Miami, FL vs Chicago, IL
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Chicago, IL spends 23% more per resident than Miami, FL: $34,551 against $28,195. That gap is large enough to show up across most functional budget categories below.
Chicago, IL holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 61/100 (grade C) against 53/100 (grade C) for Miami, FL — a 8-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Miami, FL reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Chicago, IL carries $977 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: fire protection leads in Miami, FL at $7,399 per resident and in Chicago, IL at $10,754.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Miami, FL and 100% in Chicago, IL.
Summary
Chicago spends 18.4% more per capita than Miami ($6,356/person difference). Chicago, IL has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 61/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $26 |
| Sales Tax | $1,647 | $74 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $229 |
| Intergovernmental | $15,037 | $85,083 |
| Charges & Fees | $0 | $2,847 |
| Other | $1,399 | $3,463 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $7,399 | $10,754 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $930 |
| Public Welfare | $109 | $1,858 |
| Health | $0 | $426 |
| Hospitals | $1,499 | $1,444 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,783 | $122 |
| Housing | $6,840 | $6,520 |
| Sewerage | $699 | $129 |
| Utilities | $1,295 | $2,983 |
| Other | $8,572 | $9,385 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.