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

Los Angeles, CA vs Austin, TX

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

Summary

Los Angeles spends 292.4% more per capita than Austin ($63,660/person difference). Austin, TX has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 75/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Los Angeles, CA
Pop. 3,881,041
D
47/100
Budget Balance0
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity65
Trend Direction50
City B
Austin, TX
Pop. 958,202
B
75/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden38
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency80
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Los Angeles
Austin
Total Spending
$331.6B
$20.9B
Spending / Capita
$85,432
$21,772
Total Revenue
$68.3B
$74.4B
Revenue / Capita
$17,595
$77,600
Total Debt
$0
$1.2B
Debt / Capita
$0
$1,229
Population
3,881,041
958,202
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Los Angeles$4,111
Austin$0
Fire Protection
Los Angeles$1,057
Austin$634
Highways & Roads
Los Angeles$503
Austin$0
Parks & Recreation
Los Angeles$1,347
Austin$1,801
Education
Los Angeles$829
Austin$51
Health
Los Angeles$409
Austin$517

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

Los AngelesAustin
Property Tax
$64
$0
Sales Tax
$77
$526
Income Tax
$307
$1,465
Intergovernmental
$134
$14,031
Charges & Fees
$459
$3,247
Other
$9,048
$5,645

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

Los AngelesAustin
Police
$4,111
$0
Fire Protection
$1,057
$634
Highways & Roads
$503
$0
Education
$829
$51
Public Welfare
$1,286
$1,837
Health
$409
$517
Hospitals
$2,135
$664
Parks & Recreation
$1,347
$1,801
Housing
$6,325
$3,741
Sewerage
$34
$865
Utilities
$21,992
$3,264
Interest on Debt
$630
$0
General Admin
$11,586
$0
Other
$33,189
$8,399
D
Los Angeles, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 47/100
Below average fiscal health
B
Austin, TX
Fiscal Health Score: 75/100
Good fiscal health

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