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

Chicago, IL vs Oakland, CA

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

Summary

Chicago spends 15.0% more per capita than Oakland ($4,497/person difference). Oakland, CA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 72/100).

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
Oakland, CA
Pop. 437,825
B
72/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency43
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Chicago
Oakland
Total Spending
$94.0B
$13.2B
Spending / Capita
$34,551
$30,055
Total Revenue
$231.6B
$18.5B
Revenue / Capita
$85,083
$42,277
Total Debt
$2.7B
$0
Debt / Capita
$977
$0
Population
2,721,914
437,825
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Chicago$10,754
Oakland$1
Highways & Roads
Chicago$930
Oakland$0
Parks & Recreation
Chicago$122
Oakland$955
Health
Chicago$426
Oakland$1,016

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

ChicagoOakland
Property Tax
$26
$0
Sales Tax
$74
$522
Income Tax
$229
$0
Intergovernmental
$85,083
$42,277
Charges & Fees
$2,847
$0
Other
$3,463
$4,337

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

ChicagoOakland
Fire Protection
$10,754
$1
Highways & Roads
$930
$0
Public Welfare
$1,858
$2,426
Health
$426
$1,016
Hospitals
$1,444
$2,498
Parks & Recreation
$122
$955
Housing
$6,520
$7,811
Sewerage
$129
$1,417
Utilities
$2,983
$0
Other
$9,385
$13,929
C
Chicago, IL
Fiscal Health Score: 61/100
Average fiscal health
B
Oakland, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 72/100
Good fiscal health

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