Detroit, MI vs Miami, FL
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Detroit, MI and Miami, FL spend within 10.3% of each other per resident — $31,087 versus $28,195 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Detroit, MI holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 69/100 (grade B) against 53/100 (grade C) for Miami, FL — a 16-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Miami, FL reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Detroit, MI carries $776 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: fire protection leads in Detroit, MI at $2,429 per resident and in Miami, FL at $7,399.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Detroit, MI at 15% of total revenue, whereas Miami, FL relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 100%.
Summary
Detroit spends 10.3% more per capita than Miami ($2,892/person difference). Detroit, MI has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 69/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $44 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $200 | $1,647 |
| Income Tax | $1,045 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $291 | $15,037 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,228 | $0 |
| Other | $6,892 | $1,399 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $2,429 | $7,399 |
| Public Welfare | $833 | $109 |
| Health | $396 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $2,217 | $1,499 |
| Parks & Recreation | $950 | $1,783 |
| Housing | $5,791 | $6,840 |
| Sewerage | $451 | $699 |
| Utilities | $2,737 | $1,295 |
| Interest on Debt | $2,068 | $0 |
| Other | $13,216 | $8,572 |
Compare More Cities
Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.