What item will net you the highest profit per minute in SimCity BuildIt? What item should you purchase instead of waste time waiting for? To discover the answers to this question I calculated the minimum build times for every item in the game. My results can be found below.
A few notes on these calculations:
I assumed that when possible, raw goods would be manufactured at the same time. For example, if metal and plastic is needed, only the plastic time was carried forward. The "Critical Path" column lists the raw good with the longest build time. If you want to shorten the overall build time, the critical path item would be a good one to purchase.
Occasionally, raw goods are manufactured in the same building so you can only do one at a time. I took that into account when calculating the times as well. Thus if you need nails and planks, I assumed you'd build the metal and wood at the same time and then build nails and planks in succession at the Building Supply Store.
Note that these are for a single item. You can do much better on the $/min calculation by making batches of larger quanitites. If you do that, you'll get completely different numbers.
Let me know if you find any mistakes in my calculations or have a question.
Special thanks to karincanada62@gmail.com who started compiling some of these numbers, giving me a head start.
List of abbreviations:
Max Value = maximum value if selling on the global marketplace
Time = hours:minutes
Materials Required = raw goods needed to assemble items
Critical Path = raw good with longest assembly time.
Raw M = minimum time to manufacture raw materials
Ass'y = time to assemble item in factory
Total = minimum time to manufacture raw goods and assemble item for export (hours:minutes)
Min = minutes
$/Min = Dollars per minute of total time required
| Item | Max $ | Materials Required | Critical Path | Raw M. | Ass'y | Total | Min | $/Min |
| Nails | 80 | 2 Metal | Metal | 0:01 | 0:05 | 0:06 | 6 | 13.33 |
| Metal | 10 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 0:01 | 0:01 | 1 | 10.00 |
| Chairs | 300 | 2 Wood, 1 Nail, 1 Hammer | Hammer | 0:17 | 0:20 | 0:37 | 37 | 8.11 |
| Tables | 500 | 1 Plank, 2 Nails, 1 Hammer | Plank + 2 Nails | 0:43 | 0:30 | 1:13 | 73 | 6.85 |
| Wood | 20 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 0:03 | 0:03 | 3 | 6.67 |
| Burgers | 3,620 | 1 Beef, 1 Bread Roll, 1 BBQ Grill | Breadroll | 9:45 | 0:35 | 10:20 | 620 | 5.84 |
| Hammer | 90 | 1 Metal, 1 Wood | Wood | 0:03 | 0:14 | 0:17 | 17 | 5.29 |
| Ice Cream Sandwich | 2,560 | 1 Bread Roll, 1 Cream | 2 Creams | 8:30 | 0:14 | 8:44 | 524 | 4.89 |
| Lemonade Bottle | 1,690 | 2 Glass, 2 Sugar & Spice, 1 Fruit & Berries | Glass | 5:00 | 1:00 | 6:00 | 360 | 4.69 |
| Cooking Utensils | 250 | 2 Metal, 2 Plastic, 2 Wood | Plastic | 0:09 | 0:45 | 0:54 | 54 | 4.63 |
| Green Smoothie | 1,150 | 2 Vegetables, 1 Fruit & Berries | Fruit & Berries | 3:39 | 0:30 | 4:09 | 249 | 4.62 |
| Garden Gnomes | 1,600 | 2 Cement, 1 Glue | 2 Cement | 5:00 | 1:30 | 6:30 | 390 | 4.10 |
| Cherry Cheesecake | 2,240 | 1 Flour Bag, 1 Fruit & B., 1 Cheese | Cheese | 7:45 | 1:30 | 9:15 | 555 | 4.04 |
| Pizza | 2,560 | 1 Flour Bag, 1 Cheese, 1 Beef | Beef | 10:15 | 0:24 | 10:39 | 639 | 4.01 |
| Vegetables | 160 | 2 Seeds | Seeds | 0:20 | 0:20 | 0:40 | 40 | 4.00 |
