Miami, FL vs Atlanta, GA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Miami, FL and Atlanta, GA spend within 10.8% of each other per resident — $28,195 versus $25,457 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Atlanta, GA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 85/100 (grade A) against 53/100 (grade C) for Miami, FL — a 32-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Neither city reports outstanding debt per resident in its current Census filing, which removes debt service as a point of difference between them. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Miami, FL leads with fire protection at $7,399 per resident, while Atlanta, GA leads with parks and recreation at $1,274.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Miami, FL and 6% in Atlanta, GA.
Summary
Miami spends 10.8% more per capita than Atlanta ($2,738/person difference). Atlanta, GA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 85/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $419 |
| Sales Tax | $1,647 | $0 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $1,292 |
| Intergovernmental | $15,037 | $9,121 |
| Charges & Fees | $0 | $5,645 |
| Other | $1,399 | $5,461 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $315 |
| Fire Protection | $7,399 | $464 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $513 |
| Education | $0 | $25 |
| Public Welfare | $109 | $1,587 |
| Hospitals | $1,499 | $55 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,783 | $1,274 |
| Housing | $6,840 | $4,594 |
| Sewerage | $699 | $343 |
| Utilities | $1,295 | $8,026 |
| Other | $8,572 | $8,262 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.