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

Phoenix, AZ vs Los Angeles, CA

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

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

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
Los Angeles, CA
Pop. 3,881,041
D
47/100
Budget Balance0
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity65
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Phoenix
Los Angeles
Total Spending
$25.4B
$331.6B
Spending / Capita
$15,793
$85,432
Total Revenue
$81.6B
$68.3B
Revenue / Capita
$50,709
$17,595
Total Debt
$1.9B
$0
Debt / Capita
$1,156
$0
Population
1,609,456
3,881,041
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Phoenix$0
Los Angeles$4,111
Fire Protection
Phoenix$170
Los Angeles$1,057
Highways & Roads
Phoenix$86
Los Angeles$503
Parks & Recreation
Phoenix$652
Los Angeles$1,347
Education
Phoenix$214
Los Angeles$829
Health
Phoenix$258
Los Angeles$409

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

PhoenixLos Angeles
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)

PhoenixLos Angeles
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
B
Phoenix, AZ
Fiscal Health Score: 67/100
Good fiscal health
D
Los Angeles, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 47/100
Below average fiscal health

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