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

Chicago, IL vs Los Angeles, CA

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

Summary

Los Angeles spends 59.6% more per capita than Chicago ($50,881/person difference). Chicago, IL has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 61/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Chicago, IL
Pop. 2,721,914
C
61/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden61
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency22
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50
City B
Los Angeles, CA
Pop. 3,881,041
D
47/100
Budget Balance0
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity65
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Chicago
Los Angeles
Total Spending
$94.0B
$331.6B
Spending / Capita
$34,551
$85,432
Total Revenue
$231.6B
$68.3B
Revenue / Capita
$85,083
$17,595
Total Debt
$2.7B
$0
Debt / Capita
$977
$0
Population
2,721,914
3,881,041
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Chicago$0
Los Angeles$4,111
Fire Protection
Chicago$10,754
Los Angeles$1,057
Highways & Roads
Chicago$930
Los Angeles$503
Parks & Recreation
Chicago$122
Los Angeles$1,347
Education
Chicago$0
Los Angeles$829
Health
Chicago$426
Los Angeles$409

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

ChicagoLos Angeles
Property Tax
$26
$64
Sales Tax
$74
$77
Income Tax
$229
$307
Intergovernmental
$85,083
$134
Charges & Fees
$2,847
$459
Other
$3,463
$9,048

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

ChicagoLos Angeles
Police
$0
$4,111
Fire Protection
$10,754
$1,057
Highways & Roads
$930
$503
Education
$0
$829
Public Welfare
$1,858
$1,286
Health
$426
$409
Hospitals
$1,444
$2,135
Parks & Recreation
$122
$1,347
Housing
$6,520
$6,325
Sewerage
$129
$34
Utilities
$2,983
$21,992
Interest on Debt
$0
$630
General Admin
$0
$11,586
Other
$9,385
$33,189
C
Chicago, IL
Fiscal Health Score: 61/100
Average fiscal health
D
Los Angeles, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 47/100
Below average fiscal health

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