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Data from U.S. Census Bureau · 2026 · Methodology
CitySpend

Las Vegas, NV vs San Diego, CA

Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)

Summary

San Diego spends 79.0% more per capita than Las Vegas ($34,221/person difference). Las Vegas, NV has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 82/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Las Vegas, NV
Pop. 644,835
A
82/100
Budget Balance66
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
San Diego, CA
Pop. 1,383,987
C
53/100
Budget Balance14
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity96
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Las Vegas
San Diego
Total Spending
$5.9B
$59.9B
Spending / Capita
$9,085
$43,306
Total Revenue
$5.3B
$13.4B
Revenue / Capita
$8,251
$9,662
Total Debt
$0
$0
Debt / Capita
$0
$0
Population
644,835
1,383,987
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Las Vegas$945
San Diego$3,335
Fire Protection
Las Vegas$280
San Diego$1,278
Highways & Roads
Las Vegas$45
San Diego$1,408
Parks & Recreation
Las Vegas$1,028
San Diego$436
Education
Las Vegas$0
San Diego$2,005
Health
Las Vegas$0
San Diego$411

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

Las VegasSan Diego
Property Tax
$50
$124
Sales Tax
$386
$63
Income Tax
$0
$194
Intergovernmental
$1,137
$57
Charges & Fees
$0
$14
Other
$2,806
$3,801

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

Las VegasSan Diego
Police
$945
$3,335
Fire Protection
$280
$1,278
Highways & Roads
$45
$1,408
Education
$0
$2,005
Public Welfare
$705
$700
Health
$0
$411
Hospitals
$356
$0
Parks & Recreation
$1,028
$436
Housing
$23
$4,476
Sewerage
$332
$43
Utilities
$129
$11,704
Other
$5,243
$17,509
A
Las Vegas, NV
Fiscal Health Score: 82/100
Excellent fiscal health
C
San Diego, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 53/100
Average fiscal health

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