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

Fresno, CA vs San Diego, CA

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

Summary

Fresno spends 0.2% more per capita than San Diego ($81/person difference). San Diego, CA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 53/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Fresno, CA
Pop. 541,528
C
50/100
Budget Balance0
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
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
Fresno
San Diego
Total Spending
$23.5B
$59.9B
Spending / Capita
$43,387
$43,306
Total Revenue
$6.0B
$13.4B
Revenue / Capita
$10,998
$9,662
Total Debt
$0
$0
Debt / Capita
$0
$0
Population
541,528
1,383,987
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Fresno$3,261
San Diego$3,335
Fire Protection
Fresno$568
San Diego$1,278
Highways & Roads
Fresno$0
San Diego$1,408
Parks & Recreation
Fresno$76
San Diego$436
Education
Fresno$3,942
San Diego$2,005
Health
Fresno$599
San Diego$411

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

FresnoSan Diego
Property Tax
$337
$124
Sales Tax
$19
$63
Income Tax
$501
$194
Intergovernmental
-$4,470
$57
Charges & Fees
$11
$14
Other
$2,070
$3,801

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

FresnoSan Diego
Police
$3,261
$3,335
Fire Protection
$568
$1,278
Highways & Roads
$0
$1,408
Education
$3,942
$2,005
Public Welfare
$1,946
$700
Health
$599
$411
Parks & Recreation
$76
$436
Housing
$2,856
$4,476
Sewerage
$0
$43
Utilities
$15,340
$11,704
Interest on Debt
$255
$0
Other
$14,545
$17,509
C
Fresno, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 50/100
Average fiscal health
C
San Diego, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 53/100
Average fiscal health

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