Oklahoma City, OK vs Columbus, OH
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Columbus, OH and Oklahoma City, OK spend within 4.3% of each other per resident — $18,858 versus $18,074 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Oklahoma City, OK holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 65/100 (grade B) against 52/100 (grade C) for Columbus, OH — a 13-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Columbus, OH carries the lighter load at $1,145 per resident versus $3,520 for Oklahoma City, OK. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Oklahoma City, OK at $2,014 per resident and in Columbus, OH at $2,168.
Summary
Columbus spends 4.2% more per capita than Oklahoma City ($785/person difference). Oklahoma City, OK has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 65/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $10 |
| Sales Tax | $763 | $234 |
| Income Tax | $1,037 | $1 |
| Intergovernmental | $6,852 | $0 |
| Charges & Fees | $3,256 | $2,389 |
| Other | $1,836 | $5,248 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $513 | $1,016 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $224 |
| Public Welfare | $1,525 | $878 |
| Health | $5 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $2,044 | $953 |
| Parks & Recreation | $2,014 | $2,168 |
| Housing | $2,857 | $4,303 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $1 |
| Utilities | $4,523 | $1,719 |
| Interest on Debt | $707 | $0 |
| Other | $3,886 | $7,595 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.