Columbus, OH vs Chicago, IL
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Chicago, IL outspends Columbus, OH by a wide margin per resident — $34,551 versus $18,858, a 83% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Chicago, IL holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 61/100 (grade C) against 52/100 (grade C) for Columbus, OH — a 9-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Chicago, IL carries the lighter load at $977 per resident versus $1,145 for Columbus, OH. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Columbus, OH leads with parks and recreation at $2,168 per resident, while Chicago, IL leads with fire protection at $10,754.
Summary
Chicago spends 45.4% more per capita than Columbus ($15,693/person difference). Chicago, IL has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 61/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $10 | $26 |
| Sales Tax | $234 | $74 |
| Income Tax | $1 | $229 |
| Intergovernmental | $0 | $85,083 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,389 | $2,847 |
| Other | $5,248 | $3,463 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $1,016 | $10,754 |
| Highways & Roads | $224 | $930 |
| Public Welfare | $878 | $1,858 |
| Health | $0 | $426 |
| Hospitals | $953 | $1,444 |
| Parks & Recreation | $2,168 | $122 |
| Housing | $4,303 | $6,520 |
| Sewerage | $1 | $129 |
| Utilities | $1,719 | $2,983 |
| Other | $7,595 | $9,385 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.