Los Angeles, CA vs Chicago, IL
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Los Angeles, CA outspends Chicago, IL by a wide margin per resident — $85,432 versus $34,551, a 147% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Chicago, IL holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 61/100 (grade C) against 47/100 (grade D) for Los Angeles, CA — a 14-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Los Angeles, CA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Chicago, IL carries $977 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 Chicago, IL leads with fire protection at $10,754.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Los Angeles, CA at 51% of total revenue, whereas Chicago, IL relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 100%.
Summary
Los Angeles spends 147.3% more per capita than Chicago ($50,881/person difference). Chicago, IL has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 61/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $64 | $26 |
| Sales Tax | $77 | $74 |
| Income Tax | $307 | $229 |
| Intergovernmental | $134 | $85,083 |
| Charges & Fees | $459 | $2,847 |
| Other | $9,048 | $3,463 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $4,111 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $1,057 | $10,754 |
| Highways & Roads | $503 | $930 |
| Education | $829 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $1,286 | $1,858 |
| Health | $409 | $426 |
| Hospitals | $2,135 | $1,444 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,347 | $122 |
| Housing | $6,325 | $6,520 |
| Sewerage | $34 | $129 |
| Utilities | $21,992 | $2,983 |
| Interest on Debt | $630 | $0 |
| General Admin | $11,586 | $0 |
| Other | $33,189 | $9,385 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.