Virginia Beach, VA vs Phoenix, AZ
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Virginia Beach, VA outspends Phoenix, AZ by a wide margin per resident — $42,515 versus $15,793, a 169% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Phoenix, AZ holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 67/100 (grade B) against 47/100 (grade D) for Virginia Beach, VA — a 20-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Virginia Beach, VA carries the lighter load at $297 per resident versus $1,156 for Phoenix, AZ. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Virginia Beach, VA leads with education at $21,342 per resident, while Phoenix, AZ leads with parks and recreation at $652.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Virginia Beach, VA and 100% in Phoenix, AZ.
Summary
Virginia Beach spends 169.2% more per capita than Phoenix ($26,722/person difference). Phoenix, AZ has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 67/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $7 |
| Sales Tax | $673 | $338 |
| Income Tax | $831 | $1,260 |
| Intergovernmental | $31,808 | $50,709 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,462 | $2,998 |
| Other | $3,301 | $2,038 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $1,126 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $512 | $170 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $86 |
| Education | $21,342 | $214 |
| Public Welfare | $2,071 | $507 |
| Health | $426 | $258 |
| Hospitals | $1,036 | $1,521 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,574 | $652 |
| Housing | $2,788 | $3,879 |
| Sewerage | $140 | $388 |
| Utilities | $3,523 | $2,480 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $1,760 |
| Other | $7,978 | $3,878 |
Compare More Cities
Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.