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

Seattle, WA vs San Diego, CA

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

Summary

San Diego spends 20.4% more per capita than Seattle ($8,844/person difference). Seattle, WA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 61/100).

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
San Diego, CA
Pop. 1,383,987
C
53/100
Budget Balance14
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity96
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Seattle
San Diego
Total Spending
$25.3B
$59.9B
Spending / Capita
$34,463
$43,306
Total Revenue
$56.5B
$13.4B
Revenue / Capita
$76,958
$9,662
Total Debt
$808.1M
$0
Debt / Capita
$1,100
$0
Population
734,603
1,383,987
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Seattle$0
San Diego$3,335
Fire Protection
Seattle$210
San Diego$1,278
Highways & Roads
Seattle$0
San Diego$1,408
Parks & Recreation
Seattle$3,923
San Diego$436
Education
Seattle$1,461
San Diego$2,005
Health
Seattle$1,131
San Diego$411

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

SeattleSan Diego
Property Tax
$1,831
$124
Sales Tax
$1,094
$63
Income Tax
$3,496
$194
Intergovernmental
$9,846
$57
Charges & Fees
$3,960
$14
Other
$8,544
$3,801

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

SeattleSan Diego
Police
$0
$3,335
Fire Protection
$210
$1,278
Highways & Roads
$0
$1,408
Education
$1,461
$2,005
Public Welfare
$3,439
$700
Health
$1,131
$411
Hospitals
$1,871
$0
Parks & Recreation
$3,923
$436
Housing
$3,727
$4,476
Sewerage
$952
$43
Utilities
$6,489
$11,704
Other
$11,260
$17,509
C
Seattle, WA
Fiscal Health Score: 61/100
Average fiscal health
C
San Diego, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 53/100
Average fiscal health

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