Las Vegas, NV vs Memphis, TN
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Memphis, TN outspends Las Vegas, NV by a wide margin per resident — $22,111 versus $9,085, a 143% 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 65/100 (grade B) for Memphis, TN — a 17-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Las Vegas, NV 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 Las Vegas, NV at $1,028 per resident and in Memphis, TN at $1,397.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Las Vegas, NV at 34% of total revenue, whereas Memphis, TN relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 100%.
Summary
Memphis spends 58.9% more per capita than Las Vegas ($13,025/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 | $496 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $1,218 |
| Intergovernmental | $1,137 | $34,065 |
| Charges & Fees | $0 | $2,077 |
| Other | $2,806 | $3,994 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $945 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $280 | $469 |
| Highways & Roads | $45 | $277 |
| Public Welfare | $705 | $630 |
| Health | $0 | $391 |
| Hospitals | $356 | $1,677 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,028 | $1,397 |
| Housing | $23 | $4,683 |
| Sewerage | $332 | $0 |
| Utilities | $129 | $2,578 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $1,158 |
| Other | $5,243 | $8,850 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.