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

San Diego, CA vs Phoenix, AZ

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

Summary

San Diego spends 174.2% more per capita than Phoenix ($27,513/person difference). Phoenix, AZ has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 67/100).

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
Phoenix, AZ
Pop. 1,609,456
B
67/100
Budget Balance93
Debt Burden45
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
San Diego
Phoenix
Total Spending
$59.9B
$25.4B
Spending / Capita
$43,306
$15,793
Total Revenue
$13.4B
$81.6B
Revenue / Capita
$9,662
$50,709
Total Debt
$0
$1.9B
Debt / Capita
$0
$1,156
Population
1,383,987
1,609,456
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
San Diego$3,335
Phoenix$0
Fire Protection
San Diego$1,278
Phoenix$170
Highways & Roads
San Diego$1,408
Phoenix$86
Parks & Recreation
San Diego$436
Phoenix$652
Education
San Diego$2,005
Phoenix$214
Health
San Diego$411
Phoenix$258

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

San DiegoPhoenix
Property Tax
$124
$7
Sales Tax
$63
$338
Income Tax
$194
$1,260
Intergovernmental
$57
$50,709
Charges & Fees
$14
$2,998
Other
$3,801
$2,038

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

San DiegoPhoenix
Police
$3,335
$0
Fire Protection
$1,278
$170
Highways & Roads
$1,408
$86
Education
$2,005
$214
Public Welfare
$700
$507
Health
$411
$258
Hospitals
$0
$1,521
Parks & Recreation
$436
$652
Housing
$4,476
$3,879
Sewerage
$43
$388
Utilities
$11,704
$2,480
Interest on Debt
$0
$1,760
Other
$17,509
$3,878
C
San Diego, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 53/100
Average fiscal health
B
Phoenix, AZ
Fiscal Health Score: 67/100
Good fiscal health

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