Phoenix, AZ vs Philadelphia, PA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Philadelphia, PA outspends Phoenix, AZ by a wide margin per resident — $56,272 versus $15,793, a 256% 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 45/100 (grade D) for Philadelphia, PA — a 22-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Philadelphia, PA carries the lighter load at $1,069 per resident versus $1,156 for Phoenix, AZ. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Phoenix, AZ leads with parks and recreation at $652 per resident, while Philadelphia, PA leads with fire protection at $7,082.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Phoenix, AZ and 16% in Philadelphia, PA.
Summary
Philadelphia spends 71.9% more per capita than Phoenix ($40,479/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 | $107 |
| Income Tax | $1,260 | $8 |
| Intergovernmental | $50,709 | $6,288 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,998 | $2,790 |
| Other | $2,038 | $4,029 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $1,505 |
| Fire Protection | $170 | $7,082 |
| Highways & Roads | $86 | $1,215 |
| Education | $214 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $507 | $1,456 |
| Health | $258 | $229 |
| Hospitals | $1,521 | $4,048 |
| Parks & Recreation | $652 | $593 |
| Housing | $3,879 | $4,902 |
| Sewerage | $388 | $325 |
| Utilities | $2,480 | $4,222 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,760 | $3 |
| Other | $3,878 | $30,692 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.