Tampa, FL vs Orlando, FL
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Orlando, FL and Tampa, FL spend within 1.4% of each other per resident — $31,123 versus $30,690 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Orlando, FL holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 73/100 (grade B) against 33/100 (grade F) for Tampa, FL — a 40-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Orlando, FL reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Tampa, FL carries $2,378 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: fire protection leads in Tampa, FL at $7,576 per resident and in Orlando, FL at $5,632.
They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Tampa, FL at 55% of total revenue, whereas Orlando, FL relies most on other revenue at 22%.
Summary
Orlando spends 1.4% more per capita than Tampa ($433/person difference). Orlando, FL has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 73/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $1,180 | $2,492 |
| Income Tax | $2,437 | $1,219 |
| Intergovernmental | $13,224 | $432 |
| Charges & Fees | $3,962 | $0 |
| Other | $4,657 | $6,520 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $7,576 | $5,632 |
| Highways & Roads | $418 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $1,507 | $628 |
| Hospitals | $703 | $775 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,723 | $4,107 |
| Housing | $4,778 | $5,645 |
| Sewerage | $311 | $585 |
| Utilities | $4,695 | $1,262 |
| Interest on Debt | $89 | $0 |
| Other | $8,890 | $12,489 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.