Skip to main content
Data from U.S. Census Bureau · 2026 · Methodology
CitySpend

Minneapolis, MN vs Memphis, TN

Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)

Reviewed by CitySpend Editorial Team · Updated

Memphis, TN and Minneapolis, MN spend within 0.9% of each other per resident — $22,111 versus $21,910 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.

On the CitySpend Fiscal Health Score the two are level: Minneapolis, MN and Memphis, TN both land at 65/100 (grade B and B respectively), so the deciding factors sit in the underlying six-factor breakdown rather than the rolled-up grade.

On debt, Memphis, TN carries the lighter load at $303 per resident versus $644 for Minneapolis, MN. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Minneapolis, MN at $3,486 per resident and in Memphis, TN at $1,397.

They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Minneapolis, MN at 17% of total revenue, whereas Memphis, TN relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 100%.

Summary

Memphis spends 0.9% more per capita than Minneapolis ($201/person difference). Both cities share the same Fiscal Health Score.

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Minneapolis, MN
Pop. 426,877
B
65/100
Budget Balance17
Debt Burden91
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency80
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Memphis, TN
Pop. 630,027
B
65/100
Budget Balance52
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency79
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Minneapolis
Memphis
Total Spending
$9.4B
$13.9B
Spending / Capita
$21,910
$22,111
Total Revenue
$8.2B
$21.5B
Revenue / Capita
$19,159
$34,065
Total Debt
$274.8M
$191.2M
Debt / Capita
$644
$303
Population
426,877
630,027
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Minneapolis$683
Memphis$469
Highways & Roads
Minneapolis$221
Memphis$277
Parks & Recreation
Minneapolis$3,486
Memphis$1,397
Health
Minneapolis$0
Memphis$391

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

MinneapolisMemphis
Property Tax
$0
$10
Sales Tax
$1,989
$496
Income Tax
$994
$1,218
Intergovernmental
$2,929
$34,065
Charges & Fees
$2,040
$2,077
Other
$3,254
$3,994

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

MinneapolisMemphis
Fire Protection
$683
$469
Highways & Roads
$221
$277
Public Welfare
$1,500
$630
Health
$0
$391
Hospitals
$0
$1,677
Parks & Recreation
$3,486
$1,397
Housing
$4,133
$4,683
Sewerage
$570
$0
Utilities
$2,398
$2,578
Interest on Debt
$0
$1,158
Other
$8,919
$8,850
B
Minneapolis, MN
Fiscal Health Score: 65/100
Good fiscal health
B
Memphis, TN
Fiscal Health Score: 65/100
Good fiscal health

Compare More Cities

Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.