Skip to main content
Data from U.S. Census Bureau · 2026 · Methodology
CitySpend

Sacramento, CA vs Chicago, IL

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

Summary

Sacramento spends 105.6% more per capita than Chicago ($36,469/person difference). Chicago, IL has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 61/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Sacramento, CA
Pop. 523,600
C
57/100
Budget Balance29
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Chicago, IL
Pop. 2,721,914
C
61/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden61
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency22
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Sacramento
Chicago
Total Spending
$37.2B
$94.0B
Spending / Capita
$71,020
$34,551
Total Revenue
$33.3B
$231.6B
Revenue / Capita
$63,682
$85,083
Total Debt
$0
$2.7B
Debt / Capita
$0
$977
Population
523,600
2,721,914
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Sacramento$5,402
Chicago$0
Fire Protection
Sacramento$2,466
Chicago$10,754
Highways & Roads
Sacramento$0
Chicago$930
Parks & Recreation
Sacramento$1,437
Chicago$122
Education
Sacramento$2,684
Chicago$0
Health
Sacramento$18
Chicago$426

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

SacramentoChicago
Property Tax
$1,465
$26
Sales Tax
$378
$74
Income Tax
$3,104
$229
Intergovernmental
$3,400
$85,083
Charges & Fees
$3,239
$2,847
Other
$5,072
$3,463

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

SacramentoChicago
Police
$5,402
$0
Fire Protection
$2,466
$10,754
Highways & Roads
$0
$930
Education
$2,684
$0
Public Welfare
$3,470
$1,858
Health
$18
$426
Hospitals
$0
$1,444
Parks & Recreation
$1,437
$122
Housing
$8,577
$6,520
Sewerage
$103
$129
Utilities
$19,920
$2,983
Interest on Debt
$162
$0
Other
$26,782
$9,385
C
Sacramento, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 57/100
Average fiscal health
C
Chicago, IL
Fiscal Health Score: 61/100
Average fiscal health

Compare More Cities