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

Sacramento, CA vs San Diego, CA

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

Summary

Sacramento spends 64.0% more per capita than San Diego ($27,714/person difference). Sacramento, CA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 57/100).

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
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
Sacramento
San Diego
Total Spending
$37.2B
$59.9B
Spending / Capita
$71,020
$43,306
Total Revenue
$33.3B
$13.4B
Revenue / Capita
$63,682
$9,662
Total Debt
$0
$0
Debt / Capita
$0
$0
Population
523,600
1,383,987
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Sacramento$5,402
San Diego$3,335
Fire Protection
Sacramento$2,466
San Diego$1,278
Highways & Roads
Sacramento$0
San Diego$1,408
Parks & Recreation
Sacramento$1,437
San Diego$436
Education
Sacramento$2,684
San Diego$2,005
Health
Sacramento$18
San Diego$411

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

SacramentoSan Diego
Property Tax
$1,465
$124
Sales Tax
$378
$63
Income Tax
$3,104
$194
Intergovernmental
$3,400
$57
Charges & Fees
$3,239
$14
Other
$5,072
$3,801

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

SacramentoSan Diego
Police
$5,402
$3,335
Fire Protection
$2,466
$1,278
Highways & Roads
$0
$1,408
Education
$2,684
$2,005
Public Welfare
$3,470
$700
Health
$18
$411
Parks & Recreation
$1,437
$436
Housing
$8,577
$4,476
Sewerage
$103
$43
Utilities
$19,920
$11,704
Interest on Debt
$162
$0
Other
$26,782
$17,509
C
Sacramento, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 57/100
Average fiscal health
C
San Diego, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 53/100
Average fiscal health

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