Miami, FL vs Phoenix, AZ
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Miami, FL outspends Phoenix, AZ by a wide margin per resident — $28,195 versus $15,793, a 79% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Phoenix, AZ holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 67/100 (grade B) against 53/100 (grade C) for Miami, FL — a 14-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Miami, FL reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Phoenix, AZ carries $1,156 per resident. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Miami, FL leads with fire protection at $7,399 per resident, while Phoenix, AZ leads with parks and recreation at $652.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Miami, FL and 100% in Phoenix, AZ.
Summary
Miami spends 78.5% more per capita than Phoenix ($12,402/person difference). Phoenix, AZ has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 67/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $7 |
| Sales Tax | $1,647 | $338 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $1,260 |
| Intergovernmental | $15,037 | $50,709 |
| Charges & Fees | $0 | $2,998 |
| Other | $1,399 | $2,038 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $7,399 | $170 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $86 |
| Education | $0 | $214 |
| Public Welfare | $109 | $507 |
| Health | $0 | $258 |
| Hospitals | $1,499 | $1,521 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,783 | $652 |
| Housing | $6,840 | $3,879 |
| Sewerage | $699 | $388 |
| Utilities | $1,295 | $2,480 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $1,760 |
| Other | $8,572 | $3,878 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.