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Wondering how to fix high rent costs in Cities Skylines 2? You’re not alone. Let’s go over what you can do to keep housing affordable as you work to expand your city.
In Cities Skylines 2, your job is to curate a thriving city. Of course, this is easier said than done, as your efforts to improve quality of life and provide your citizens with everything they need can sometimes backfire. This happens when rent costs are driven up by increased property value, an excess of low-density buildings, and other factors. In turn, residents will no longer be able to afford housing, causing them to move out. Not only will this cost you, but it will also negatively impact your city’s economy. Here’s what you can do find a sweet spot for rent costs and maintain affordable housing.
How to Fix High Rent Costs in Cities Skylines 2
Cities Skylines 2 tasks you with providing what your citizens need while working to expand your city in the process. At times, striking a balance can be tricky. This is because much of the goods and services provided can drive up rent costs if you’re not careful, forcing longtime residents out and hurting the economy. There are a few methods to help mitigate high rent, including the following.
- Lower taxes – The fastest and most effective way to reduce rent costs is to lower tax rates on residential areas. This includes both high- and low-density housing. When you lower taxes, your residents will be charged less to live in a designated building. If you don’t have the funds to accommodate citizens by simply constructing more buildings, then this is a good place to start when you’re aiming to reduce rent.
- Reduce the value of land – While this method may seem counterintuitive, reducing the value of land can help to keep rent costs low. Housing quickly becomes unaffordable when several public services are located in the area. This means buildings are made more valuable when they’re in close proximity to parks, hospitals, and police stations. To reduce the cost of housing here, you can opt to demolish any services that aren’t entirely necessary and rebuild them elsewhere.
- Provide access to education – If demolishing public services is out of the question, then providing greater access to education can help an area’s population learn the skills they need to earn more money. In turn, local residents will then be able to afford housing costs. To raise collective income, place colleges and universities in the affected area of your city.
- Blend high and low-density buildings – Creating a mix of housing types can help to accommodate the varying needs of your residents. While low-density buildings are best suited for individual families, high-density buildings can hold many more residents. By offering adequate housing, you’ll reduce demand for construction of more buildings. Consequently, rent costs will fall.
- Remove the unaffordable building – When all is said and done, you can demolish a building with high rent costs. We would recommend employing this method as a last resort to best accommodate the building’s tenants. Once you’ve resolved several of the issues that caused rent to skyrocket, tearing down an unaffordable building will help to prevent the issue from resurfacing in the future.
- Deep Simulation: Make choices that have ripple effects across the city. Intricate AI and economic systems mean players will need to strategize, problem solve and react to changes, challenges and opportunities.
- Epic Scale, Endless Possibilities: Build a thriving metropolis without compromise. In Cities: Skylines II, players will be able to build sky-high and across the map to realize their dream city like never before.
- Cities That Come Alive: Follow the lives of individual citizens, from love and loss to wealth and well-being. Player decisions will shape the lives of their city’s citizens.
- A Dynamic World: Pick a map to set the climate and biome of the city. These natural forces will shape the growth of players’ cities as they contend with rising pollution, changeable weather and seasonal challenges.
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What Causes High Rent in Cities Skylines 2?
Several factors can lead to high rent costs in Cities Skylines 2. Unfortunately, increased cost of housing can happen as a result of working to better your city. This can include actions like placing essential public services, such as hospitals and police stations. Because of this, it’s crucial to strike a balance between quality of life and housing costs. Here are common factors that can upset that balance:
- Tax rates are too high.
- Too many public services have increased the value of land.
- Your citizens are undereducated.
- Housing is unavailable.
By working to resolve these issues, you’ll find a way to satisfy existing residents and welcome newcomers. For more on Cities Skylines 2, check out these additional guides from our team: