Phoenix, AZ vs San Jose, CA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
San Jose, CA and Phoenix, AZ spend within 13.6% of each other per resident — $17,934 versus $15,793 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
San Jose, CA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 90/100 (grade A) against 67/100 (grade B) for Phoenix, AZ — a 23-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
San Jose, CA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Phoenix, AZ carries $1,156 per resident. 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 Jose, CA at $1,424.
They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Phoenix, AZ at 100% of total revenue, whereas San Jose, CA relies most on other revenue at 9%.
Summary
San Jose spends 11.9% more per capita than Phoenix ($2,142/person difference). San Jose, CA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 90/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $7 | $40 |
| Sales Tax | $338 | $315 |
| Income Tax | $1,260 | $1,935 |
| Intergovernmental | $50,709 | $2,680 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,998 | $608 |
| Other | $2,038 | $3,519 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $170 | $0 |
| Highways & Roads | $86 | $0 |
| Education | $214 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $507 | $810 |
| Health | $258 | $609 |
| Hospitals | $1,521 | $1,254 |
| Parks & Recreation | $652 | $1,424 |
| Housing | $3,879 | $4,897 |
| Sewerage | $388 | $161 |
| Utilities | $2,480 | $2,533 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,760 | $0 |
| Other | $3,878 | $6,247 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.