Phoenix, AZ vs Los Angeles, CA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Los Angeles, CA outspends Phoenix, AZ by a wide margin per resident — $85,432 versus $15,793, a 441% 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 47/100 (grade D) for Los Angeles, CA — a 20-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Los Angeles, CA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Phoenix, AZ carries $1,156 per resident. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Phoenix, AZ leads with parks and recreation at $652 per resident, while Los Angeles, CA leads with police at $4,111.
They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Phoenix, AZ at 100% of total revenue, whereas Los Angeles, CA relies most on other revenue at 51%.
Summary
Los Angeles spends 81.5% more per capita than Phoenix ($69,640/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 | $7 | $64 |
| Sales Tax | $338 | $77 |
| Income Tax | $1,260 | $307 |
| Intergovernmental | $50,709 | $134 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,998 | $459 |
| Other | $2,038 | $9,048 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $4,111 |
| Fire Protection | $170 | $1,057 |
| Highways & Roads | $86 | $503 |
| Education | $214 | $829 |
| Public Welfare | $507 | $1,286 |
| Health | $258 | $409 |
| Hospitals | $1,521 | $2,135 |
| Parks & Recreation | $652 | $1,347 |
| Housing | $3,879 | $6,325 |
| Sewerage | $388 | $34 |
| Utilities | $2,480 | $21,992 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,760 | $630 |
| General Admin | $0 | $11,586 |
| Other | $3,878 | $33,189 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.