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

Seattle, WA vs Chicago, IL

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

Summary

Chicago spends 0.3% more per capita than Seattle ($89/person difference). Both cities share the same Fiscal Health Score.

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Seattle, WA
Pop. 734,603
C
61/100
Budget Balance69
Debt Burden50
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency22
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
Seattle
Chicago
Total Spending
$25.3B
$94.0B
Spending / Capita
$34,463
$34,551
Total Revenue
$56.5B
$231.6B
Revenue / Capita
$76,958
$85,083
Total Debt
$808.1M
$2.7B
Debt / Capita
$1,100
$977
Population
734,603
2,721,914
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Seattle$210
Chicago$10,754
Highways & Roads
Seattle$0
Chicago$930
Parks & Recreation
Seattle$3,923
Chicago$122
Education
Seattle$1,461
Chicago$0
Health
Seattle$1,131
Chicago$426

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

SeattleChicago
Property Tax
$1,831
$26
Sales Tax
$1,094
$74
Income Tax
$3,496
$229
Intergovernmental
$9,846
$85,083
Charges & Fees
$3,960
$2,847
Other
$8,544
$3,463

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

SeattleChicago
Fire Protection
$210
$10,754
Highways & Roads
$0
$930
Education
$1,461
$0
Public Welfare
$3,439
$1,858
Health
$1,131
$426
Hospitals
$1,871
$1,444
Parks & Recreation
$3,923
$122
Housing
$3,727
$6,520
Sewerage
$952
$129
Utilities
$6,489
$2,983
Other
$11,260
$9,385
C
Seattle, WA
Fiscal Health Score: 61/100
Average fiscal health
C
Chicago, IL
Fiscal Health Score: 61/100
Average fiscal health

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