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

Los Angeles, CA vs Philadelphia, PA

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

Summary

Los Angeles spends 51.8% more per capita than Philadelphia ($29,160/person difference). Los Angeles, CA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (D, 47/100).

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
Philadelphia, PA
Pop. 1,593,208
D
45/100
Budget Balance17
Debt Burden53
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Los Angeles
Philadelphia
Total Spending
$331.6B
$89.7B
Spending / Capita
$85,432
$56,272
Total Revenue
$68.3B
$64.4B
Revenue / Capita
$17,595
$40,425
Total Debt
$0
$1.7B
Debt / Capita
$0
$1,069
Population
3,881,041
1,593,208
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Los Angeles$4,111
Philadelphia$1,505
Fire Protection
Los Angeles$1,057
Philadelphia$7,082
Highways & Roads
Los Angeles$503
Philadelphia$1,215
Parks & Recreation
Los Angeles$1,347
Philadelphia$593
Education
Los Angeles$829
Philadelphia$0
Health
Los Angeles$409
Philadelphia$229

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

Los AngelesPhiladelphia
Property Tax
$64
$0
Sales Tax
$77
$107
Income Tax
$307
$8
Intergovernmental
$134
$6,288
Charges & Fees
$459
$2,790
Other
$9,048
$4,029

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

Los AngelesPhiladelphia
Police
$4,111
$1,505
Fire Protection
$1,057
$7,082
Highways & Roads
$503
$1,215
Education
$829
$0
Public Welfare
$1,286
$1,456
Health
$409
$229
Hospitals
$2,135
$4,048
Parks & Recreation
$1,347
$593
Housing
$6,325
$4,902
Sewerage
$34
$325
Utilities
$21,992
$4,222
Interest on Debt
$630
$3
General Admin
$11,586
$0
Other
$33,189
$30,692
D
Los Angeles, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 47/100
Below average fiscal health
D
Philadelphia, PA
Fiscal Health Score: 45/100
Below average fiscal health

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