Philadelphia, PA vs Phoenix, AZ
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Philadelphia, PA outspends Phoenix, AZ by a wide margin per resident — $56,272 versus $15,793, a 256% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Phoenix, AZ holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 67/100 (grade B) against 45/100 (grade D) for Philadelphia, PA — a 22-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Philadelphia, PA carries the lighter load at $1,069 per resident versus $1,156 for Phoenix, AZ. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Philadelphia, PA leads with fire protection at $7,082 per resident, while Phoenix, AZ leads with parks and recreation at $652.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 16% of total revenue in Philadelphia, PA and 100% in Phoenix, AZ.
Summary
Philadelphia spends 256.3% more per capita than Phoenix ($40,479/person difference). Phoenix, AZ has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 67/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $7 |
| Sales Tax | $107 | $338 |
| Income Tax | $8 | $1,260 |
| Intergovernmental | $6,288 | $50,709 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,790 | $2,998 |
| Other | $4,029 | $2,038 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $1,505 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $7,082 | $170 |
| Highways & Roads | $1,215 | $86 |
| Education | $0 | $214 |
| Public Welfare | $1,456 | $507 |
| Health | $229 | $258 |
| Hospitals | $4,048 | $1,521 |
| Parks & Recreation | $593 | $652 |
| Housing | $4,902 | $3,879 |
| Sewerage | $325 | $388 |
| Utilities | $4,222 | $2,480 |
| Interest on Debt | $3 | $1,760 |
| Other | $30,692 | $3,878 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.