| Grass | 310 | 1 Seed, 1 Shovel | Shovel | 0:39 | 0:30 | 1:09 | 79 | 3.92 |
| Shovel | 150 | 1 Metal, 1 Wood, 1 Plastic | Plastic | 0:09 | 0:30 | 0:39 | 39 | 3.85 |
| Shoes | 980 | 2 Textiles, 1 Plastic, 1 Glue | Textiles/Glue | 3:00 | 1:15 | 4:15 | 255 | 3.84 |
| Bricks | 190 | 2 Minerals | Mineral | 0:30 | 0:20 | 0:50 | 50 | 3.80 |
| Measuring Tape | 110 | 1 Metal, 1 Plastic | Plastic | 0:09 | 0:20 | 0:29 | 29 | 3.79 |
| Bread Roll | 1,840 | 2 Flour Bags, 1 Cream | Cream | 7:15 | 1:00 | 8:15 | 495 | 3.72 |
| Planks | 120 | 2 Wood | Wood | 0:03 | 0:30 | 0:33 | 33 | 3.64 |
| Fruit & Berries | 730 | 2 Seeds, 1 Tree Sapling | Tree Sapling | 2:09 | 1:30 | 3:39 | 219 | 3.33 |
| Donuts | 950 | 1 Flour Bag, 1 Sugar & Spices | Sugar & Spices | 4:00 | 0:45 | 4:45 | 285 | 3.33 |
| Tree Saplings | 420 | 2 Seeds, 1 Shovel | Shovel | 0:39 | 1:30 | 2:09 | 129 | 3.26 |
| Fire Pit | 1,740 | 2 Bricks, 1 Shovel, 2 Cement | 2 Cement | 5:00 | 4:00 | 9:00 | 540 | 3.22 |
| Business Suits | 1,170 | 3 Textiles, 1 Measuring T., 1 Glue | Textiles/Glue | 3:00 | 3:30 | 6:30 | 390 | 3.00 |
| Plastic | 25 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 0:09 | 0:09 | 9 | 2.78 |
| Flour Bag | 570 | 2 Seeds, 2 Textiles | Textiles | 3:00 | 0:30 | 3:30 | 210 | 2.71 |
| Couch | 1,810 | 3 Textiles, 1 Drill, 1 Glue | Drill | 9:00 | 2:30 | 11:30 | 690 | 2.62 |
| Garden Furniture | 820 | 2 Planks, 2 Plastic, 2 Textiles | Textiles | 3:00 | 2:15 | 5:15 | 315 | 2.60 |
| Frozen Yogurt. | 1,750 | 1 Fruit & B., 1 Cream, 1 Sugar & Spices | Cream | 7:15 | 4:00 | 11:15 | 675 | 2.59 |
| Cement | 440 | 2 Minerals, 1 Chemical | Chemical | 2:00 | 0:50 | 2:50 | 170 | 2.59 |
| Cap | 600 | 2 Textiles, 1 Measuring Tape | Textiles | 3:00 | 1:00 | 4:00 | 240 | 2.50 |
| Glue | 440 | 1 Plastic, 2 Chemicals | Chemical | 2:00 | 1:00 | 3:00 | 180 | 2.44 |
| BBQ Grill | 530 | 3 Metal, 1 Cooking Utensil | Cooking Utensil | 0:54 | 2:45 | 3:39 | 219 | 2.42 |
| Home Textiles | 610 | 2 Textiles, 1 Measuring Tape | Textiles | 3:00 | 1:15 | 4:15 | 255 | 2.39 |
| TV | 1,280 | 2 Plastic, 2 Glass, 2 Electrical Comp. | Electrical Comp. | 7:00 | 2:30 | 9:30 | 570 | 2.25 |
| Cheese Fries | 1,050 | 1 Vegetable, 1 Cheese | Cheese | 7:45 | 0:20 | 8:05 | 485 | 2.16 |
| Lighting System | 890 | 1 Chemical, 1 Electrical Comp, 1 Glass | Electrical Comp. | 7:00 | 1:45 | 8:45 | 525 | 1.70 |
| Beef | 860 | 3 Animal Feed | Animal Feed | 6:00 | 2:30 | 8:30 | 510 | 1.69 |
| Refridgerator | 1,060 | 2 Plastic, 2 Chemical, 2 Electrical Comp. | Electrical Comp. | 7:00 | 3:30 | 10:30 | 630 | 1.68 |
| Seeds | 30 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 0:20 | 0:20 | 20 | 1.50 |
| Watch | 580 | 2 Plastic, 1 Glass, 1 Chemical | Glass | 5:00 | 1:30 | 6:30 | 390 | 1.49 |
| Cheese | 660 | 2 Animal Feed | Animal Feed | 6:00 | 1:45 | 7:45 | 465 | 1.42 |
| Minerals | 40 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 0:30 | 0:30 | 30 | 1.33 |
| Drill | 590 | 2 Metal, 2 Plastic, 1 Electrical Comp. | Electrical Comp. | 7:00 | 2:00 | 9:00 | 540 | 1.09 |
| Cream | 440 | 1 Animal Feed | Animal Feed | 6:00 | 1:15 | 7:15 | 435 | 1.01 |
| Chemicals | 60 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 2:00 | 2:00 | 120 | 0.50 |
