Denver, CO vs Chicago, IL
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Chicago, IL and Denver, CO spend within 2.9% of each other per resident — $34,551 versus $33,582 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Chicago, IL holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 61/100 (grade C) against 51/100 (grade C) for Denver, CO — a 10-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Chicago, IL carries the lighter load at $977 per resident versus $5,126 for Denver, CO. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Denver, CO leads with parks and recreation at $3,319 per resident, while Chicago, IL leads with fire protection at $10,754.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 37% of total revenue in Denver, CO and 100% in Chicago, IL.
Summary
Chicago spends 2.8% more per capita than Denver ($969/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 | $0 | $26 |
| Sales Tax | $2,070 | $74 |
| Income Tax | $236 | $229 |
| Intergovernmental | $44,661 | $85,083 |
| Charges & Fees | $5,207 | $2,847 |
| Other | $10,100 | $3,463 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $2,455 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $1,668 | $10,754 |
| Highways & Roads | $475 | $930 |
| Education | $821 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $764 | $1,858 |
| Health | $693 | $426 |
| Hospitals | $2,855 | $1,444 |
| Parks & Recreation | $3,319 | $122 |
| Housing | $3,565 | $6,520 |
| Sewerage | $293 | $129 |
| Utilities | $4,292 | $2,983 |
| Interest on Debt | $7 | $0 |
| General Admin | $364 | $0 |
| Other | $12,011 | $9,385 |
Compare More Cities
Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.