San Antonio, TX vs Phoenix, AZ
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
San Antonio, TX and Phoenix, AZ spend within 7.3% of each other per resident — $16,943 versus $15,793 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
San Antonio, TX edges Phoenix, AZ on the Fiscal Health Score by 1 points — 68/100 (grade B) to 67/100 (grade B). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
On debt, Phoenix, AZ carries the lighter load at $1,156 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 Phoenix, AZ at $652.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 17% of total revenue in San Antonio, TX and 100% in Phoenix, AZ.
Summary
San Antonio spends 7.3% more per capita than Phoenix ($1,150/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 | $7 |
| Sales Tax | $293 | $338 |
| Income Tax | $1,000 | $1,260 |
| Intergovernmental | $14,312 | $50,709 |
| Charges & Fees | $4,025 | $2,998 |
| Other | $3,184 | $2,038 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $396 | $170 |
| Highways & Roads | $158 | $86 |
| Education | $23 | $214 |
| Public Welfare | $1,188 | $507 |
| Health | $293 | $258 |
| Hospitals | $993 | $1,521 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,045 | $652 |
| Housing | $3,570 | $3,879 |
| Sewerage | $100 | $388 |
| Utilities | $3,826 | $2,480 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $1,760 |
| Other | $5,352 | $3,878 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.