| Textiles | 90 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 3:00 | 3:00 | 180 | 0.50 |
| Sugar & Spices | 110 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 4:00 | 4:00 | 240 | 0.46 |
| Glass | 120 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 5:00 | 5:00 | 300 | 0.40 |
| Animal Feed | 140 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 6:00 | 6:00 | 360 | 0.39 |
| Electrical Components | 160 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 7:00 | 7:00 | 420 | 0.38 |
| Factory | Max $ | Materials Required | Critical Path | Raw M. | Ass'y | Total | Min | $/Min |
| Metal | 10 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 0:01 | 0:01 | 1 | 10.00 |
| Wood | 20 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 0:03 | 0:03 | 3 | 6.67 |
| Plastic | 25 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 0:09 | 0:09 | 9 | 2.78 |
| Seeds | 30 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 0:20 | 0:20 | 20 | 1.50 |
| Minerals | 40 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 0:30 | 0:30 | 30 | 1.33 |
| Chemicals | 60 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 2:00 | 2:00 | 120 | 0.50 |
| Textiles | 90 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 3:00 | 3:00 | 180 | 0.50 |
| Sugar & Spices | 110 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 4:00 | 4:00 | 240 | 0.46 |
| Glass | 120 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 5:00 | 5:00 | 300 | 0.40 |
| Animal Feed | 140 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 6:00 | 6:00 | 360 | 0.39 |
| Electrical Components | 160 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 7:00 | 7:00 | 420 | 0.38 |
| Building Supplies Store | Max $ | Materials Required | Critical Path | Raw M. | Ass'y | Total | Min | $/Min |
| Nails | 80 | 2 Metal | Metal | 0:01 | 0:05 | 0:06 | 6 | 13.33 |
| Planks | 120 | 2 Wood | Wood | 0:03 | 0:30 | 0:33 | 33 | 3.64 |
| Bricks | 190 | 2 Minerals | Mineral | 0:30 | 0:20 | 0:50 | 50 | 3.80 |
| Cement | 440 | 2 Minerals, 1 Chemical | Chemical | 2:00 | 0:50 | 2:50 | 170 | 2.59 |
| Glue | 440 | 1 Plastic, 2 Chemicals | Chemical | 2:00 | 1:00 | 3:00 | 180 | 2.44 |
| Hardware Store | Max $ | Materials Required | Critical Path | Raw M. | Ass'y | Total | Min | $/Min |
| Hammer | 90 | 1 Metal, 1 Wood | Wood | 0:03 | 0:14 | 0:17 | 17 | 5.29 |
| Measuring Tape | 110 | 1 Metal, 1 Plastic | Plastic | 0:09 | 0:20 | 0:29 | 29 | 3.79 |
| Shovel | 150 | 1 Metal, 1 Wood, 1 Plastic | Plastic | 0:09 | 0:30 | 0:39 | 39 | 3.85 |
| Cooking Utensils | 250 | 2 Metal, 2 Plastic, 2 Wood | Plastic | 0:09 | 0:45 | 0:54 | 54 | 4.63 |
| Drill | 590 | 2 Metal, 2 Plastic, 1 Electrical Comp. | Electrical Comp. | 7:00 | 2:00 | 9:00 | 540 | 1.09 |
| Farmers Market | Max $ | Materials Required | Critical Path | Raw M. | Ass'y | Total | Min | $/Min |
| Vegetables | 160 | 2 Seeds | Seeds | 0:20 | 0:20 | 0:40 | 40 | 4.00 |
| Flour Bag | 570 | 2 Seeds, 2 Textiles | Textiles | 3:00 | 0:30 | 3:30 | 210 | 2.71 |
| Fruit & Berries | 730 | 2 Seeds, 1 Tree Sapling | Tree Sapling | 2:09 | 1:30 | 3:39 | 219 | 3.33 |
| Cream | 440 | 1 Animal Feed | Animal Feed | 6:00 | 1:15 | 7:15 | 435 | 1.01 |
| Cheese | 660 | 2 Animal Feed | Animal Feed | 6:00 | 1:45 | 7:45 | 465 | 1.42 |
| Beef | 860 | 3 Animal Feed | Animal Feed | 6:00 | 2:30 | 8:30 | 510 | 1.69 |
