Phoenix, AZ vs San Antonio, TX
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
San Antonio, TX and Phoenix, AZ spend within 7.3% of each other per resident — $16,943 versus $15,793 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
San Antonio, TX edges Phoenix, AZ on the Fiscal Health Score by 1 points — 68/100 (grade B) to 67/100 (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 $2,131 for San Antonio, TX. 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 San Antonio, TX at $1,045.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Phoenix, AZ and 17% in San Antonio, TX.
Summary
San Antonio spends 6.8% more per capita than Phoenix ($1,150/person difference). San Antonio, TX has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 68/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $7 | $9 |
| Sales Tax | $338 | $293 |
| Income Tax | $1,260 | $1,000 |
| Intergovernmental | $50,709 | $14,312 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,998 | $4,025 |
| Other | $2,038 | $3,184 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $170 | $396 |
| Highways & Roads | $86 | $158 |
| Education | $214 | $23 |
| Public Welfare | $507 | $1,188 |
| Health | $258 | $293 |
| Hospitals | $1,521 | $993 |
| Parks & Recreation | $652 | $1,045 |
| Housing | $3,879 | $3,570 |
| Sewerage | $388 | $100 |
| Utilities | $2,480 | $3,826 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,760 | $0 |
| Other | $3,878 | $5,352 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.