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

Los Angeles, CA vs Seattle, WA

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

Summary

Los Angeles spends 147.9% more per capita than Seattle ($50,970/person difference). Seattle, WA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 61/100).

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
Seattle, WA
Pop. 734,603
C
61/100
Budget Balance69
Debt Burden50
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency22
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Los Angeles
Seattle
Total Spending
$331.6B
$25.3B
Spending / Capita
$85,432
$34,463
Total Revenue
$68.3B
$56.5B
Revenue / Capita
$17,595
$76,958
Total Debt
$0
$808.1M
Debt / Capita
$0
$1,100
Population
3,881,041
734,603
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Los Angeles$4,111
Seattle$0
Fire Protection
Los Angeles$1,057
Seattle$210
Highways & Roads
Los Angeles$503
Seattle$0
Parks & Recreation
Los Angeles$1,347
Seattle$3,923
Education
Los Angeles$829
Seattle$1,461
Health
Los Angeles$409
Seattle$1,131

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

Los AngelesSeattle
Property Tax
$64
$1,831
Sales Tax
$77
$1,094
Income Tax
$307
$3,496
Intergovernmental
$134
$9,846
Charges & Fees
$459
$3,960
Other
$9,048
$8,544

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

Los AngelesSeattle
Police
$4,111
$0
Fire Protection
$1,057
$210
Highways & Roads
$503
$0
Education
$829
$1,461
Public Welfare
$1,286
$3,439
Health
$409
$1,131
Hospitals
$2,135
$1,871
Parks & Recreation
$1,347
$3,923
Housing
$6,325
$3,727
Sewerage
$34
$952
Utilities
$21,992
$6,489
Interest on Debt
$630
$0
General Admin
$11,586
$0
Other
$33,189
$11,260
D
Los Angeles, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 47/100
Below average fiscal health
C
Seattle, WA
Fiscal Health Score: 61/100
Average fiscal health

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