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

Pittsburgh, PA vs Philadelphia, PA

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

Summary

Philadelphia spends 55.0% more per capita than Pittsburgh ($30,923/person difference). Pittsburgh, PA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 69/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Pittsburgh, PA
Pop. 303,843
B
69/100
Budget Balance36
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency64
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Philadelphia, PA
Pop. 1,593,208
D
45/100
Budget Balance17
Debt Burden53
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Pittsburgh
Philadelphia
Total Spending
$7.7B
$89.7B
Spending / Capita
$25,349
$56,272
Total Revenue
$4.7B
$64.4B
Revenue / Capita
$15,558
$40,425
Total Debt
$0
$1.7B
Debt / Capita
$0
$1,069
Population
303,843
1,593,208
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Pittsburgh$0
Philadelphia$1,505
Fire Protection
Pittsburgh$784
Philadelphia$7,082
Highways & Roads
Pittsburgh$605
Philadelphia$1,215
Parks & Recreation
Pittsburgh$399
Philadelphia$593
Health
Pittsburgh$0
Philadelphia$229

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

PittsburghPhiladelphia
Property Tax
$35
$0
Sales Tax
$201
$107
Income Tax
$31
$8
Intergovernmental
$2,136
$6,288
Charges & Fees
$0
$2,790
Other
$1,184
$4,029

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

PittsburghPhiladelphia
Police
$0
$1,505
Fire Protection
$784
$7,082
Highways & Roads
$605
$1,215
Public Welfare
$4,568
$1,456
Health
$0
$229
Hospitals
$214
$4,048
Parks & Recreation
$399
$593
Housing
$4,276
$4,902
Sewerage
$248
$325
Utilities
$690
$4,222
Interest on Debt
$0
$3
Other
$13,566
$30,692
B
Pittsburgh, PA
Fiscal Health Score: 69/100
Good fiscal health
D
Philadelphia, PA
Fiscal Health Score: 45/100
Below average fiscal health

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