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

Washington, DC vs San Francisco, CA

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

Summary

Washington spends 32.2% more per capita than San Francisco ($59,210/person difference). San Francisco, CA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (D, 48/100).

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 Francisco, CA
Pop. 851,036
D
48/100
Budget Balance70
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Washington
San Francisco
Total Spending
$163.2B
$156.7B
Spending / Capita
$243,341
$184,131
Total Revenue
$186.2B
$232.3B
Revenue / Capita
$277,701
$272,907
Total Debt
$1.7B
$1.7B
Debt / Capita
$2,516
$2,031
Population
670,587
851,036
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Washington$4,183
San Francisco$3,351
Fire Protection
Washington$4,262
San Francisco$2,281
Highways & Roads
Washington$1,435
San Francisco$0
Parks & Recreation
Washington$5,459
San Francisco$4,119
Education
Washington$53,224
San Francisco$0
Health
Washington$1,009
San Francisco$1,911

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

WashingtonSan Francisco
Property Tax
$25
$148
Sales Tax
$991
$3,028
Income Tax
$141
$269
Intergovernmental
$18,754
$19,762
Charges & Fees
$4,070
$7,961
Other
$11,518
$18,918

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

WashingtonSan Francisco
Police
$4,183
$3,351
Fire Protection
$4,262
$2,281
Highways & Roads
$1,435
$0
Education
$53,224
$0
Public Welfare
$2,498
$2,203
Health
$1,009
$1,911
Hospitals
$17,668
$6,939
Parks & Recreation
$5,459
$4,119
Housing
$10,296
$9,315
Sewerage
$2,881
$1,423
Utilities
$88,990
$21,190
Interest on Debt
$58
$22,798
General Admin
$3,225
$14,899
Other
$48,155
$93,702
D
Washington, DC
Fiscal Health Score: 41/100
Below average fiscal health
D
San Francisco, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 48/100
Below average fiscal health

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