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

Los Angeles, CA vs San Diego, CA

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

Summary

Los Angeles spends 97.3% more per capita than San Diego ($42,126/person difference). San Diego, CA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 53/100).

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
San Diego, CA
Pop. 1,383,987
C
53/100
Budget Balance14
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity96
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Los Angeles
San Diego
Total Spending
$331.6B
$59.9B
Spending / Capita
$85,432
$43,306
Total Revenue
$68.3B
$13.4B
Revenue / Capita
$17,595
$9,662
Total Debt
$0
$0
Debt / Capita
$0
$0
Population
3,881,041
1,383,987
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Los Angeles$4,111
San Diego$3,335
Fire Protection
Los Angeles$1,057
San Diego$1,278
Highways & Roads
Los Angeles$503
San Diego$1,408
Parks & Recreation
Los Angeles$1,347
San Diego$436
Education
Los Angeles$829
San Diego$2,005
Health
Los Angeles$409
San Diego$411

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

Los AngelesSan Diego
Property Tax
$64
$124
Sales Tax
$77
$63
Income Tax
$307
$194
Intergovernmental
$134
$57
Charges & Fees
$459
$14
Other
$9,048
$3,801

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

Los AngelesSan Diego
Police
$4,111
$3,335
Fire Protection
$1,057
$1,278
Highways & Roads
$503
$1,408
Education
$829
$2,005
Public Welfare
$1,286
$700
Health
$409
$411
Hospitals
$2,135
$0
Parks & Recreation
$1,347
$436
Housing
$6,325
$4,476
Sewerage
$34
$43
Utilities
$21,992
$11,704
Interest on Debt
$630
$0
General Admin
$11,586
$0
Other
$33,189
$17,509
D
Los Angeles, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 47/100
Below average fiscal health
C
San Diego, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 53/100
Average fiscal health

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