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

San Jose, CA vs Chicago, IL

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

Summary

Chicago spends 48.1% more per capita than San Jose ($16,617/person difference). San Jose, CA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 90/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
San Jose, CA
Pop. 1,001,176
A
90/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency98
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Chicago, IL
Pop. 2,721,914
C
61/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden61
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency22
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
San Jose
Chicago
Total Spending
$18.0B
$94.0B
Spending / Capita
$17,934
$34,551
Total Revenue
$38.1B
$231.6B
Revenue / Capita
$38,091
$85,083
Total Debt
$0
$2.7B
Debt / Capita
$0
$977
Population
1,001,176
2,721,914
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
San Jose$0
Chicago$10,754
Highways & Roads
San Jose$0
Chicago$930
Parks & Recreation
San Jose$1,424
Chicago$122
Health
San Jose$609
Chicago$426

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

San JoseChicago
Property Tax
$40
$26
Sales Tax
$315
$74
Income Tax
$1,935
$229
Intergovernmental
$2,680
$85,083
Charges & Fees
$608
$2,847
Other
$3,519
$3,463

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

San JoseChicago
Fire Protection
$0
$10,754
Highways & Roads
$0
$930
Public Welfare
$810
$1,858
Health
$609
$426
Hospitals
$1,254
$1,444
Parks & Recreation
$1,424
$122
Housing
$4,897
$6,520
Sewerage
$161
$129
Utilities
$2,533
$2,983
Other
$6,247
$9,385
A
San Jose, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 90/100
Excellent fiscal health
C
Chicago, IL
Fiscal Health Score: 61/100
Average fiscal health

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