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

Oakland, CA vs Colorado Springs, CO

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

Reviewed by CitySpend Editorial Team · Updated

Oakland, CA outspends Colorado Springs, CO by a wide margin per resident — $30,055 versus $13,222, a 127% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.

Oakland, CA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 72/100 (grade B) against 59/100 (grade C) for Colorado Springs, CO — a 13-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.

Oakland, CA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Colorado Springs, CO carries $3,063 per resident. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Oakland, CA leads with health at $1,016 per resident, while Colorado Springs, CO leads with fire protection at $1,266.

On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Oakland, CA and 13% in Colorado Springs, CO.

Summary

Oakland spends 127.3% more per capita than Colorado Springs ($16,832/person difference). Oakland, CA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 72/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Oakland, CA
Pop. 437,825
B
72/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency43
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50
City B
Colorado Springs, CO
Pop. 479,612
C
59/100
Budget Balance54
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Oakland
Colorado Springs
Total Spending
$13.2B
$6.3B
Spending / Capita
$30,055
$13,222
Total Revenue
$18.5B
$25.3B
Revenue / Capita
$42,277
$52,777
Total Debt
$0
$1.5B
Debt / Capita
$0
$3,063
Population
437,825
479,612
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Oakland$1
Colorado Springs$1,266
Parks & Recreation
Oakland$955
Colorado Springs$376
Health
Oakland$1,016
Colorado Springs$0

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

OaklandColorado Springs
Sales Tax
$522
$257
Intergovernmental
$42,277
$6,902
Charges & Fees
$0
$5,676
Other
$4,337
$2,678

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

OaklandColorado Springs
Fire Protection
$1
$1,266
Public Welfare
$2,426
$575
Health
$1,016
$0
Hospitals
$2,498
$416
Parks & Recreation
$955
$376
Housing
$7,811
$2,713
Sewerage
$1,417
$0
Utilities
$0
$2,566
Interest on Debt
$0
$190
Other
$13,929
$5,120
B
Oakland, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 72/100
Good fiscal health
C
Colorado Springs, CO
Fiscal Health Score: 59/100
Average fiscal health

Compare More Cities

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