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

San Diego, CA vs Chicago, IL

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

Summary

San Diego spends 25.3% more per capita than Chicago ($8,755/person difference). Chicago, IL has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 61/100).

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
Chicago, IL
Pop. 2,721,914
C
61/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden61
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency22
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
San Diego
Chicago
Total Spending
$59.9B
$94.0B
Spending / Capita
$43,306
$34,551
Total Revenue
$13.4B
$231.6B
Revenue / Capita
$9,662
$85,083
Total Debt
$0
$2.7B
Debt / Capita
$0
$977
Population
1,383,987
2,721,914
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
San Diego$3,335
Chicago$0
Fire Protection
San Diego$1,278
Chicago$10,754
Highways & Roads
San Diego$1,408
Chicago$930
Parks & Recreation
San Diego$436
Chicago$122
Education
San Diego$2,005
Chicago$0
Health
San Diego$411
Chicago$426

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

San DiegoChicago
Property Tax
$124
$26
Sales Tax
$63
$74
Income Tax
$194
$229
Intergovernmental
$57
$85,083
Charges & Fees
$14
$2,847
Other
$3,801
$3,463

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

San DiegoChicago
Police
$3,335
$0
Fire Protection
$1,278
$10,754
Highways & Roads
$1,408
$930
Education
$2,005
$0
Public Welfare
$700
$1,858
Health
$411
$426
Hospitals
$0
$1,444
Parks & Recreation
$436
$122
Housing
$4,476
$6,520
Sewerage
$43
$129
Utilities
$11,704
$2,983
Other
$17,509
$9,385
C
San Diego, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 53/100
Average fiscal health
C
Chicago, IL
Fiscal Health Score: 61/100
Average fiscal health

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