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

Denver, CO vs San Diego, CA

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

Summary

San Diego spends 22.5% more per capita than Denver ($9,724/person difference). San Diego, CA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 53/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Denver, CO
Pop. 710,800
C
51/100
Budget Balance68
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency26
Revenue Diversity99
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
Denver
San Diego
Total Spending
$23.9B
$59.9B
Spending / Capita
$33,582
$43,306
Total Revenue
$86.8B
$13.4B
Revenue / Capita
$122,063
$9,662
Total Debt
$3.6B
$0
Debt / Capita
$5,126
$0
Population
710,800
1,383,987
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Denver$2,455
San Diego$3,335
Fire Protection
Denver$1,668
San Diego$1,278
Highways & Roads
Denver$475
San Diego$1,408
Parks & Recreation
Denver$3,319
San Diego$436
Education
Denver$821
San Diego$2,005
Health
Denver$693
San Diego$411

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

DenverSan Diego
Property Tax
$0
$124
Sales Tax
$2,070
$63
Income Tax
$236
$194
Intergovernmental
$44,661
$57
Charges & Fees
$5,207
$14
Other
$10,100
$3,801

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

DenverSan Diego
Police
$2,455
$3,335
Fire Protection
$1,668
$1,278
Highways & Roads
$475
$1,408
Education
$821
$2,005
Public Welfare
$764
$700
Health
$693
$411
Hospitals
$2,855
$0
Parks & Recreation
$3,319
$436
Housing
$3,565
$4,476
Sewerage
$293
$43
Utilities
$4,292
$11,704
Interest on Debt
$7
$0
General Admin
$364
$0
Other
$12,011
$17,509
C
Denver, CO
Fiscal Health Score: 51/100
Average fiscal health
C
San Diego, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 53/100
Average fiscal health

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