Chicago, IL vs Phoenix, AZ
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Chicago, IL outspends Phoenix, AZ by a wide margin per resident — $34,551 versus $15,793, a 119% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Phoenix, AZ edges Chicago, IL on the Fiscal Health Score by 6 points — 67/100 (grade B) to 61/100 (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 $1,156 for Phoenix, AZ. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Chicago, IL leads with fire protection at $10,754 per resident, while Phoenix, AZ leads with parks and recreation at $652.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Chicago, IL and 100% in Phoenix, AZ.
Summary
Chicago spends 118.8% more per capita than Phoenix ($18,758/person difference). Phoenix, AZ has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 67/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $26 | $7 |
| Sales Tax | $74 | $338 |
| Income Tax | $229 | $1,260 |
| Intergovernmental | $85,083 | $50,709 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,847 | $2,998 |
| Other | $3,463 | $2,038 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $10,754 | $170 |
| Highways & Roads | $930 | $86 |
| Education | $0 | $214 |
| Public Welfare | $1,858 | $507 |
| Health | $426 | $258 |
| Hospitals | $1,444 | $1,521 |
| Parks & Recreation | $122 | $652 |
| Housing | $6,520 | $3,879 |
| Sewerage | $129 | $388 |
| Utilities | $2,983 | $2,480 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $1,760 |
| Other | $9,385 | $3,878 |
Compare More Cities
Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.