Los Angeles, CA vs Memphis, TN
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Los Angeles, CA outspends Memphis, TN by a wide margin per resident — $85,432 versus $22,111, a 286% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Memphis, TN holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 65/100 (grade B) against 47/100 (grade D) for Los Angeles, CA — a 18-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Los Angeles, CA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Memphis, TN carries $303 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 Memphis, TN leads with parks and recreation at $1,397.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Los Angeles, CA at 51% of total revenue, whereas Memphis, TN relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 100%.
Summary
Los Angeles spends 286.4% more per capita than Memphis ($63,322/person difference). Memphis, TN has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 65/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $64 | $10 |
| Sales Tax | $77 | $496 |
| Income Tax | $307 | $1,218 |
| Intergovernmental | $134 | $34,065 |
| Charges & Fees | $459 | $2,077 |
| Other | $9,048 | $3,994 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $4,111 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $1,057 | $469 |
| Highways & Roads | $503 | $277 |
| Education | $829 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $1,286 | $630 |
| Health | $409 | $391 |
| Hospitals | $2,135 | $1,677 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,347 | $1,397 |
| Housing | $6,325 | $4,683 |
| Sewerage | $34 | $0 |
| Utilities | $21,992 | $2,578 |
| Interest on Debt | $630 | $1,158 |
| General Admin | $11,586 | $0 |
| Other | $33,189 | $8,850 |
Compare More Cities
Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.