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

Portland, OR vs San Diego, CA

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

Summary

San Diego spends 45.3% more per capita than Portland ($19,632/person difference). Portland, OR has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 63/100).

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
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
Portland
San Diego
Total Spending
$15.3B
$59.9B
Spending / Capita
$23,675
$43,306
Total Revenue
$31.0B
$13.4B
Revenue / Capita
$47,970
$9,662
Total Debt
$1.0B
$0
Debt / Capita
$1,574
$0
Population
646,101
1,383,987
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Portland$0
San Diego$3,335
Fire Protection
Portland$1,700
San Diego$1,278
Highways & Roads
Portland$139
San Diego$1,408
Parks & Recreation
Portland$2,477
San Diego$436
Education
Portland$0
San Diego$2,005
Health
Portland$0
San Diego$411

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

PortlandSan Diego
Property Tax
$0
$124
Sales Tax
$1,695
$63
Income Tax
$130
$194
Intergovernmental
$8,979
$57
Charges & Fees
$3,883
$14
Other
$7,916
$3,801

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

PortlandSan Diego
Police
$0
$3,335
Fire Protection
$1,700
$1,278
Highways & Roads
$139
$1,408
Education
$0
$2,005
Public Welfare
$3,607
$700
Health
$0
$411
Hospitals
$2,893
$0
Parks & Recreation
$2,477
$436
Housing
$3,694
$4,476
Sewerage
$630
$43
Utilities
$1,845
$11,704
Other
$6,689
$17,509
C
Portland, OR
Fiscal Health Score: 63/100
Average fiscal health
C
San Diego, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 53/100
Average fiscal health

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