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

San Diego, CA vs Dallas, TX

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

Summary

San Diego spends 24.3% more per capita than Dallas ($8,457/person difference). Dallas, TX has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 57/100).

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
Dallas, TX
Pop. 1,300,642
C
57/100
Budget Balance16
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency21
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
San Diego
Dallas
Total Spending
$59.9B
$45.3B
Spending / Capita
$43,306
$34,849
Total Revenue
$13.4B
$7.1B
Revenue / Capita
$9,662
$5,474
Total Debt
$0
$0
Debt / Capita
$0
$0
Population
1,383,987
1,300,642
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
San Diego$3,335
Dallas$1,519
Fire Protection
San Diego$1,278
Dallas$305
Highways & Roads
San Diego$1,408
Dallas$201
Parks & Recreation
San Diego$436
Dallas$0
Education
San Diego$2,005
Dallas$62
Health
San Diego$411
Dallas$0

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

San DiegoDallas
Property Tax
$124
$9
Sales Tax
$63
$25
Income Tax
$194
$0
Intergovernmental
$57
$1,223
Charges & Fees
$14
$0
Other
$3,801
$584

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

San DiegoDallas
Police
$3,335
$1,519
Fire Protection
$1,278
$305
Highways & Roads
$1,408
$201
Education
$2,005
$62
Public Welfare
$700
$215
Health
$411
$0
Hospitals
$0
$385
Parks & Recreation
$436
$0
Housing
$4,476
$444
Sewerage
$43
$0
Utilities
$11,704
$833
General Admin
$0
$25,827
Other
$17,509
$5,059
C
San Diego, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 53/100
Average fiscal health
C
Dallas, TX
Fiscal Health Score: 57/100
Average fiscal health

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