San Antonio, TX vs Columbus, OH
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Columbus, OH and San Antonio, TX spend within 11.3% of each other per resident — $18,858 versus $16,943 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
San Antonio, TX holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 68/100 (grade B) against 52/100 (grade C) for Columbus, OH — a 16-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Columbus, OH carries the lighter load at $1,145 per resident versus $2,131 for San Antonio, TX. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in San Antonio, TX at $1,045 per resident and in Columbus, OH at $2,168.
Summary
Columbus spends 10.2% more per capita than San Antonio ($1,916/person difference). San Antonio, TX has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 68/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $9 | $10 |
| Sales Tax | $293 | $234 |
| Income Tax | $1,000 | $1 |
| Intergovernmental | $14,312 | $0 |
| Charges & Fees | $4,025 | $2,389 |
| Other | $3,184 | $5,248 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $396 | $1,016 |
| Highways & Roads | $158 | $224 |
| Education | $23 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $1,188 | $878 |
| Health | $293 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $993 | $953 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,045 | $2,168 |
| Housing | $3,570 | $4,303 |
| Sewerage | $100 | $1 |
| Utilities | $3,826 | $1,719 |
| Other | $5,352 | $7,595 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.