Phoenix, AZ vs Oklahoma City, OK
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Oklahoma City, OK and Phoenix, AZ spend within 14.4% of each other per resident — $18,074 versus $15,793 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Phoenix, AZ edges Oklahoma City, OK on the Fiscal Health Score by 2 points — 67/100 (grade B) to 65/100 (grade B). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
On debt, Phoenix, AZ carries the lighter load at $1,156 per resident versus $3,520 for Oklahoma City, OK. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Phoenix, AZ at $652 per resident and in Oklahoma City, OK at $2,014.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Phoenix, AZ and 19% in Oklahoma City, OK.
Summary
Oklahoma City spends 12.6% more per capita than Phoenix ($2,281/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 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $338 | $763 |
| Income Tax | $1,260 | $1,037 |
| Intergovernmental | $50,709 | $6,852 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,998 | $3,256 |
| Other | $2,038 | $1,836 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $170 | $513 |
| Highways & Roads | $86 | $0 |
| Education | $214 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $507 | $1,525 |
| Health | $258 | $5 |
| Hospitals | $1,521 | $2,044 |
| Parks & Recreation | $652 | $2,014 |
| Housing | $3,879 | $2,857 |
| Sewerage | $388 | $0 |
| Utilities | $2,480 | $4,523 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,760 | $707 |
| Other | $3,878 | $3,886 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.