Las Vegas, NV vs Columbus, OH
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Columbus, OH outspends Las Vegas, NV by a wide margin per resident — $18,858 versus $9,085, a 108% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Las Vegas, NV holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 82/100 (grade A) against 52/100 (grade C) for Columbus, OH — a 30-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Las Vegas, NV reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Columbus, OH carries $1,145 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Las Vegas, NV at $1,028 per resident and in Columbus, OH at $2,168.
Summary
Columbus spends 51.8% more per capita than Las Vegas ($9,773/person difference). Las Vegas, NV has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 82/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $50 | $10 |
| Sales Tax | $386 | $234 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $1 |
| Intergovernmental | $1,137 | $0 |
| Charges & Fees | $0 | $2,389 |
| Other | $2,806 | $5,248 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $945 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $280 | $1,016 |
| Highways & Roads | $45 | $224 |
| Public Welfare | $705 | $878 |
| Hospitals | $356 | $953 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,028 | $2,168 |
| Housing | $23 | $4,303 |
| Sewerage | $332 | $1 |
| Utilities | $129 | $1,719 |
| Other | $5,243 | $7,595 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.