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Data from U.S. Census Bureau · 2026 · Methodology
CitySpend

Minneapolis, MN vs Virginia Beach, VA

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

Reviewed by CitySpend Editorial Team · Updated

Virginia Beach, VA outspends Minneapolis, MN by a wide margin per resident — $42,515 versus $21,910, a 94% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.

Minneapolis, MN holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 65/100 (grade B) against 47/100 (grade D) for Virginia Beach, VA — a 18-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.

On debt, Virginia Beach, VA carries the lighter load at $297 per resident versus $644 for Minneapolis, MN. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Minneapolis, MN leads with parks and recreation at $3,486 per resident, while Virginia Beach, VA leads with education at $21,342.

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

Summary

Virginia Beach spends 48.5% more per capita than Minneapolis ($20,605/person difference). Minneapolis, MN has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 65/100).

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
Virginia Beach, VA
Pop. 457,900
D
47/100
Budget Balance28
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Minneapolis
Virginia Beach
Total Spending
$9.4B
$19.5B
Spending / Capita
$21,910
$42,515
Total Revenue
$8.2B
$14.6B
Revenue / Capita
$19,159
$31,808
Total Debt
$274.8M
$135.8M
Debt / Capita
$644
$297
Population
426,877
457,900
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Minneapolis$0
Virginia Beach$1,126
Fire Protection
Minneapolis$683
Virginia Beach$512
Highways & Roads
Minneapolis$221
Virginia Beach$0
Parks & Recreation
Minneapolis$3,486
Virginia Beach$1,574
Education
Minneapolis$0
Virginia Beach$21,342
Health
Minneapolis$0
Virginia Beach$426

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

MinneapolisVirginia Beach
Sales Tax
$1,989
$673
Income Tax
$994
$831
Intergovernmental
$2,929
$31,808
Charges & Fees
$2,040
$1,462
Other
$3,254
$3,301

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

MinneapolisVirginia Beach
Police
$0
$1,126
Fire Protection
$683
$512
Highways & Roads
$221
$0
Education
$0
$21,342
Public Welfare
$1,500
$2,071
Health
$0
$426
Hospitals
$0
$1,036
Parks & Recreation
$3,486
$1,574
Housing
$4,133
$2,788
Sewerage
$570
$140
Utilities
$2,398
$3,523
Other
$8,919
$7,978
B
Minneapolis, MN
Fiscal Health Score: 65/100
Good fiscal health
D
Virginia Beach, VA
Fiscal Health Score: 47/100
Below average fiscal health

Compare More Cities

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