San Jose, CA vs San Antonio, TX
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
San Jose, CA and San Antonio, TX spend within 5.9% of each other per resident — $17,934 versus $16,943 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
San Jose, CA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 90/100 (grade A) against 68/100 (grade B) for San Antonio, TX — a 22-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
San Jose, CA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while San Antonio, TX carries $2,131 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in San Jose, CA at $1,424 per resident and in San Antonio, TX at $1,045.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in San Jose, CA at 9% of total revenue, whereas San Antonio, TX relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 17%.
Summary
San Jose spends 5.9% more per capita than San Antonio ($992/person difference). San Jose, CA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 90/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $40 | $9 |
| Sales Tax | $315 | $293 |
| Income Tax | $1,935 | $1,000 |
| Intergovernmental | $2,680 | $14,312 |
| Charges & Fees | $608 | $4,025 |
| Other | $3,519 | $3,184 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $0 | $396 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $158 |
| Education | $0 | $23 |
| Public Welfare | $810 | $1,188 |
| Health | $609 | $293 |
| Hospitals | $1,254 | $993 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,424 | $1,045 |
| Housing | $4,897 | $3,570 |
| Sewerage | $161 | $100 |
| Utilities | $2,533 | $3,826 |
| Other | $6,247 | $5,352 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.