Philadelphia, PA vs Chicago, IL
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Philadelphia, PA outspends Chicago, IL by a wide margin per resident — $56,272 versus $34,551, a 63% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Chicago, IL holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 61/100 (grade C) against 45/100 (grade D) for Philadelphia, PA — a 16-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Chicago, IL carries the lighter load at $977 per resident versus $1,069 for Philadelphia, PA. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: fire protection leads in Philadelphia, PA at $7,082 per resident and in Chicago, IL at $10,754.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 16% of total revenue in Philadelphia, PA and 100% in Chicago, IL.
Summary
Philadelphia spends 62.9% more per capita than Chicago ($21,721/person difference). Chicago, IL has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 61/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $26 |
| Sales Tax | $107 | $74 |
| Income Tax | $8 | $229 |
| Intergovernmental | $6,288 | $85,083 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,790 | $2,847 |
| Other | $4,029 | $3,463 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $1,505 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $7,082 | $10,754 |
| Highways & Roads | $1,215 | $930 |
| Public Welfare | $1,456 | $1,858 |
| Health | $229 | $426 |
| Hospitals | $4,048 | $1,444 |
| Parks & Recreation | $593 | $122 |
| Housing | $4,902 | $6,520 |
| Sewerage | $325 | $129 |
| Utilities | $4,222 | $2,983 |
| Interest on Debt | $3 | $0 |
| Other | $30,692 | $9,385 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.