Los Angeles, CA vs Albuquerque, NM
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Los Angeles, CA outspends Albuquerque, NM by a wide margin per resident — $85,432 versus $17,237, a 396% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Albuquerque, NM holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 81/100 (grade A) against 47/100 (grade D) for Los Angeles, CA — a 34-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Los Angeles, CA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Albuquerque, NM carries $613 per resident. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Los Angeles, CA leads with police at $4,111 per resident, while Albuquerque, NM leads with parks and recreation at $1,990.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Los Angeles, CA at 51% of total revenue, whereas Albuquerque, NM relies most on charges and fees at 11%.
Summary
Los Angeles spends 395.6% more per capita than Albuquerque ($68,195/person difference). Albuquerque, NM has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 81/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $64 | $36 |
| Sales Tax | $77 | $355 |
| Income Tax | $307 | $1,580 |
| Intergovernmental | $134 | $1,897 |
| Charges & Fees | $459 | $2,633 |
| Other | $9,048 | $2,174 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $4,111 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $1,057 | $440 |
| Highways & Roads | $503 | $172 |
| Education | $829 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $1,286 | $419 |
| Health | $409 | $291 |
| Hospitals | $2,135 | $328 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,347 | $1,990 |
| Housing | $6,325 | $4,080 |
| Sewerage | $34 | $0 |
| Utilities | $21,992 | $5,212 |
| Interest on Debt | $630 | $1,096 |
| General Admin | $11,586 | $0 |
| Other | $33,189 | $3,209 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.