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

Tucson, AZ vs San Diego, CA

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

Summary

San Diego spends 63.6% more per capita than Tucson ($27,547/person difference). Tucson, AZ has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 55/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Tucson, AZ
Pop. 541,033
C
55/100
Budget Balance71
Debt Burden10
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity0
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
Tucson
San Diego
Total Spending
$8.5B
$59.9B
Spending / Capita
$15,759
$43,306
Total Revenue
$12.6B
$13.4B
Revenue / Capita
$23,276
$9,662
Total Debt
$833.1M
$0
Debt / Capita
$1,540
$0
Population
541,033
1,383,987
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Tucson$0
San Diego$3,335
Fire Protection
Tucson$330
San Diego$1,278
Highways & Roads
Tucson$0
San Diego$1,408
Parks & Recreation
Tucson$1,229
San Diego$436
Education
Tucson$0
San Diego$2,005
Health
Tucson$0
San Diego$411

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

TucsonSan Diego
Property Tax
$5
$124
Sales Tax
$309
$63
Income Tax
$1,107
$194
Intergovernmental
$23,276
$57
Charges & Fees
$4,534
$14
Other
$952
$3,801

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

TucsonSan Diego
Police
$0
$3,335
Fire Protection
$330
$1,278
Highways & Roads
$0
$1,408
Education
$0
$2,005
Public Welfare
$1,181
$700
Health
$0
$411
Hospitals
$1,314
$0
Parks & Recreation
$1,229
$436
Housing
$3,091
$4,476
Sewerage
$0
$43
Utilities
$3,555
$11,704
Interest on Debt
$1,735
$0
Other
$3,322
$17,509
C
Tucson, AZ
Fiscal Health Score: 55/100
Average fiscal health
C
San Diego, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 53/100
Average fiscal health

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