Columbus, OH vs Las Vegas, NV
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Columbus, OH outspends Las Vegas, NV by a wide margin per resident — $18,858 versus $9,085, a 108% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Las Vegas, NV holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 82/100 (grade A) against 52/100 (grade C) for Columbus, OH — a 30-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Las Vegas, NV reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Columbus, OH carries $1,145 per resident. 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 Las Vegas, NV at $1,028.
Summary
Columbus spends 107.6% more per capita than Las Vegas ($9,773/person difference). Las Vegas, NV has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 82/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $10 | $50 |
| Sales Tax | $234 | $386 |
| Income Tax | $1 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $0 | $1,137 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,389 | $0 |
| Other | $5,248 | $2,806 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $945 |
| Fire Protection | $1,016 | $280 |
| Highways & Roads | $224 | $45 |
| Public Welfare | $878 | $705 |
| Hospitals | $953 | $356 |
| Parks & Recreation | $2,168 | $1,028 |
| Housing | $4,303 | $23 |
| Sewerage | $1 | $332 |
| Utilities | $1,719 | $129 |
| Other | $7,595 | $5,243 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.