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

Oakland, CA vs Los Angeles, CA

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

Summary

Los Angeles spends 64.8% more per capita than Oakland ($55,378/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
Los Angeles, CA
Pop. 3,881,041
D
47/100
Budget Balance0
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity65
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Oakland
Los Angeles
Total Spending
$13.2B
$331.6B
Spending / Capita
$30,055
$85,432
Total Revenue
$18.5B
$68.3B
Revenue / Capita
$42,277
$17,595
Total Debt
$0
$0
Debt / Capita
$0
$0
Population
437,825
3,881,041
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Oakland$0
Los Angeles$4,111
Fire Protection
Oakland$1
Los Angeles$1,057
Highways & Roads
Oakland$0
Los Angeles$503
Parks & Recreation
Oakland$955
Los Angeles$1,347
Education
Oakland$0
Los Angeles$829
Health
Oakland$1,016
Los Angeles$409

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

OaklandLos Angeles
Property Tax
$0
$64
Sales Tax
$522
$77
Income Tax
$0
$307
Intergovernmental
$42,277
$134
Charges & Fees
$0
$459
Other
$4,337
$9,048

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

OaklandLos Angeles
Police
$0
$4,111
Fire Protection
$1
$1,057
Highways & Roads
$0
$503
Education
$0
$829
Public Welfare
$2,426
$1,286
Health
$1,016
$409
Hospitals
$2,498
$2,135
Parks & Recreation
$955
$1,347
Housing
$7,811
$6,325
Sewerage
$1,417
$34
Utilities
$0
$21,992
Interest on Debt
$0
$630
General Admin
$0
$11,586
Other
$13,929
$33,189
B
Oakland, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 72/100
Good fiscal health
D
Los Angeles, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 47/100
Below average fiscal health

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