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

San Francisco, CA vs Phoenix, AZ

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

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

City A
San Francisco, CA
Pop. 851,036
D
48/100
Budget Balance70
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
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 Francisco
Phoenix
Total Spending
$156.7B
$25.4B
Spending / Capita
$184,131
$15,793
Total Revenue
$232.3B
$81.6B
Revenue / Capita
$272,907
$50,709
Total Debt
$1.7B
$1.9B
Debt / Capita
$2,031
$1,156
Population
851,036
1,609,456
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
San Francisco$3,351
Phoenix$0
Fire Protection
San Francisco$2,281
Phoenix$170
Highways & Roads
San Francisco$0
Phoenix$86
Parks & Recreation
San Francisco$4,119
Phoenix$652
Education
San Francisco$0
Phoenix$214
Health
San Francisco$1,911
Phoenix$258

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

San FranciscoPhoenix
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)

San FranciscoPhoenix
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
D
San Francisco, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 48/100
Below average fiscal health
B
Phoenix, AZ
Fiscal Health Score: 67/100
Good fiscal health

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