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

Los Angeles, CA vs Chicago, IL

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

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

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
Chicago, IL
Pop. 2,721,914
C
61/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden61
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency22
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Los Angeles
Chicago
Total Spending
$331.6B
$94.0B
Spending / Capita
$85,432
$34,551
Total Revenue
$68.3B
$231.6B
Revenue / Capita
$17,595
$85,083
Total Debt
$0
$2.7B
Debt / Capita
$0
$977
Population
3,881,041
2,721,914
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Los Angeles$4,111
Chicago$0
Fire Protection
Los Angeles$1,057
Chicago$10,754
Highways & Roads
Los Angeles$503
Chicago$930
Parks & Recreation
Los Angeles$1,347
Chicago$122
Education
Los Angeles$829
Chicago$0
Health
Los Angeles$409
Chicago$426

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

Los AngelesChicago
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)

Los AngelesChicago
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
D
Los Angeles, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 47/100
Below average fiscal health
C
Chicago, IL
Fiscal Health Score: 61/100
Average fiscal health

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