Memphis, TN vs Kansas City, MO
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Kansas City, MO and Memphis, TN spend within 3.2% of each other per resident — $22,820 versus $22,111 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Memphis, TN holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 65/100 (grade B) against 52/100 (grade C) for Kansas City, MO — a 13-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Kansas City, MO reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Memphis, TN carries $303 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Memphis, TN at $1,397 per resident and in Kansas City, MO at $1,309.
They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Memphis, TN at 100% of total revenue, whereas Kansas City, MO relies most on other revenue at 835%.
Summary
Kansas City spends 3.1% more per capita than Memphis ($709/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 | $10 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $496 | $623 |
| Income Tax | $1,218 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $34,065 | $7 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,077 | $3,794 |
| Other | $3,994 | $11,150 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $469 | $119 |
| Highways & Roads | $277 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $630 | $3,018 |
| Health | $391 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $1,677 | $1,849 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,397 | $1,309 |
| Housing | $4,683 | $4,681 |
| Utilities | $2,578 | $3,123 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,158 | $0 |
| Other | $8,850 | $8,721 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.