SimCity BuildIt - Fastest Way to Make Money

Are you facing some expensive road upgrades? Dr. Vu needs 160k to upgrade? It's time to make some money, but what do you build? What makes you the most money in the least amount of time in SimCity BuildIt?

I previously did some calculations on dollars per total minute of build time. As I've continued to play this game, I've come to the conclusion that the time spent in the raw good factories is mostly irrelevant. The bigger factor is the time spent using up a slot in the commercial buildings. With this concept in mind, I took a fresh look at my calculations and removed the time needed in the raw good factories and recalculated the $/minute rate.  I assumed that I had an infinite amount of raw goods: wood, metal, plastic, etc. and recalculated everything. In essence, it's a rate that quantifies dollars per minute of commercial building build time. The assumption is that you'll be able to manage your raw good factories to ensure the commercial buildings can stay busy 100% of the time.

After running the calculations, I sorted results by the top $/minute rates. The results are below. The boxes are colored by which commercial building produces them. Note that these are for the default, non-upgraded, commercial build times. "Critical Path" means it's the commercial good with the longest lead time.

Factory	Max $	Materials Required	Critical Path	Raw M.	Ass'y	Total	Min	$/Min
Flour Bag	570	2 Seeds, 2 Textiles			0:30	0:30	30	19
Nails	80	2 Metal			0:05	0:05	5	16
Donuts	950	1 Flour Bag, 1 Sugar & Spices	Flour Bag	0:30	0:45	1:15	75	12.7
Ice Cream Sandwich	2,560	1 Bread Roll, 1 Cream	Breadroll+Cream	3:30	0:14	3:44	224	11.4
Burgers	3,620	1 Beef, 1 Bread Roll, 1 BBQ Grill	Bread+Beef	4:45	0:35	5:20	320	11.3
Lemonade Bottle	1,690	2 Glass, 2 Sugar & Spice, 1 Fruit & B.	Fruit	1:30	1:00	2:30	150	11.3
Bricks	190	2 Minerals			0:20	0:20	20	9.5
Bread Roll	1,840	2 Flour Bags, 1 Cream	2 Flour+Cream	2:15	1:00	3:15	195	9.44
Chairs	300	2 Wood, 1 Nail, 1 Hammer	Hammer	0:14	0:20	0:34	34	8.82
Cement	440	2 Minerals, 1 Chemical			0:50	0:50	50	8.8
TV	1,280	2 Plastic, 2 Glass, 2 Electrical Comp.			2:30	2:30	150	8.53
Lighting System	890	1 Chemical, 1 Electrical Comp, 1 Glass			1:45	1:45	105	8.48
Pizza	2,560	1 Flour Bag, 1 Cheese, 1 Beef	Flour+Cheese+Beef	4:45	0:24	5:09	309	8.28
Fruit & Berries	730	2 Seeds, 1 Tree Sapling	Tree Sapling		1:30	1:30	90	8.11
Vegetables	160	2 Seeds			0:20	0:20	20	8
Cap	600	2 Textiles, 1 Measuring Tape	Measuring Tape	0:20	1:00	1:20	80	7.5
Glue	440	1 Plastic, 2 Chemicals			1:00	1:00	60	7.33
Shoes	980	2 Textiles, 1 Plastic, 1 Glue	Glue	1:00	1:15	2:15	135	7.26
Cheese Fries	1,050	1 Vegetable, 1 Cheese	Veg.+Cheese	2:05	0:20	2:25	145	7.24
Green Smoothie	1,150	2 Vegetables, 1 Fruit & Berries	2 Veg+Fruit	2:10	0:30	2:40	160	7.19
Tables	500	1 Plank, 2 Nails, 1 Hammer	Plank + 2 Nails	0:40	0:30	1:10	70	7.14
Cherry Cheesecake	2,240	1 Flour Bag, 1 Fruit & B., 1 Cheese	Flour+Fruit+Cheese	3:45	1:30	5:15	315	7.11
Couch	1,810	3 Textiles, 1 Drill, 1 Glue	Drill	2:00	2:30	4:30	270	6.7
Watch	580	2 Plastic, 1 Glass, 1 Chemical			1:30	1:30	90	6.44
Hammer	90	1 Metal, 1 Wood			0:14	0:14	14	6.43
Home Textiles	610	2 Textiles, 1 Measuring Tape	Measuring Tape	0:20	1:15	1:35	95	6.42
Garden Gnomes	1,600	2 Cement, 1 Glue	2 Cement+Glue	2:40	1:30	4:10	250	6.4
Cheese	660	2 Animal Feed			1:45	1:45	105	6.29
Cream	440	1 Animal Feed			1:15	1:15	75	5.87
Beef	860	3 Animal Feed			2:30	2:30	150	5.73
Cooking Utensils	250	2 Metal, 2 Plastic, 2 Wood			0:45	0:45	45	5.56
Measuring Tape	110	1 Metal, 1 Plastic			0:20	0:20	20	5.5
Grass	310	1 Seed, 1 Shovel	Shovel	0:30	0:30	1:00	60	5.17
Refridgerator	1,060	2 Plastic, 2 Chemical, 2 Electrical Comp.			3:30	3:30	210	5.05
Shovel	150	1 Metal, 1 Wood, 1 Plastic			0:30	0:30	30	5
Drill	590	2 Metal, 2 Plastic, 1 Electrical Comp.			2:00	2:00	120	4.92
Fire Pit	1,740	2 Bricks, 1 Shovel, 2 Cement	2 Cement	2:20	4:00	6:20	380	4.58
Business Suits	1,170	3 Textiles, 1 Measuring T., 1 Glue	Glue	1:00	3:30	4:30	270	4.33
Frozen Yogurt.	1,750	1 Fruit & B., 1 Cream, 1 Sugar & Spices	Cream+Fruit	2:45	4:00	6:45	405	4.32
Garden Furniture	820	2 Planks, 2 Plastic, 2 Textiles	2 Planks	1:00	2:15	3:15	195	4.21
Planks	120	2 Wood			0:30	0:30	30	4
Tree Saplings	420	2 Seeds, 1 Shovel	Shovel	0:30	1:30	2:00	120	3.5
BBQ Grill	530	3 Metal, 1 Cooking Utensil	Cooking Utensil	0:45	2:45	3:30	210	2.52

