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

Phoenix, AZ vs San Diego, CA

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

Summary

San Diego spends 63.5% more per capita than Phoenix ($27,513/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
San Diego, CA
Pop. 1,383,987
C
53/100
Budget Balance14
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity96
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Phoenix
San Diego
Total Spending
$25.4B
$59.9B
Spending / Capita
$15,793
$43,306
Total Revenue
$81.6B
$13.4B
Revenue / Capita
$50,709
$9,662
Total Debt
$1.9B
$0
Debt / Capita
$1,156
$0
Population
1,609,456
1,383,987
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Phoenix$0
San Diego$3,335
Fire Protection
Phoenix$170
San Diego$1,278
Highways & Roads
Phoenix$86
San Diego$1,408
Parks & Recreation
Phoenix$652
San Diego$436
Education
Phoenix$214
San Diego$2,005
Health
Phoenix$258
San Diego$411

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

PhoenixSan Diego
Property Tax
$7
$124
Sales Tax
$338
$63
Income Tax
$1,260
$194
Intergovernmental
$50,709
$57
Charges & Fees
$2,998
$14
Other
$2,038
$3,801

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

PhoenixSan Diego
Police
$0
$3,335
Fire Protection
$170
$1,278
Highways & Roads
$86
$1,408
Education
$214
$2,005
Public Welfare
$507
$700
Health
$258
$411
Hospitals
$1,521
$0
Parks & Recreation
$652
$436
Housing
$3,879
$4,476
Sewerage
$388
$43
Utilities
$2,480
$11,704
Interest on Debt
$1,760
$0
Other
$3,878
$17,509
B
Phoenix, AZ
Fiscal Health Score: 67/100
Good fiscal health
C
San Diego, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 53/100
Average fiscal health

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