Skip to content
Pharmaceuticals    |              |
SimCity 4

Pharmaceuticals | |

Get the lowdown on Dirty Industry costs in SimCity 4. See the capacity and cost for various dirty industrial buildings to plan your city's industrial zones effectively.

By ···10 min read·Multi-source verified
1 reading this guide  

Get the lowdown on Dirty Industry costs in SimCity 4. See the capacity and cost for various dirty industrial buildings to plan your city's industrial zones effectively.

Alright, let's talk about the gritty side of your city: Dirty Industry. These are the factories that churn out goods but also, well, pollution. Understanding their costs and capacities is key to balancing your economy with your Sims' happiness. This section breaks down what you need to know about the various dirty industrial buildings available in SimCity 4.

Below is a table detailing different dirty industrial buildings, their capacity, and their cost. The '$$' symbol indicates a monetary cost, which will vary based on your city's overall economy and development level, but this gives you a good baseline for planning your industrial zones.

DIRTYCapacityCostFootprint
Broquard's Cement Plant119$$
Burner6$$
Burning Unit74$$
C. Wallace Plaster58$$
Chemical Tank21$$
Chemical Tanks35$$
Collection Unit28$$
Creighton Bricks17$$2x2
Dead Forest Paper150$$
Dolan Dye28$$
Eyler Refining18$$
Farley's Foundry9$$
Finishing Warehouse94$$
Furnace11$$
Go Gyro Plant23$$
Graber Smelting66$$
Grundstrom Copper67$$
MPR Metals18$$
Petroleum Tank15$$
Processing Unit77$$
Refining Unit92$$
Smoke Stacks12$$
Sorting Shed57$$
Steel Shed18$$
Tips for Managing Dirty Industry
  • Placement is Crucial: Remember that dirty industry generates a lot of pollution. Zone it away from residential and commercial areas, preferably downwind (check your data views for wind direction!).
  • Balance Capacity: Look at the capacity numbers. You'll want to build enough of these to meet demand, but don't overbuild, as each building has a cost to construct and maintain.
  • Consider Footprint: Some buildings, like Creighton Bricks, have a larger footprint (2x2 tiles). Make sure you have the space for them in your industrial zones.
  • Upgrade Path: As your city grows and your RCI demand shifts, you might find yourself needing more or different types of industry. Keep an eye on your demand graphs!
  • Dirty vs. Clean: While dirty industry is often cheaper to build and has high capacity, it comes with significant pollution penalties. Eventually, you'll want to transition towards cleaner, high-tech industry if possible.

100% Human-Written. AI Fact-Checked. Community Verified. Learn how AntMag verifies content