Tucson, AZ vs San Antonio, TX
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
San Antonio, TX and Tucson, AZ spend within 7.5% of each other per resident — $16,943 versus $15,759 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
San Antonio, TX holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 68/100 (grade B) against 55/100 (grade C) for Tucson, AZ — a 13-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Tucson, AZ carries the lighter load at $1,540 per resident versus $2,131 for San Antonio, TX. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Tucson, AZ at $1,229 per resident and in San Antonio, TX at $1,045.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Tucson, AZ and 17% in San Antonio, TX.
Summary
San Antonio spends 7.0% more per capita than Tucson ($1,184/person difference). San Antonio, TX has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 68/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $5 | $9 |
| Sales Tax | $309 | $293 |
| Income Tax | $1,107 | $1,000 |
| Intergovernmental | $23,276 | $14,312 |
| Charges & Fees | $4,534 | $4,025 |
| Other | $952 | $3,184 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $330 | $396 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $158 |
| Education | $0 | $23 |
| Public Welfare | $1,181 | $1,188 |
| Health | $0 | $293 |
| Hospitals | $1,314 | $993 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,229 | $1,045 |
| Housing | $3,091 | $3,570 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $100 |
| Utilities | $3,555 | $3,826 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,735 | $0 |
| Other | $3,322 | $5,352 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.