San Diego, CA vs Phoenix, AZ
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
San Diego, CA outspends Phoenix, AZ by a wide margin per resident — $43,306 versus $15,793, a 174% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Phoenix, AZ holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 67/100 (grade B) against 53/100 (grade C) for San Diego, CA — a 14-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
San Diego, CA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Phoenix, AZ carries $1,156 per resident. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: San Diego, CA leads with police at $3,335 per resident, while Phoenix, AZ leads with parks and recreation at $652.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in San Diego, CA at 39% of total revenue, whereas Phoenix, AZ relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 100%.
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
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| 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)
| 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 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.