Skip to main content
Data from U.S. Census Bureau · 2026 · Methodology
CitySpend

Washington, DC vs Los Angeles, CA

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

Summary

Washington spends 184.8% more per capita than Los Angeles ($157,908/person difference). Los Angeles, CA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (D, 47/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Washington, DC
Pop. 670,587
D
41/100
Budget Balance45
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Los Angeles, CA
Pop. 3,881,041
D
47/100
Budget Balance0
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity65
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Washington
Los Angeles
Total Spending
$163.2B
$331.6B
Spending / Capita
$243,341
$85,432
Total Revenue
$186.2B
$68.3B
Revenue / Capita
$277,701
$17,595
Total Debt
$1.7B
$0
Debt / Capita
$2,516
$0
Population
670,587
3,881,041
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Washington$4,183
Los Angeles$4,111
Fire Protection
Washington$4,262
Los Angeles$1,057
Highways & Roads
Washington$1,435
Los Angeles$503
Parks & Recreation
Washington$5,459
Los Angeles$1,347
Education
Washington$53,224
Los Angeles$829
Health
Washington$1,009
Los Angeles$409

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

WashingtonLos Angeles
Property Tax
$25
$64
Sales Tax
$991
$77
Income Tax
$141
$307
Intergovernmental
$18,754
$134
Charges & Fees
$4,070
$459
Other
$11,518
$9,048

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

WashingtonLos Angeles
Police
$4,183
$4,111
Fire Protection
$4,262
$1,057
Highways & Roads
$1,435
$503
Education
$53,224
$829
Public Welfare
$2,498
$1,286
Health
$1,009
$409
Hospitals
$17,668
$2,135
Parks & Recreation
$5,459
$1,347
Housing
$10,296
$6,325
Sewerage
$2,881
$34
Utilities
$88,990
$21,992
Interest on Debt
$58
$630
General Admin
$3,225
$11,586
Other
$48,155
$33,189
D
Washington, DC
Fiscal Health Score: 41/100
Below average fiscal health
D
Los Angeles, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 47/100
Below average fiscal health

Compare More Cities