Chicago, IL vs Raleigh, NC
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Chicago, IL outspends Raleigh, NC by a wide margin per resident — $34,551 versus $13,911, a 148% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Raleigh, NC holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 76/100 (grade B) against 61/100 (grade C) for Chicago, IL — a 15-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Raleigh, NC carries the lighter load at $906 per resident versus $977 for Chicago, IL. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Chicago, IL leads with fire protection at $10,754 per resident, while Raleigh, NC leads with parks and recreation at $1,391.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Chicago, IL and 47% in Raleigh, NC.
Summary
Chicago spends 148.4% more per capita than Raleigh ($20,640/person difference). Raleigh, NC has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 76/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $26 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $74 | $858 |
| Income Tax | $229 | $806 |
| Intergovernmental | $85,083 | $14,128 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,847 | $2,681 |
| Other | $3,463 | $4,740 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $10,754 | $277 |
| Highways & Roads | $930 | $448 |
| Education | $0 | $6 |
| Public Welfare | $1,858 | $498 |
| Health | $426 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $1,444 | $669 |
| Parks & Recreation | $122 | $1,391 |
| Housing | $6,520 | $2,712 |
| Sewerage | $129 | $281 |
| Utilities | $2,983 | $2,469 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $1,513 |
| Other | $9,385 | $3,646 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.