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

San Francisco, CA vs Washington, DC

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

Summary

Washington spends 24.3% more per capita than San Francisco ($59,210/person difference). San Francisco, CA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (D, 48/100).

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
Washington, DC
Pop. 670,587
D
41/100
Budget Balance45
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
San Francisco
Washington
Total Spending
$156.7B
$163.2B
Spending / Capita
$184,131
$243,341
Total Revenue
$232.3B
$186.2B
Revenue / Capita
$272,907
$277,701
Total Debt
$1.7B
$1.7B
Debt / Capita
$2,031
$2,516
Population
851,036
670,587
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
San Francisco$3,351
Washington$4,183
Fire Protection
San Francisco$2,281
Washington$4,262
Highways & Roads
San Francisco$0
Washington$1,435
Parks & Recreation
San Francisco$4,119
Washington$5,459
Education
San Francisco$0
Washington$53,224
Health
San Francisco$1,911
Washington$1,009

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

San FranciscoWashington
Property Tax
$148
$25
Sales Tax
$3,028
$991
Income Tax
$269
$141
Intergovernmental
$19,762
$18,754
Charges & Fees
$7,961
$4,070
Other
$18,918
$11,518

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

San FranciscoWashington
Police
$3,351
$4,183
Fire Protection
$2,281
$4,262
Highways & Roads
$0
$1,435
Education
$0
$53,224
Public Welfare
$2,203
$2,498
Health
$1,911
$1,009
Hospitals
$6,939
$17,668
Parks & Recreation
$4,119
$5,459
Housing
$9,315
$10,296
Sewerage
$1,423
$2,881
Utilities
$21,190
$88,990
Interest on Debt
$22,798
$58
General Admin
$14,899
$3,225
Other
$93,702
$48,155
D
San Francisco, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 48/100
Below average fiscal health
D
Washington, DC
Fiscal Health Score: 41/100
Below average fiscal health

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