Miami, FL vs Philadelphia, PA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Philadelphia, PA outspends Miami, FL by a wide margin per resident — $56,272 versus $28,195, a 100% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Miami, FL holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 53/100 (grade C) against 45/100 (grade D) for Philadelphia, PA — 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 Philadelphia, PA carries $1,069 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 Philadelphia, PA at $7,082.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Miami, FL and 16% in Philadelphia, PA.
Summary
Philadelphia spends 49.9% more per capita than Miami ($28,077/person difference). Miami, FL has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 53/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $1,647 | $107 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $8 |
| Intergovernmental | $15,037 | $6,288 |
| Charges & Fees | $0 | $2,790 |
| Other | $1,399 | $4,029 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $1,505 |
| Fire Protection | $7,399 | $7,082 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $1,215 |
| Public Welfare | $109 | $1,456 |
| Health | $0 | $229 |
| Hospitals | $1,499 | $4,048 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,783 | $593 |
| Housing | $6,840 | $4,902 |
| Sewerage | $699 | $325 |
| Utilities | $1,295 | $4,222 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $3 |
| Other | $8,572 | $30,692 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.