Kansas City, MO vs Memphis, TN
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Kansas City, MO and Memphis, TN spend within 3.2% of each other per resident — $22,820 versus $22,111 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Memphis, TN holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 65/100 (grade B) against 52/100 (grade C) for Kansas City, MO — a 13-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Kansas City, MO reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Memphis, TN carries $303 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 Memphis, TN at $1,397.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Kansas City, MO at 835% of total revenue, whereas Memphis, TN relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 100%.
Summary
Kansas City spends 3.2% more per capita than Memphis ($709/person difference). Memphis, TN has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 65/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $10 |
| Sales Tax | $623 | $496 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $1,218 |
| Intergovernmental | $7 | $34,065 |
| Charges & Fees | $3,794 | $2,077 |
| Other | $11,150 | $3,994 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $119 | $469 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $277 |
| Public Welfare | $3,018 | $630 |
| Health | $0 | $391 |
| Hospitals | $1,849 | $1,677 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,309 | $1,397 |
| Housing | $4,681 | $4,683 |
| Utilities | $3,123 | $2,578 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $1,158 |
| Other | $8,721 | $8,850 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.