Cities: Skylines 2: 8 Best Ways To Make Money

To maintain a thriving virtual city economy, you must understand how to make money in Cities Skylines 2. However, there is no proper guidance on the most effective methods for making money.

Methods To Make Money In Cities Skylines 2

Here is a summary of the best methods to make money:

Serial Number	Methods	Description
8	Hit Milestones	Achieving city milestones provides a substantial sum of money to aid your city's progress. Invest wisely when you level up.
7	Export Water & Electricity	Export excess water and electricity to an outside source by extending pipelines and power lines to the city's border.
6	Balance Taxes	Impose taxes on households, commercial districts, offices, and industries. Significant tax revenue usually starts when your city has around 2,000 residents.
5	Create Zoning Areas	Carefully plan zoning areas to maximize efficiency. Ensure industrial zones have access to essential resources and develop an efficient transportation system.
4	Manage Loans	Taking loans is discouraged due to high interest rates. Only use loans for profitable investments like public transport.
3	Export Resources	Utilize cargo stations to export goods, particularly from office zones. Industries requiring an educated workforce can be more profitable.
2	Public Transport	Create an effective public transportation system, including bus routes and parking fees to reduce car usage.
1	Tourism	Attract tourists by improving city attractiveness and establishing external connections like railways, airports, and harbors.

8. Hit Milestones

The quickest method to earn money, aside from obtaining a loan, is to achieve a milestone. Each time your city reaches a new level, you’ll receive a substantial sum of money to aid your progress toward the next milestone. It’s a wise idea to invest your money in the following tips whenever you level up.

7. Export Water & Electricity

Don’t forget that you can export any excess water and electricity in Cities Skylines 2 by connecting to an outside source.

• For exporting water, extend a blue waterline from one of your city roads to the city’s border, and your surplus water will be automatically exported.
• To export electricity, position a transformer station near the map’s border and connect it to one of your city roads using an electric cable. 
  • Extend a power line from the transformer station to the map’s edge, and your extra electricity will be exported for a profit.

You can strategically add extra water and energy stations to boost your city’s income. However, focus on electricity production, as it’s generally more valuable than water exports. Choose large power plants over wind turbine parks since they generate more energy, although they may be less environmentally friendly.

6. Balance Taxes

Taxation is a reliable method to make money, but it might not generate much income in the early months. You can impose taxes on households, commercial districts, offices, and industries, but you need these types of zones in your city for taxation to work. 

Significant tax revenue typically kicks in around progression stage four, when you have approximately 2,000 residents in your city. More residents mean more households, shops, and industries, which naturally leads to increased tax income. 

To maximize your income through residential tax, focus on developing residential areas. Avoid increasing taxes, as this can hinder your city’s population growth.

5. Create Zoning Areas

Initially, zoning areas in your city might seem straightforward, and the temptation is to fill up grids quickly to meet various demands. However, it’s advisable to take your time and create a well-thought-out layout to make the most of the zoning system. 

While it might be tempting to locate industrial zones far from the city to minimize pollution, ensure that essential resources are still accessible to these industries. This proximity allows companies to produce more goods. 

Additionally, make sure there’s an efficient transportation system in place to move these goods to commercial properties.

4. Manage Loans

In Cities Skylines 2, you have the option to take larger loans as you progress through levels, but I strongly discourage this approach. Why? Because the interest rates on these loans are exceptionally high, and this can quickly drain your budget. 

If you still decide to take a loan, here’s how to do it: 

1. Open the city economy panel 
2. Navigate to the loan tab
3. Adjust the slider to determine the loan amount. 

However, resorting to loans should be your last option. It’s only a great choice if you’re investing the loan money in something profitable, like public transport, which allows you to repay the loan as soon as possible.

3. Export Resources

You can significantly increase your revenue in Cities Skylines 2 by leveraging outside connections to export goods. 

The most effective way to export goods often involves using a cargo harbor, ideally located near an industrial zone. It’s important to understand that office zones tend to produce high-value goods, which can be very profitable. On the other hand, industries focusing on more basic products like vegetables and wood might not be as profitable for your city. 

If you develop industries that require a well-educated workforce, you’ll generate more income for your Cities Skylines 2 city. The key to this strategy is to provide excellent education services, which will require colleges and universities, and then construct office zones as the demand grows.

2. Public Transport

Another highly effective method to make money is by creating a strong public transportation system. Given that a majority of your citizens rely on daily commuting, this presents a significant income opportunity. 

If your city is in its early stages, consider establishing a series of bus routes and charging a reasonable fare, perhaps around eight credits. Additionally, you can reduce car usage by applying parking fees in specific areas.

1. Tourism

If you truly want the best method for making money, two factors come into play: 

1. Creating an attractive city 
2. Establishing notable external connections. 

To draw more tourists and revenue, expand your public transportation network by introducing a railway that traverses your city, building an airport, and setting up a harbor. These enhancements will not only facilitate smoother travel for your citizens but also generate substantial income for your city.

Coupled with a high level of city attractiveness, these efforts will bring a huge amount of tourists and revenue to your city. The presence of expansive parks, sizeable sports facilities, and iconic landmarks will be instrumental in raising your city’s overall appeal.

My Take On Making Money

Based on my experience, one of the Best Ways to make money is focusing on exporting electricity in Cities Skylines 2.

Not only is it easy to maintain, but it gives a huge return on investment. My mistake was not focusing on exporting electricity, which gave me some loss, and now I am currently focusing on generating more electricity.

That’s everything you need to know on How to Make Money in the game Consider reading the Best Tips and Tricks if you’re new to the game. Find out the Best Starting Maps in Cities Skylines 2 to build your city. 

Next:

• Cities Skylines 2: How To Fix High Rent Issue
• Cities Skylines 2: How To Dezone An Area
• Cities Skylines 2: How To Rotate Buildings
• Cities Skylines 2: Not Enough Customers