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

Washington, DC vs San Diego, CA

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

Summary

Washington spends 461.9% more per capita than San Diego ($200,034/person difference). San Diego, CA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 53/100).

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
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
Washington
San Diego
Total Spending
$163.2B
$59.9B
Spending / Capita
$243,341
$43,306
Total Revenue
$186.2B
$13.4B
Revenue / Capita
$277,701
$9,662
Total Debt
$1.7B
$0
Debt / Capita
$2,516
$0
Population
670,587
1,383,987
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Washington$4,183
San Diego$3,335
Fire Protection
Washington$4,262
San Diego$1,278
Highways & Roads
Washington$1,435
San Diego$1,408
Parks & Recreation
Washington$5,459
San Diego$436
Education
Washington$53,224
San Diego$2,005
Health
Washington$1,009
San Diego$411

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

WashingtonSan Diego
Property Tax
$25
$124
Sales Tax
$991
$63
Income Tax
$141
$194
Intergovernmental
$18,754
$57
Charges & Fees
$4,070
$14
Other
$11,518
$3,801

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

WashingtonSan Diego
Police
$4,183
$3,335
Fire Protection
$4,262
$1,278
Highways & Roads
$1,435
$1,408
Education
$53,224
$2,005
Public Welfare
$2,498
$700
Health
$1,009
$411
Hospitals
$17,668
$0
Parks & Recreation
$5,459
$436
Housing
$10,296
$4,476
Sewerage
$2,881
$43
Utilities
$88,990
$11,704
Interest on Debt
$58
$0
General Admin
$3,225
$0
Other
$48,155
$17,509
D
Washington, DC
Fiscal Health Score: 41/100
Below average fiscal health
C
San Diego, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 53/100
Average fiscal health

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