| Furniture Store | Max $ | Materials Required | Critical Path | Raw M. | Ass'y | Total | Min | $/Min |
| Chairs | 300 | 2 Wood, 1 Nail, 1 Hammer | Hammer | 0:17 | 0:20 | 0:37 | 37 | 8.11 |
| Tables | 500 | 1 Plank, 2 Nails, 1 Hammer | Plank + 2 Nails | 0:43 | 0:30 | 1:13 | 73 | 6.85 |
| Home Textiles | 610 | 2 Textiles, 1 Measuring Tape | Textiles | 3:00 | 1:15 | 4:15 | 255 | 2.39 |
| Couch | 1,810 | 3 Textiles, 1 Drill, 1 Glue | Drill | 9:00 | 2:30 | 11:30 | 690 | 2.62 |
| Gardening Supplies | Max $ | Materials Required | Critical Path | Raw M. | Ass'y | Total | Min | $/Min |
| Grass | 310 | 1 Seed, 1 Shovel | Shovel | 0:39 | 0:30 | 1:09 | 79 | 3.92 |
| Tree Saplings | 420 | 2 Seeds, 1 Shovel | Shovel | 0:39 | 1:30 | 2:09 | 129 | 3.26 |
| Garden Furniture | 820 | 2 Planks, 2 Plastic, 2 Textiles | Textiles | 3:00 | 2:15 | 5:15 | 315 | 2.60 |
| Fire Pit | 1,740 | 2 Bricks, 1 Shovel, 2 Cement | 2 Cement | 5:00 | 4:00 | 9:00 | 540 | 3.22 |
| Garden Gnomes | 1,600 | 2 Cement, 1 Glue | 2 Cement | 5:00 | 1:30 | 6:30 | 390 | 4.10 |
| Donut Shop | Max $ | Materials Required | Critical Path | Raw M. | Ass'y | Total | Min | $/Min |
| Donuts | 950 | 1 Flour Bag, 1 Sugar & Spices | Sugar & Spices | 4:00 | 0:45 | 4:45 | 285 | 3.33 |
| Green Smoothie | 1,150 | 2 Vegetables, 1 Fruit & Berries | Fruit & Berries | 3:39 | 0:30 | 4:09 | 249 | 4.62 |
| Bread Roll | 1,840 | 2 Flour Bags, 1 Cream | Cream | 7:15 | 1:00 | 8:15 | 495 | 3.72 |
| Cherry Cheesecake | 2,240 | 1 Flour Bag, 1 Fruit & B., 1 Cheese | Cheese | 7:45 | 1:30 | 9:15 | 555 | 4.04 |
| Frozen Yogurt. | 1,750 | 1 Fruit & B., 1 Cream, 1 Sugar & Spices | Cream | 7:15 | 4:00 | 11:15 | 675 | 2.59 |
| Fashion Store | Max $ | Materials Required | Critical Path | Raw M. | Ass'y | Total | Min | $/Min |
| Cap | 600 | 2 Textiles, 1 Measuring Tape | Textiles | 3:00 | 1:00 | 4:00 | 240 | 2.50 |
| Shoes | 980 | 2 Textiles, 1 Plastic, 1 Glue | Textiles/Glue | 3:00 | 1:15 | 4:15 | 255 | 3.84 |
| Watch | 580 | 2 Plastic, 1 Glass, 1 Chemical | Glass | 5:00 | 1:30 | 6:30 | 390 | 1.49 |
| Business Suits | 1,170 | 3 Textiles, 1 Measuring T., 1 Glue | Textiles/Glue | 3:00 | 3:30 | 6:30 | 390 | 3.00 |
| 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 | 2 Creams | 8:30 | 0:14 | 8:44 | 524 | 4.89 |
| Pizza | 2,560 | 1 Flour Bag, 1 Cheese, 1 Beef | Beef | 10:15 | 0:24 | 10:39 | 639 | 4.01 |
| Burgers | 3,620 | 1 Beef, 1 Bread Roll, 1 BBQ Grill | Breadroll | 9:45 | 0:35 | 10:20 | 620 | 5.84 |
| Cheese Fries | 1,050 | 1 Vegetable, 1 Cheese | Cheese | 7:45 | 0:20 | 8:05 | 485 | 2.16 |
| Lemonade Bottle | 1,690 | 2 Glass, 2 Sugar & Spice, 1 Fruit & B. | Glass | 5:00 | 1:00 | 6:00 | 360 | 4.69 |
| Home Appliances | Max $ | Materials Required | Critical Path | Raw M. | Ass'y | Total | Min | $/Min |
| BBQ Grill | 530 | 3 Metal, 1 Cooking Utensil | Cooking Utensil | 0:54 | 2:45 | 3:39 | 219 | 2.42 |
| Refridgerator | 1,060 | 2 Plastic, 2 Chemical, 2 Electrical Comp. | Electrical Comp. | 7:00 | 3:30 | 10:30 | 630 | 1.68 |
| Lighting System | 890 | 1 Chemical, 1 Electrical Comp, 1 Glass | Electrical Comp. | 7:00 | 1:45 | 8:45 | 525 | 1.70 |
| TV | 1,280 | 2 Plastic, 2 Glass, 2 Electrical Comp. | Electrical Comp. | 7:00 | 2:30 | 9:30 | 570 | 2.25 |
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