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

Portland, OR vs Minneapolis, MN

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

Reviewed by CitySpend Editorial Team · Updated

Portland, OR and Minneapolis, MN spend within 8.1% of each other per resident — $23,675 versus $21,910 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.

Minneapolis, MN edges Portland, OR on the Fiscal Health Score by 2 points — 65/100 (grade B) to 63/100 (grade C). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.

On debt, Minneapolis, MN carries the lighter load at $644 per resident versus $1,574 for Portland, OR. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Portland, OR at $2,477 per resident and in Minneapolis, MN at $3,486.

They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Portland, OR at 19% of total revenue, whereas Minneapolis, MN relies most on other revenue at 17%.

Summary

Portland spends 8.1% more per capita than Minneapolis ($1,765/person difference). Minneapolis, MN has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 65/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Portland, OR
Pop. 646,101
C
63/100
Budget Balance83
Debt Burden7
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency72
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Minneapolis, MN
Pop. 426,877
B
65/100
Budget Balance17
Debt Burden91
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency80
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Portland
Minneapolis
Total Spending
$15.3B
$9.4B
Spending / Capita
$23,675
$21,910
Total Revenue
$31.0B
$8.2B
Revenue / Capita
$47,970
$19,159
Total Debt
$1.0B
$274.8M
Debt / Capita
$1,574
$644
Population
646,101
426,877
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Portland$1,700
Minneapolis$683
Highways & Roads
Portland$139
Minneapolis$221
Parks & Recreation
Portland$2,477
Minneapolis$3,486

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

PortlandMinneapolis
Sales Tax
$1,695
$1,989
Income Tax
$130
$994
Intergovernmental
$8,979
$2,929
Charges & Fees
$3,883
$2,040
Other
$7,916
$3,254

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

PortlandMinneapolis
Fire Protection
$1,700
$683
Highways & Roads
$139
$221
Public Welfare
$3,607
$1,500
Hospitals
$2,893
$0
Parks & Recreation
$2,477
$3,486
Housing
$3,694
$4,133
Sewerage
$630
$570
Utilities
$1,845
$2,398
Other
$6,689
$8,919
C
Portland, OR
Fiscal Health Score: 63/100
Average fiscal health
B
Minneapolis, MN
Fiscal Health Score: 65/100
Good fiscal health

Compare More Cities

Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.