Kansas City, MO vs Austin, TX
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Kansas City, MO and Austin, TX spend within 4.8% of each other per resident — $22,820 versus $21,772 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Austin, TX holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 75/100 (grade B) against 52/100 (grade C) for Kansas City, MO — a 23-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Kansas City, MO reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Austin, TX carries $1,229 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Kansas City, MO at $1,309 per resident and in Austin, TX at $1,801.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Kansas City, MO at 835% of total revenue, whereas Austin, TX relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 18%.
Summary
Kansas City spends 4.8% more per capita than Austin ($1,048/person difference). Austin, TX has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 75/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $623 | $526 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $1,465 |
| Intergovernmental | $7 | $14,031 |
| Charges & Fees | $3,794 | $3,247 |
| Other | $11,150 | $5,645 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $119 | $634 |
| Education | $0 | $51 |
| Public Welfare | $3,018 | $1,837 |
| Health | $0 | $517 |
| Hospitals | $1,849 | $664 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,309 | $1,801 |
| Housing | $4,681 | $3,741 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $865 |
| Utilities | $3,123 | $3,264 |
| Other | $8,721 | $8,399 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.