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

San Diego, CA vs Los Angeles, CA

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

Summary

Los Angeles spends 49.3% more per capita than San Diego ($42,126/person difference). San Diego, CA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 53/100).

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
Los Angeles, CA
Pop. 3,881,041
D
47/100
Budget Balance0
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity65
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
San Diego
Los Angeles
Total Spending
$59.9B
$331.6B
Spending / Capita
$43,306
$85,432
Total Revenue
$13.4B
$68.3B
Revenue / Capita
$9,662
$17,595
Total Debt
$0
$0
Debt / Capita
$0
$0
Population
1,383,987
3,881,041
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
San Diego$3,335
Los Angeles$4,111
Fire Protection
San Diego$1,278
Los Angeles$1,057
Highways & Roads
San Diego$1,408
Los Angeles$503
Parks & Recreation
San Diego$436
Los Angeles$1,347
Education
San Diego$2,005
Los Angeles$829
Health
San Diego$411
Los Angeles$409

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

San DiegoLos Angeles
Property Tax
$124
$64
Sales Tax
$63
$77
Income Tax
$194
$307
Intergovernmental
$57
$134
Charges & Fees
$14
$459
Other
$3,801
$9,048

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

San DiegoLos Angeles
Police
$3,335
$4,111
Fire Protection
$1,278
$1,057
Highways & Roads
$1,408
$503
Education
$2,005
$829
Public Welfare
$700
$1,286
Health
$411
$409
Hospitals
$0
$2,135
Parks & Recreation
$436
$1,347
Housing
$4,476
$6,325
Sewerage
$43
$34
Utilities
$11,704
$21,992
Interest on Debt
$0
$630
General Admin
$0
$11,586
Other
$17,509
$33,189
C
San Diego, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 53/100
Average fiscal health
D
Los Angeles, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 47/100
Below average fiscal health

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