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

Los Angeles, CA vs San Francisco, CA

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

Summary

San Francisco spends 53.6% more per capita than Los Angeles ($98,699/person difference). San Francisco, CA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (D, 48/100).

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 Francisco, CA
Pop. 851,036
D
48/100
Budget Balance70
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Los Angeles
San Francisco
Total Spending
$331.6B
$156.7B
Spending / Capita
$85,432
$184,131
Total Revenue
$68.3B
$232.3B
Revenue / Capita
$17,595
$272,907
Total Debt
$0
$1.7B
Debt / Capita
$0
$2,031
Population
3,881,041
851,036
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Los Angeles$4,111
San Francisco$3,351
Fire Protection
Los Angeles$1,057
San Francisco$2,281
Highways & Roads
Los Angeles$503
San Francisco$0
Parks & Recreation
Los Angeles$1,347
San Francisco$4,119
Education
Los Angeles$829
San Francisco$0
Health
Los Angeles$409
San Francisco$1,911

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

Los AngelesSan Francisco
Property Tax
$64
$148
Sales Tax
$77
$3,028
Income Tax
$307
$269
Intergovernmental
$134
$19,762
Charges & Fees
$459
$7,961
Other
$9,048
$18,918

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

Los AngelesSan Francisco
Police
$4,111
$3,351
Fire Protection
$1,057
$2,281
Highways & Roads
$503
$0
Education
$829
$0
Public Welfare
$1,286
$2,203
Health
$409
$1,911
Hospitals
$2,135
$6,939
Parks & Recreation
$1,347
$4,119
Housing
$6,325
$9,315
Sewerage
$34
$1,423
Utilities
$21,992
$21,190
Interest on Debt
$630
$22,798
General Admin
$11,586
$14,899
Other
$33,189
$93,702
D
Los Angeles, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 47/100
Below average fiscal health
D
San Francisco, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 48/100
Below average fiscal health

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