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

San Diego, CA vs Philadelphia, PA

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

Summary

Philadelphia spends 23.0% more per capita than San Diego ($12,966/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
Philadelphia, PA
Pop. 1,593,208
D
45/100
Budget Balance17
Debt Burden53
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
San Diego
Philadelphia
Total Spending
$59.9B
$89.7B
Spending / Capita
$43,306
$56,272
Total Revenue
$13.4B
$64.4B
Revenue / Capita
$9,662
$40,425
Total Debt
$0
$1.7B
Debt / Capita
$0
$1,069
Population
1,383,987
1,593,208
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
San Diego$3,335
Philadelphia$1,505
Fire Protection
San Diego$1,278
Philadelphia$7,082
Highways & Roads
San Diego$1,408
Philadelphia$1,215
Parks & Recreation
San Diego$436
Philadelphia$593
Education
San Diego$2,005
Philadelphia$0
Health
San Diego$411
Philadelphia$229

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

San DiegoPhiladelphia
Property Tax
$124
$0
Sales Tax
$63
$107
Income Tax
$194
$8
Intergovernmental
$57
$6,288
Charges & Fees
$14
$2,790
Other
$3,801
$4,029

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

San DiegoPhiladelphia
Police
$3,335
$1,505
Fire Protection
$1,278
$7,082
Highways & Roads
$1,408
$1,215
Education
$2,005
$0
Public Welfare
$700
$1,456
Health
$411
$229
Hospitals
$0
$4,048
Parks & Recreation
$436
$593
Housing
$4,476
$4,902
Sewerage
$43
$325
Utilities
$11,704
$4,222
Interest on Debt
$0
$3
Other
$17,509
$30,692
C
San Diego, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 53/100
Average fiscal health
D
Philadelphia, PA
Fiscal Health Score: 45/100
Below average fiscal health

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