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

San Diego, CA vs Charlotte, NC

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

Summary

San Diego spends 173.2% more per capita than Charlotte ($27,453/person difference). Charlotte, NC has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 63/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
San Diego, CA
Pop. 1,383,987
C
53/100
Budget Balance14
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity96
Trend Direction50
City B
Charlotte, NC
Pop. 875,045
C
63/100
Budget Balance71
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
San Diego
Charlotte
Total Spending
$59.9B
$13.9B
Spending / Capita
$43,306
$15,854
Total Revenue
$13.4B
$43.5B
Revenue / Capita
$9,662
$49,746
Total Debt
$0
$2.4B
Debt / Capita
$0
$2,690
Population
1,383,987
875,045
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
San Diego$3,335
Charlotte$0
Fire Protection
San Diego$1,278
Charlotte$463
Highways & Roads
San Diego$1,408
Charlotte$41
Parks & Recreation
San Diego$436
Charlotte$1,571
Education
San Diego$2,005
Charlotte$0
Health
San Diego$411
Charlotte$0

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

San DiegoCharlotte
Property Tax
$124
$0
Sales Tax
$63
$541
Income Tax
$194
$366
Intergovernmental
$57
$1,859
Charges & Fees
$14
$2,459
Other
$3,801
$4,866

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

San DiegoCharlotte
Police
$3,335
$0
Fire Protection
$1,278
$463
Highways & Roads
$1,408
$41
Education
$2,005
$0
Public Welfare
$700
$672
Health
$411
$0
Hospitals
$0
$1,243
Parks & Recreation
$436
$1,571
Housing
$4,476
$3,944
Sewerage
$43
$0
Utilities
$11,704
$2,244
Interest on Debt
$0
$2,226
Other
$17,509
$3,448
C
San Diego, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 53/100
Average fiscal health
C
Charlotte, NC
Fiscal Health Score: 63/100
Average fiscal health

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