Columbus, OH vs San Antonio, TX
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Columbus, OH and San Antonio, TX spend within 11.3% of each other per resident — $18,858 versus $16,943 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
San Antonio, TX holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 68/100 (grade B) against 52/100 (grade C) for Columbus, OH — a 16-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Columbus, OH carries the lighter load at $1,145 per resident versus $2,131 for San Antonio, TX. 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 San Antonio, TX at $1,045.
Summary
Columbus spends 11.3% more per capita than San Antonio ($1,916/person difference). San Antonio, TX has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 68/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $10 | $9 |
| Sales Tax | $234 | $293 |
| Income Tax | $1 | $1,000 |
| Intergovernmental | $0 | $14,312 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,389 | $4,025 |
| Other | $5,248 | $3,184 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $1,016 | $396 |
| Highways & Roads | $224 | $158 |
| Education | $0 | $23 |
| Public Welfare | $878 | $1,188 |
| Health | $0 | $293 |
| Hospitals | $953 | $993 |
| Parks & Recreation | $2,168 | $1,045 |
| Housing | $4,303 | $3,570 |
| Sewerage | $1 | $100 |
| Utilities | $1,719 | $3,826 |
| Other | $7,595 | $5,352 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.