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

San Diego, CA vs Memphis, TN

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

Summary

San Diego spends 95.9% more per capita than Memphis ($21,196/person difference). Memphis, TN has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 65/100).

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
Memphis, TN
Pop. 630,027
B
65/100
Budget Balance52
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency79
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
San Diego
Memphis
Total Spending
$59.9B
$13.9B
Spending / Capita
$43,306
$22,111
Total Revenue
$13.4B
$21.5B
Revenue / Capita
$9,662
$34,065
Total Debt
$0
$191.2M
Debt / Capita
$0
$303
Population
1,383,987
630,027
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
San Diego$3,335
Memphis$0
Fire Protection
San Diego$1,278
Memphis$469
Highways & Roads
San Diego$1,408
Memphis$277
Parks & Recreation
San Diego$436
Memphis$1,397
Education
San Diego$2,005
Memphis$0
Health
San Diego$411
Memphis$391

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

San DiegoMemphis
Property Tax
$124
$10
Sales Tax
$63
$496
Income Tax
$194
$1,218
Intergovernmental
$57
$34,065
Charges & Fees
$14
$2,077
Other
$3,801
$3,994

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

San DiegoMemphis
Police
$3,335
$0
Fire Protection
$1,278
$469
Highways & Roads
$1,408
$277
Education
$2,005
$0
Public Welfare
$700
$630
Health
$411
$391
Hospitals
$0
$1,677
Parks & Recreation
$436
$1,397
Housing
$4,476
$4,683
Sewerage
$43
$0
Utilities
$11,704
$2,578
Interest on Debt
$0
$1,158
Other
$17,509
$8,850
C
San Diego, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 53/100
Average fiscal health
B
Memphis, TN
Fiscal Health Score: 65/100
Good fiscal health

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