Los Angeles, CA vs Charlotte, NC
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Los Angeles, CA outspends Charlotte, NC by a wide margin per resident — $85,432 versus $15,854, a 439% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Charlotte, NC holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 63/100 (grade C) against 47/100 (grade D) for Los Angeles, CA — a 16-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Los Angeles, CA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Charlotte, NC carries $2,690 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 Charlotte, NC leads with parks and recreation at $1,571.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on other revenue — 51% of total revenue in Los Angeles, CA and 10% in Charlotte, NC.
Summary
Los Angeles spends 438.9% more per capita than Charlotte ($69,579/person difference). Charlotte, NC has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 63/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $64 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $77 | $541 |
| Income Tax | $307 | $366 |
| Intergovernmental | $134 | $1,859 |
| Charges & Fees | $459 | $2,459 |
| Other | $9,048 | $4,866 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $4,111 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $1,057 | $463 |
| Highways & Roads | $503 | $41 |
| Education | $829 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $1,286 | $672 |
| Health | $409 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $2,135 | $1,243 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,347 | $1,571 |
| Housing | $6,325 | $3,944 |
| Sewerage | $34 | $0 |
| Utilities | $21,992 | $2,244 |
| Interest on Debt | $630 | $2,226 |
| General Admin | $11,586 | $0 |
| Other | $33,189 | $3,448 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.