Memphis, TN vs Las Vegas, NV
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Memphis, TN outspends Las Vegas, NV by a wide margin per resident — $22,111 versus $9,085, a 143% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Las Vegas, NV holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 82/100 (grade A) against 65/100 (grade B) for Memphis, TN — a 17-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Las Vegas, NV 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 Las Vegas, NV at $1,028.
They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Memphis, TN at 100% of total revenue, whereas Las Vegas, NV relies most on other revenue at 34%.
Summary
Memphis spends 143.4% more per capita than Las Vegas ($13,025/person difference). Las Vegas, NV has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 82/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $10 | $50 |
| Sales Tax | $496 | $386 |
| Income Tax | $1,218 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $34,065 | $1,137 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,077 | $0 |
| Other | $3,994 | $2,806 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $945 |
| Fire Protection | $469 | $280 |
| Highways & Roads | $277 | $45 |
| Public Welfare | $630 | $705 |
| Health | $391 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $1,677 | $356 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,397 | $1,028 |
| Housing | $4,683 | $23 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $332 |
| Utilities | $2,578 | $129 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,158 | $0 |
| Other | $8,850 | $5,243 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.