Raleigh, NC vs Chicago, IL
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Chicago, IL outspends Raleigh, NC by a wide margin per resident — $34,551 versus $13,911, a 148% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Raleigh, NC holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 76/100 (grade B) against 61/100 (grade C) for Chicago, IL — a 15-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Raleigh, NC carries the lighter load at $906 per resident versus $977 for Chicago, IL. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Raleigh, NC leads with parks and recreation at $1,391 per resident, while Chicago, IL leads with fire protection at $10,754.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 47% of total revenue in Raleigh, NC and 100% in Chicago, IL.
Summary
Chicago spends 59.7% more per capita than Raleigh ($20,640/person difference). Raleigh, NC has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 76/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $26 |
| Sales Tax | $858 | $74 |
| Income Tax | $806 | $229 |
| Intergovernmental | $14,128 | $85,083 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,681 | $2,847 |
| Other | $4,740 | $3,463 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $277 | $10,754 |
| Highways & Roads | $448 | $930 |
| Education | $6 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $498 | $1,858 |
| Health | $0 | $426 |
| Hospitals | $669 | $1,444 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,391 | $122 |
| Housing | $2,712 | $6,520 |
| Sewerage | $281 | $129 |
| Utilities | $2,469 | $2,983 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,513 | $0 |
| Other | $3,646 | $9,385 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.