Las Vegas, NV vs Denver, CO
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Denver, CO outspends Las Vegas, NV by a wide margin per resident — $33,582 versus $9,085, a 270% 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 51/100 (grade C) for Denver, CO — a 31-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Las Vegas, NV reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Denver, CO carries $5,126 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 Denver, CO at $3,319.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Las Vegas, NV at 34% of total revenue, whereas Denver, CO relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 37%.
Summary
Denver spends 72.9% more per capita than Las Vegas ($24,497/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 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $386 | $2,070 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $236 |
| Intergovernmental | $1,137 | $44,661 |
| Charges & Fees | $0 | $5,207 |
| Other | $2,806 | $10,100 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $945 | $2,455 |
| Fire Protection | $280 | $1,668 |
| Highways & Roads | $45 | $475 |
| Education | $0 | $821 |
| Public Welfare | $705 | $764 |
| Health | $0 | $693 |
| Hospitals | $356 | $2,855 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,028 | $3,319 |
| Housing | $23 | $3,565 |
| Sewerage | $332 | $293 |
| Utilities | $129 | $4,292 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $7 |
| General Admin | $0 | $364 |
| Other | $5,243 | $12,011 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.