Here's the same data, sorted by top dollar earner for each commercial building.

Building Supplies Store	Max $	Materials Required	Critical Path	Raw M.	Ass'y	Total	Min	$/Min
Nails	80	2 Metal			0:05	0:05	5	16
Bricks	190	2 Minerals			0:20	0:20	20	9.5
Cement	440	2 Minerals, 1 Chemical			0:50	0:50	50	8.8
Glue	440	1 Plastic, 2 Chemicals			1:00	1:00	60	7.33
Planks	120	2 Wood			0:30	0:30	30	4
Hardware Store	Max $	Materials Required	Critical Path	Raw M.	Ass'y	Total	Min	$/Min
Hammer	90	1 Metal, 1 Wood			0:14	0:14	14	6.43
Cooking Utensils	250	2 Metal, 2 Plastic, 2 Wood			0:45	0:45	45	5.56
Measuring Tape	110	1 Metal, 1 Plastic			0:20	0:20	20	5.5
Shovel	150	1 Metal, 1 Wood, 1 Plastic			0:30	0:30	30	5
Drill	590	2 Metal, 2 Plastic, 1 Electrical Comp.			2:00	2:00	120	4.92
Farmers Market	Max $	Materials Required	Critical Path	Raw M.	Ass'y	Total	Min	$/Min
Flour Bag	570	2 Seeds, 2 Textiles			0:30	0:30	30	19
Fruit & Berries	730	2 Seeds, 1 Tree Sapling	Tree Sapling		1:30	1:30	90	8.11
Vegetables	160	2 Seeds			0:20	0:20	20	8
Cheese	660	2 Animal Feed			1:45	1:45	105	6.29
Cream	440	1 Animal Feed			1:15	1:15	75	5.87
Beef	860	3 Animal Feed			2:30	2:30	150	5.73
Furniture Store	Max $	Materials Required	Critical Path	Raw M.	Ass'y	Total	Min	$/Min
Chairs	300	2 Wood, 1 Nail, 1 Hammer	Hammer	0:14	0:20	0:34	34	8.82
Tables	500	1 Plank, 2 Nails, 1 Hammer	Plank + 2 Nails	0:40	0:30	1:10	70	7.14
Couch	1,810	3 Textiles, 1 Drill, 1 Glue	Drill	2:00	2:30	4:30	270	6.7
Home Textiles	610	2 Textiles, 1 Measuring Tape	Measuring Tape	0:20	1:15	1:35	95	6.42
Gardening Supplies	Max $	Materials Required	Critical Path	Raw M.	Ass'y	Total	Min	$/Min
Garden Gnomes	1,600	2 Cement, 1 Glue	2 Cement+Glue	2:40	1:30	4:10	250	6.4
Grass	310	1 Seed, 1 Shovel	Shovel	0:30	0:30	1:00	60	5.17
Fire Pit	1,740	2 Bricks, 1 Shovel, 2 Cement	2 Cement	2:20	4:00	6:20	380	4.58
Garden Furniture	820	2 Planks, 2 Plastic, 2 Textiles	2 Planks	1:00	2:15	3:15	195	4.21
Tree Saplings	420	2 Seeds, 1 Shovel	Shovel	0:30	1:30	2:00	120	3.5
Donut Shop	Max $	Materials Required	Critical Path	Raw M.	Ass'y	Total	Min	$/Min
Donuts	950	1 Flour Bag, 1 Sugar & Spices	Flour Bag	0:30	0:45	1:15	75	12.67
Bread Roll	1,840	2 Flour Bags, 1 Cream	2 Flour+Cream	2:15	1:00	3:15	195	9.44
Green Smoothie	1,150	2 Vegetables, 1 Fruit & Berries	2 Veg+Fruit	2:10	0:30	2:40	160	7.19
Cherry Cheesecake	2,240	1 Flour Bag, 1 Fruit & B., 1 Cheese	Flour+Fruit+Cheese	3:45	1:30	5:15	315	7.11
Frozen Yogurt.	1,750	1 Fruit & B., 1 Cream, 1 Sugar & Spices	Cream+Fruit	2:45	4:00	6:45	405	4.32
Fashion Store	Max $	Materials Required	Critical Path	Raw M.	Ass'y	Total	Min	$/Min
Cap	600	2 Textiles, 1 Measuring Tape	Measuring Tape	0:20	1:00	1:20	80	7.5
Shoes	980	2 Textiles, 1 Plastic, 1 Glue	Glue	1:00	1:15	2:15	135	7.26
Watch	580	2 Plastic, 1 Glass, 1 Chemical			1:30	1:30	90	6.44
