Las Vegas, NV vs Phoenix, AZ
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Phoenix, AZ outspends Las Vegas, NV by a wide margin per resident — $15,793 versus $9,085, a 74% 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 67/100 (grade B) for Phoenix, AZ — a 15-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Las Vegas, NV reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Phoenix, AZ carries $1,156 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 Phoenix, AZ at $652.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Las Vegas, NV at 34% of total revenue, whereas Phoenix, AZ relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 100%.
Summary
Phoenix spends 42.5% more per capita than Las Vegas ($6,708/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 | $7 |
| Sales Tax | $386 | $338 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $1,260 |
| Intergovernmental | $1,137 | $50,709 |
| Charges & Fees | $0 | $2,998 |
| Other | $2,806 | $2,038 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $945 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $280 | $170 |
| Highways & Roads | $45 | $86 |
| Education | $0 | $214 |
| Public Welfare | $705 | $507 |
| Health | $0 | $258 |
| Hospitals | $356 | $1,521 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,028 | $652 |
| Housing | $23 | $3,879 |
| Sewerage | $332 | $388 |
| Utilities | $129 | $2,480 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $1,760 |
| Other | $5,243 | $3,878 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.