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

Los Angeles, CA vs Denver, CO

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

Summary

Los Angeles spends 154.4% more per capita than Denver ($51,850/person difference). Denver, CO has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 51/100).

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
Denver, CO
Pop. 710,800
C
51/100
Budget Balance68
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency26
Revenue Diversity99
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Los Angeles
Denver
Total Spending
$331.6B
$23.9B
Spending / Capita
$85,432
$33,582
Total Revenue
$68.3B
$86.8B
Revenue / Capita
$17,595
$122,063
Total Debt
$0
$3.6B
Debt / Capita
$0
$5,126
Population
3,881,041
710,800
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Los Angeles$4,111
Denver$2,455
Fire Protection
Los Angeles$1,057
Denver$1,668
Highways & Roads
Los Angeles$503
Denver$475
Parks & Recreation
Los Angeles$1,347
Denver$3,319
Education
Los Angeles$829
Denver$821
Health
Los Angeles$409
Denver$693

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

Los AngelesDenver
Property Tax
$64
$0
Sales Tax
$77
$2,070
Income Tax
$307
$236
Intergovernmental
$134
$44,661
Charges & Fees
$459
$5,207
Other
$9,048
$10,100

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

Los AngelesDenver
Police
$4,111
$2,455
Fire Protection
$1,057
$1,668
Highways & Roads
$503
$475
Education
$829
$821
Public Welfare
$1,286
$764
Health
$409
$693
Hospitals
$2,135
$2,855
Parks & Recreation
$1,347
$3,319
Housing
$6,325
$3,565
Sewerage
$34
$293
Utilities
$21,992
$4,292
Interest on Debt
$630
$7
General Admin
$11,586
$364
Other
$33,189
$12,011
D
Los Angeles, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 47/100
Below average fiscal health
C
Denver, CO
Fiscal Health Score: 51/100
Average fiscal health

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