Business Suits	1,170	3 Textiles, 1 Measuring T., 1 Glue	Glue	1:00	3:30	4:30	270	4.33
Fast Food Restaurant	Max $	Materials Required	Critical Path	Raw M.	Ass'y	Total	Min	$/Min
Ice Cream Sandwich	2,560	1 Bread Roll, 1 Cream	Breadroll+Cream	3:30	0:14	3:44	224	11.43
Burgers	3,620	1 Beef, 1 Bread Roll, 1 BBQ Grill	Bread+Beef	4:45	0:35	5:20	320	11.31
Lemonade Bottle	1,690	2 Glass, 2 Sugar & Spice, 1 Fruit & B.	Fruit	1:30	1:00	2:30	150	11.27
Pizza	2,560	1 Flour Bag, 1 Cheese, 1 Beef	Flour+Cheese+Beef	4:45	0:24	5:09	309	8.28
Cheese Fries	1,050	1 Vegetable, 1 Cheese	Veg.+Cheese	2:05	0:20	2:25	145	7.24
Home Appliances	Max $	Materials Required	Critical Path	Raw M.	Ass'y	Total	Min	$/Min
TV	1,280	2 Plastic, 2 Glass, 2 Electrical Comp.			2:30	2:30	150	8.53
Lighting System	890	1 Chemical, 1 Electrical Comp, 1 Glass			1:45	1:45	105	8.48
Refridgerator	1,060	2 Plastic, 2 Chemical, 2 Electrical Comp.			3:30	3:30	210	5.05
BBQ Grill	530	3 Metal, 1 Cooking Utensil	Cooking Utensil	0:45	2:45	3:30	210	2.52

My recommended setup for maximizing profit over long periods
I've tried out several setups and the one I like the most focuses on making

• Donuts (flour bag, sugar and spices) $12.70/min
• Bricks (minerals) $9.50/min
• TVs (plastic, glass, electrical components) $8.53/min
• Caps (textiles, measuring tape) $7.50/min
• Home Textiles (textiles, measuring tape) $6.42/min
• Tape Measures for home textiles, caps and to sell as-is(metal, plastic) $5.50/min
• Garden Furniture (planks, plastic, textiles) $4.21/min

Flour production is ramped up...

Donut production at full capacity

Primary Items

Donuts, TVs and caps are all the top items for their store. Nails have a higher profit rate than bricks, but would require a lot of baby-sitting, so I swap out nails and build bricks instead. Bricks have a great return rate and only require minerals to make. 

Secondary Items

Home Textiles

Home textiles have a relatively low return rate, but the tape measure needed to produce them are easy to add into the supply chain when you're already making them for caps. The other furniture store items you could produce would require both the hardware store and building supplies store. Because bricks ($9.50/min) have such a high return, I prefer to keep the building supplies store focused on those instead.

Garden Furniture

Garden furniture also has a relatively low return rate, but in order to build something else in the garden supplies store, you'd have to use the building supplies store for lengthy periods or focus the hardware store on building shovels (grass, tree saplings). Garden furniture requires only planks which means the gardening supplies store can be used with as small an impact on brick production as possible. I like to build planks while I sleep at night, so that during the day I can focus on bricks.

