Columbus, OH vs Oklahoma City, OK
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Columbus, OH and Oklahoma City, OK spend within 4.3% of each other per resident — $18,858 versus $18,074 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Oklahoma City, OK holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 65/100 (grade B) against 52/100 (grade C) for Columbus, OH — a 13-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Columbus, OH carries the lighter load at $1,145 per resident versus $3,520 for Oklahoma City, OK. 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 Oklahoma City, OK at $2,014.
Summary
Columbus spends 4.3% more per capita than Oklahoma City ($785/person difference). Oklahoma City, OK has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 65/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $10 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $234 | $763 |
| Income Tax | $1 | $1,037 |
| Intergovernmental | $0 | $6,852 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,389 | $3,256 |
| Other | $5,248 | $1,836 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $1,016 | $513 |
| Highways & Roads | $224 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $878 | $1,525 |
| Health | $0 | $5 |
| Hospitals | $953 | $2,044 |
| Parks & Recreation | $2,168 | $2,014 |
| Housing | $4,303 | $2,857 |
| Sewerage | $1 | $0 |
| Utilities | $1,719 | $4,523 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $707 |
| Other | $7,595 | $3,886 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.