4,292 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $7 |
| General Admin | $0 | $364 |
| Other | $9,385 | $12,011 |
Compare More Cities
Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.