Columbus, OH vs Albuquerque, NM
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Columbus, OH and Albuquerque, NM spend within 9.4% of each other per resident — $18,858 versus $17,237 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Albuquerque, NM holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 81/100 (grade A) against 52/100 (grade C) for Columbus, OH — a 29-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Albuquerque, NM carries the lighter load at $613 per resident versus $1,145 for Columbus, OH. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Columbus, OH at $2,168 per resident and in Albuquerque, NM at $1,990.
Summary
Columbus spends 9.4% more per capita than Albuquerque ($1,621/person difference). Albuquerque, NM has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 81/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $10 | $36 |
| Sales Tax | $234 | $355 |
| Income Tax | $1 | $1,580 |
| Intergovernmental | $0 | $1,897 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,389 | $2,633 |
| Other | $5,248 | $2,174 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $1,016 | $440 |
| Highways & Roads | $224 | $172 |
| Public Welfare | $878 | $419 |
| Health | $0 | $291 |
| Hospitals | $953 | $328 |
| Parks & Recreation | $2,168 | $1,990 |
| Housing | $4,303 | $4,080 |
| Sewerage | $1 | $0 |
| Utilities | $1,719 | $5,212 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $1,096 |
| Other | $7,595 | $3,209 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.