Why do I make donuts when flour has a higher earn rate?

If you sell flour as-is, you're leaving the donut shop empty. So if you're already making flour, you might as well turn them into donuts. For more on the farmers market, continue reading below.

Maximizing the use of your farmers market. 
Many of the highest priced items in the game have to move through the farmers market at one point or the other. I've analyzed all the items that are produced in, or require goods from the farmers market and determined an earnings per time spent only in the farmers market.

Example: The bread roll is assembled in the donut shop, but requires two flour bags and one cream from the farmers market. Each flour bag uses the farmers market for 30 minutes and the cream 75 minutes. In order to produce a single bread roll, the farmers market will be used for 30+30+75=135 minutes. The earnings for a single bread roll is $1840, so $1840/135 min spent in the farmers market = $13.63/farmers market minutes

As you can see from the results below, donuts are by far the best item for your farmers market to be producing. If you sell flour bags, lemonade bottles, bread rolls or burgers, you are settling for a lower rate of return for the very valuable production time of the farmers market.

Earnings per Minute spent in the Farmers Market

	Max $	Materials Required	Farmers Mkt Items	F Mkt Time	Ass'y	Total	Min	$/Min
Donuts	950	1 Flour Bag, 1 Sugar & Spices	Flour Bag	0:30		0:30	30	$31.67
Flour Bag	570	2 Seeds, 2 Textiles			0:30	0:30	30	$19.00
Lemonade Bottle	1,690	2 Glass, 2 Sugar & Spice, 1 Fruit & B.	Fruit	1:30		1:30	90	$18.78
Bread Roll	1,840	2 Flour Bags, 1 Cream	2 Flour+Cream	2:15		2:15	135	$13.63
Burgers	3,620	1 Beef, 1 Bread Roll, 1 BBQ Grill	Bread+Beef	4:45		4:45	285	$12.70
Ice Cream Sandwich	2,560	1 Bread Roll, 1 Cream	Breadroll+Cream	3:30		3:30	210	$12.19
Frozen Yogurt.	1,750	1 Fruit & B., 1 Cream, 1 Sugar & Spices	Cream+Fruit	2:45		2:45	165	$10.61
Cherry Cheesecake	2,240	1 Flour Bag, 1 Fruit & B., 1 Cheese	Flour+Fruit+Cheese	3:45		3:45	225	$9.96
Pizza	2,560	1 Flour Bag, 1 Cheese, 1 Beef	Flour+Cheese+Beef	4:45		4:45	285	$8.98
Green Smoothie	1,150	2 Vegetables, 1 Fruit & Berries	2 Veg+Fruit	2:10		2:10	130	$8.85
Cheese Fries	1,050	1 Vegetable, 1 Cheese	Veg.+Cheese	2:05		2:05	125	$8.40
Fruit & Berries	730	2 Seeds, 1 Tree Sapling	Tree Sapling		1:30	1:30	90	$8.11
Vegetables	160	2 Seeds			0:20	0:20	20	$8.00
Cheese	660	2 Animal Feed			1:45	1:45	105	$6.29
Cream	440	1 Animal Feed			1:15	1:15	75	$5.87
Beef	860	3 Animal Feed			2:30	2:30	150	$5.73

When to sell
I usually sell all items in packs of five. When the game first came out I used to sell donuts/caps/TVs in pairs, but I don't think that makes much sense these days. Most players have been playing for a long time and have large storage capacities, so buying 5 packs of everything is not difficult.

Why you should always be building TVs: TVs have the highest $/minute rate for the home appliance store, require only raw goods, and have a long build time which makes it easy to load up. All of the electronic store items are easily found in the Trade HQ, thus you should just fill the queue with TVs and let it run 24/7. If you ever need a lightbulb, refridgerator or grill, purchase it.

Ways to make extra money
The downside with this setup is that the fast food restaurant doesn't get used. When possible, I'll pick up watermelon, cheese or cream and make additional fast food items.

Kicking things up a notch
Keep in mind that the commercial buildings can all be upgraded to decrease the build times up to 20%. It's a big upfront cost, but over time can pay for itself. Take a look at the upgrade costs and benefits on the Commercial Build Time page.

For further explanation, take All Your Blocks' master class on the Fastest Way to 1,000,000 Simoleons




Let me know what you think?
The trick with this is finding a combination of high rate items that allows you to have as many stores active as possible. Have you thought of an alternate combination? I'd love to hear your ideas. Leave a comment below.

Expert Methods
Want to make money the way the expert players do it? Learn about burger farming. A full description of this method can be found here.