San Francisco, CA vs Phoenix, AZ
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
San Francisco, CA outspends Phoenix, AZ by a wide margin per resident — $184,131 versus $15,793, a 1066% 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 48/100 (grade D) for San Francisco, CA — a 19-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Phoenix, AZ carries the lighter load at $1,156 per resident versus $2,031 for San Francisco, CA. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in San Francisco, CA at $4,119 per resident and in Phoenix, AZ at $652.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 7% of total revenue in San Francisco, CA and 100% in Phoenix, AZ.
Summary
San Francisco spends 1065.9% more per capita than Phoenix ($168,338/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 | $148 | $7 |
| Sales Tax | $3,028 | $338 |
| Income Tax | $269 | $1,260 |
| Intergovernmental | $19,762 | $50,709 |
| Charges & Fees | $7,961 | $2,998 |
| Other | $18,918 | $2,038 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $3,351 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $2,281 | $170 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $86 |
| Education | $0 | $214 |
| Public Welfare | $2,203 | $507 |
| Health | $1,911 | $258 |
| Hospitals | $6,939 | $1,521 |
| Parks & Recreation | $4,119 | $652 |
| Housing | $9,315 | $3,879 |
| Sewerage | $1,423 | $388 |
| Utilities | $21,190 | $2,480 |
| Interest on Debt | $22,798 | $1,760 |
| General Admin | $14,899 | $0 |
| Other | $93,702 | $3,878 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.