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Data from U.S. Census Bureau · 2026 · Methodology
CitySpend

Dallas, TX vs San Diego, CA

Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)

Summary

San Diego spends 19.5% more per capita than Dallas ($8,457/person difference). Dallas, TX has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 57/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Dallas, TX
Pop. 1,300,642
C
57/100
Budget Balance16
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency21
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
San Diego, CA
Pop. 1,383,987
C
53/100
Budget Balance14
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity96
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Dallas
San Diego
Total Spending
$45.3B
$59.9B
Spending / Capita
$34,849
$43,306
Total Revenue
$7.1B
$13.4B
Revenue / Capita
$5,474
$9,662
Total Debt
$0
$0
Debt / Capita
$0
$0
Population
1,300,642
1,383,987
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Dallas$1,519
San Diego$3,335
Fire Protection
Dallas$305
San Diego$1,278
Highways & Roads
Dallas$201
San Diego$1,408
Parks & Recreation
Dallas$0
San Diego$436
Education
Dallas$62
San Diego$2,005
Health
Dallas$0
San Diego$411

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

DallasSan Diego
Property Tax
$9
$124
Sales Tax
$25
$63
Income Tax
$0
$194
Intergovernmental
$1,223
$57
Charges & Fees
$0
$14
Other
$584
$3,801

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

DallasSan Diego
Police
$1,519
$3,335
Fire Protection
$305
$1,278
Highways & Roads
$201
$1,408
Education
$62
$2,005
Public Welfare
$215
$700
Health
$0
$411
Hospitals
$385
$0
Parks & Recreation
$0
$436
Housing
$444
$4,476
Sewerage
$0
$43
Utilities
$833
$11,704
General Admin
$25,827
$0
Other
$5,059
$17,509
C
Dallas, TX
Fiscal Health Score: 57/100
Average fiscal health
C
San Diego, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 53/100
Average fiscal health

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