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

Philadelphia, PA vs San Diego, CA

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

Summary

Philadelphia spends 29.9% more per capita than San Diego ($12,966/person difference). San Diego, CA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 53/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Philadelphia, PA
Pop. 1,593,208
D
45/100
Budget Balance17
Debt Burden53
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
San Diego, CA
Pop. 1,383,987
C
53/100
Budget Balance14
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity96
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Philadelphia
San Diego
Total Spending
$89.7B
$59.9B
Spending / Capita
$56,272
$43,306
Total Revenue
$64.4B
$13.4B
Revenue / Capita
$40,425
$9,662
Total Debt
$1.7B
$0
Debt / Capita
$1,069
$0
Population
1,593,208
1,383,987
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Philadelphia$1,505
San Diego$3,335
Fire Protection
Philadelphia$7,082
San Diego$1,278
Highways & Roads
Philadelphia$1,215
San Diego$1,408
Parks & Recreation
Philadelphia$593
San Diego$436
Education
Philadelphia$0
San Diego$2,005
Health
Philadelphia$229
San Diego$411

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

PhiladelphiaSan Diego
Property Tax
$0
$124
Sales Tax
$107
$63
Income Tax
$8
$194
Intergovernmental
$6,288
$57
Charges & Fees
$2,790
$14
Other
$4,029
$3,801

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

PhiladelphiaSan Diego
Police
$1,505
$3,335
Fire Protection
$7,082
$1,278
Highways & Roads
$1,215
$1,408
Education
$0
$2,005
Public Welfare
$1,456
$700
Health
$229
$411
Hospitals
$4,048
$0
Parks & Recreation
$593
$436
Housing
$4,902
$4,476
Sewerage
$325
$43
Utilities
$4,222
$11,704
Interest on Debt
$3
$0
Other
$30,692
$17,509
D
Philadelphia, PA
Fiscal Health Score: 45/100
Below average fiscal health
C
San Diego, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 53/100
Average fiscal health

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