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

San Diego, CA vs Houston, TX

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

Summary

San Diego spends 200.7% more per capita than Houston ($28,907/person difference). Houston, TX has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 83/100).

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
Houston, TX
Pop. 2,296,253
A
83/100
Budget Balance94
Debt Burden72
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
San Diego
Houston
Total Spending
$59.9B
$33.1B
Spending / Capita
$43,306
$14,400
Total Revenue
$13.4B
$127.7B
Revenue / Capita
$9,662
$55,600
Total Debt
$0
$2.0B
Debt / Capita
$0
$863
Population
1,383,987
2,296,253
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
San Diego$3,335
Houston$0
Fire Protection
San Diego$1,278
Houston$295
Highways & Roads
San Diego$1,408
Houston$175
Parks & Recreation
San Diego$436
Houston$361
Education
San Diego$2,005
Houston$0
Health
San Diego$411
Houston$210

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

San DiegoHouston
Property Tax
$124
$0
Sales Tax
$63
$181
Income Tax
$194
$39
Intergovernmental
$57
$33
Charges & Fees
$14
$3,475
Other
$3,801
$3,960

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

San DiegoHouston
Police
$3,335
$0
Fire Protection
$1,278
$295
Highways & Roads
$1,408
$175
Education
$2,005
$0
Public Welfare
$700
$533
Health
$411
$210
Hospitals
$0
$511
Parks & Recreation
$436
$361
Housing
$4,476
$4,288
Sewerage
$43
$386
Utilities
$11,704
$1,339
Other
$17,509
$6,301
C
San Diego, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 53/100
Average fiscal health
A
Houston, TX
Fiscal Health Score: 83/100
Excellent fiscal health

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