Managing your economy efficiently in Tropico 6 is essential for a thriving island. Many players struggle with high upkeep costs, inefficient management, and economic downturns. If your treasury is draining faster than you can generate income, you may be making costly mistakes. Here are ten ways to cut down on expenses and keep your island financially stable.

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1. Avoid Overbuilding Teamster Offices

Teamsters are essential for transporting goods across the island, but having too many Teamster buildings leads to unnecessary upkeep costs. Since Teamster wages and maintenance costs can significantly impact your budget, be sure to pause or demolish any that are not needed. An excess of Teamster offices is one of the quickest ways to lose money.

2. Use the Loose Load Limit Work Mode

The Loose Load Limit work mode allows Teamsters to carry 50% more goods but comes with a 10% risk of losing some cargo. This can save you money by reducing the number of Teamsters required to move products efficiently. However, avoid using this setting for precision-based missions (e.g., delivering exactly 1,000 steel), as the losses can cause mission failures.

3. Pause or Demolish Unused Buildings

Buildings that are barely used still generate upkeep costs, making them financial liabilities. Common structures that often become underutilized include:

• Prisons (once criminals are released)
• Raid buildings
• Construction offices (when infrastructure expansion slows)
• Mines (once resources are depleted)

Instead of maintaining unnecessary buildings, pause or demolish them to reduce upkeep costs.

4. Pause Banks When in Debt

Banks generate interest on positive balances but are useless when you are in debt. Running a bank while in negative funds increases expenses without any benefits. Even if you have a positive balance, banks are only cost-effective when you have more than $13,000 in the treasury. Otherwise, the interest generated is less than the bank’s maintenance cost.

5. Optimize Building Budgets

Maxing out the budget of a building increases efficiency, but if there’s no demand or supply to justify the cost, you’re just wasting money. For example:

• If your housing happiness is already high, consider reducing the budget on residential buildings.
• If an industry is not producing enough goods due to resource shortages, lower its budget rather than paying workers to stay idle.

6. Balance Supply Chains Efficiently

A poorly managed supply chain wastes money. If you have industrial buildings without enough raw resources, they still generate wages and upkeep without producing anything useful. A good rule of thumb is the 2:1 ratio—for every industrial building, have at least two resource-producing buildings at max budget. For example, a Rum Distilleryshould be supported by at least two sugar plantations.

7. Disable Costly Edicts

Certain edicts can drain your treasury without offering immediate benefits. If you’re struggling financially, consider deactivating:

• Employee of the Month
• Agricultural Subsidies
• Free Wheels
• Child Allowance
• Social Security
• Speedway

Disabling these edicts may cause minor dissatisfaction among some factions but will quickly free up money.

8. Cancel Import Contracts

Imports come with a surcharge above the normal trading price, making them a significant expense. Unless absolutely necessary, avoid relying on imported goods, especially when trying to stabilize your economy. Instead, focus on producing your own resources or finding trade partners that offer better deals.

9. Avoid War With Superpowers and Rebels

Engaging in war can cripple your economy. If you enter a conflict, all tourists will immediately leave, rendering your tourism industry temporarily useless. Since tourism buildings will still generate upkeep costs without revenue, you’ll end up draining your funds. Maintaining positive relations with superpowers and keeping rebel threats low can prevent these unnecessary financial setbacks.

10. Adjust the Constitution to Reduce Costs

Some Constitutional changes can have direct or indirect financial effects. Consider adjusting settings such as:

• Retirement Age – Can impact how many Tropicans are working versus drawing government benefits.
• Ecology Policies – The Energy Efficiency setting can lower upkeep by $5 per month on various infrastructure buildings.

Constitutional changes should be made with caution, as they affect faction relations and the overall balance of your economy.

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Final Thoughts

Reducing expenses in Tropico 6 is all about efficiency. By cutting down on unnecessary wages, optimizing work modes, pausing underused buildings, and avoiding costly imports, you can maintain a healthy economy. If you manage your economy wisely, you won’t have to rely on emergency bailouts or unsustainable practices.

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