As the saying goes, “money makes the world go round.”

This is also true in the world of Civilization 5.

In this game, having a steady flow of income is essential to building a strong empire and achieving victory.

Here are 10 tips for making money in Civ 5.

1. Focus on early game infrastructure

In the early stages of the game, it is important to focus on building infrastructure that will generate income.

This includes building roads, trading posts, and farms.

Building roads will allow your trade routes to function, trading posts will generate gold, and farms will increase your city’s population, which in turn increases the amount of gold generated.

2. Trade with other civilizations

Establishing trade routes with other civilizations is a great way to make money in Civ 5.

Set up caravans or cargo ships to transport goods between cities. The further away the city, the more money you can make.

Be sure to keep an eye on how much money you are making from each trade route and adjust as necessary.

3. Take advantage of strategic resources

Strategic resources such as oil, uranium, and coal provide a huge economic boost to your civilization.

These resources can be used to power your cities and produce military units, both of which generate income.

Make sure to prioritize these resources when expanding your empire and try to secure as many sources as possible.

4. Build a strong navy

A strong navy is not just important for military purposes; it can also help you generate income.

Establishing trade routes by sea can be extremely profitable, especially if you have a strong navy to protect your trade ships from pirates and enemy civilizations.

5. Create a diverse economy

Relying on just one source of income can leave your civilization vulnerable to economic fluctuations.

Creating a diverse economy that includes multiple sources of income such as trade, tourism, and production is key to ensuring a steady flow of income throughout the game.

6. Use Great Merchants

Great Merchants are powerful units that can provide a huge economic boost to your civilization.

They have the ability to establish trade routes, increase the production of a city, or generate a one-time gold bonus.

Make sure to use them strategically to maximize their benefits.

7. Invest in city-states

City-states can provide a significant economic boost to your civilization if you invest in them wisely.

By becoming allies with a city-state, you can gain access to its luxury resources, which can be traded for other resources or used to boost your city’s happiness, which in turn boosts productivity and gold generation.

8. Focus on science

Science may not seem like an obvious way to make money, but it is essential to building a strong economy in Civ 5.

By focusing on scientific advancements, you can unlock new technologies that allow you to build more advanced infrastructure, which in turn generates more income.

9. Specialize your cities

Specializing your cities to focus on specific tasks such as production, research, or gold generation can help maximize their potential.

By building buildings and wonders that specialize in a particular area, you can create a city that is extremely efficient and generates a lot of income.

10. Keep an eye on your expenses

Finally, it is important to keep an eye on your expenses to ensure that you are not wasting precious gold.

Building unnecessary buildings, maintaining too many military units, or engaging in unnecessary wars can drain your coffers quickly.

Always consider the costs before making any decisions that will impact your economy.

In conclusion, there are many ways to make money in Civ 5, and mastering these techniques is essential to building a strong empire.

By focusing on early game infrastructure, establishing trade routes, taking advantage of strategic resources, and creating a diverse economy, you can ensure a steady flow of income throughout the game.

Use Great Merchants strategically, invest in city-states, focus on science, specialize your cities, and keep an eye on your expenses to maximize your economic potential.

With these tips in mind, you will be well on your way to achieving victory in Civ 5.