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

Phoenix, AZ vs Atlanta, GA

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

Summary

Atlanta spends 38.0% more per capita than Phoenix ($9,664/person difference). Atlanta, GA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 85/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Phoenix, AZ
Pop. 1,609,456
B
67/100
Budget Balance93
Debt Burden45
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50
City B
Atlanta, GA
Pop. 494,838
A
85/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency64
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Phoenix
Atlanta
Total Spending
$25.4B
$12.6B
Spending / Capita
$15,793
$25,457
Total Revenue
$81.6B
$77.6B
Revenue / Capita
$50,709
$156,803
Total Debt
$1.9B
$0
Debt / Capita
$1,156
$0
Population
1,609,456
494,838
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Phoenix$0
Atlanta$315
Fire Protection
Phoenix$170
Atlanta$464
Highways & Roads
Phoenix$86
Atlanta$513
Parks & Recreation
Phoenix$652
Atlanta$1,274
Education
Phoenix$214
Atlanta$25
Health
Phoenix$258
Atlanta$0

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

PhoenixAtlanta
Property Tax
$7
$419
Sales Tax
$338
$0
Income Tax
$1,260
$1,292
Intergovernmental
$50,709
$9,121
Charges & Fees
$2,998
$5,645
Other
$2,038
$5,461

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

PhoenixAtlanta
Police
$0
$315
Fire Protection
$170
$464
Highways & Roads
$86
$513
Education
$214
$25
Public Welfare
$507
$1,587
Health
$258
$0
Hospitals
$1,521
$55
Parks & Recreation
$652
$1,274
Housing
$3,879
$4,594
Sewerage
$388
$343
Utilities
$2,480
$8,026
Interest on Debt
$1,760
$0
Other
$3,878
$8,262
B
Phoenix, AZ
Fiscal Health Score: 67/100
Good fiscal health
A
Atlanta, GA
Fiscal Health Score: 85/100
Excellent fiscal health

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