Civilization IV: City Improvements

There are two significant changes from city improvements in Civ3. The first difference is that city improvements no longer have upkeep costs in Civ4 — the city maintenance cost now depends on the number of cities your have, distance from your capital, and your civic choices. The second difference is the new health system. Now, some buildings, such as aqueducts and supermarkets, can improve the health of your city, while some other improvements, such as forges and factories, can reduce your city’s health.

The table below lists all city improvements, some of which are related to each of the seven religions in the game, with their own temple, monastery, and cathedral level building.

NOTE: Information in this section is correct as of Beyond the Sword v3.19. For a listing of what the icons mean, please see this page.

Icon City Improvement Cost Requires Effects
Academy Academy Great Scientist +4 culture
+50% science
Airport Airport 250 Flight +1 unhealthiness
Can airlift 1 land unit per turn
+3 XP for new air units
+4 air unit capacity
+1 trade route
Apothecary Apothecary 150 Guilds
Currency
Unique building for Persia; Replaces Grocer
+2 health
+1 health from Banana, Spices, Sugar, and Wine
+25% gold
Can turn 2 citizens into Merchants
Aqueduct Aqueduct 100 Mathematics
Masonry
+2 health
Required to build the Hanging Gardens
Available for free on Renaissance and later starts
Assembly Plant Assembly Plant 250 Assembly Line Unique building for Germany; Replaces Factory
+1 unhealthiness
+2 unhealthiness from Oil and Coal
Can turn 4 citizens into Engineers
+25% hammer (+50% hammer with Power)
+50% hammer with Coal
Ball Court Ball Court 80 Construction Unique building for the Maya; Replaces Colosseum
+3
+1 per 20% culture rate
Bank Bank 200 Banking +50% gold
Required to build Wall Street
Available for free on Modern and later starts
Baray Baray 100 Mathematics
Masonry
Unique building for Khmer; Replaces Aqueduct
+1 food
+2 health
Available for free on Renaissance and later starts
Barracks Barracks 50 New land units receive +3 experience points
+2 with Nationhood
Required to build Heroic Epic
Bomb Shelters Bomb Shelters 100 Electricity -50% damages from nukes
Requires the Manhattan Project
Broadcast Tower Broadcast Tower 175 Mass Media +50% culture
+1 per 10% culture rate
Can turn 2
citizens into artists
+1 from Hit Musicals, Hit Singles, Hit Movies
+1 for Charismatic leaders
Buddhist Monastery Buddhist Monastery 60 Meditation
Buddhism
+2 culture
+10% science
Required to train Buddhist Missionary

Obsolete with Scientific Method

Buddhist Stupa Buddhist Stupa

(Double Production Speed w/ Copper)

300 Music
Buddhism
2 Buddhist Temples
+50% culture
+2 if Buddhism is state religion
Can turn two citizens into priest
+1 from Incense
Buddhist Temple Buddhist Temple 80 Priesthood
Buddhism
+1 culture
+1
Can turn 1 citizen into Priest
Bunker Bunker 100 Electricity -50% damage from air units
Castle Castle

(Double Production Speed w/ Stone)

100 Engineering
Walls
+1 culture
+25% Espionage
+1 trade route
+50% defense (except vs. Gunpowder units)
-25% damage from bombard (except vs. Gunpowder units)
Obsolete with Economics
Christian Cathedral Christian Cathedral

(Double Production Speed w/ Stone)

300 Music
Christianity
2 Christian Temples
+50% culture
+2 if Christianity is state religion
Can turn two citizens into priest
+1 from Incense
Christian Monastery Christian Monastery 60 Meditation
Christianity
+2 culture
+10% science
Required to train Christian Missionary

Obsolete with Scientific Method

Christian Temple Christian Temple 80 Priesthood
Christianity
+1 culture
+1
Can turn 1 citizen into Priest
Citadel Citadel

(Double Production Speed w/ Stone)

100 Engineering
Walls
Unique building for Spain; Replaces Castle
+1 culture
+25% Espionage
+1 trade route
+50% defense (except vs. Gunpowder units)
-25% damage from bombard (except vs. Gunpowder units)
+5 XP for Siege Units
Obsolete with Economics
Coal Plant Coal Plant 150 Assembly Line
Factory
Provides power with Coal (+2 unhealthiness)
Colosseum Colosseum 80 Construction +1
+1 per 20% culture rate
Confucian Academy Confucian Academy

(Double Production Speed w/ Copper)

300 Music
Confucianism
2 Confucian Temples
+50% culture
+2 if Confucianism is state religion
Can turn two citizens into priest
+1 from Incense
Confucian Monastery Confucian Monastery 60 Meditation
Confucianism
+2 culture
+10% science
Required to train Confucian Missionary

Obsolete with Scientific Method

Confucian Temple Confucian Temple 80 Priesthood
Confucianism
+1 culture
+1
Can turn 1 citizen into Priest
Cothon Cothon 100 Compass Unique building for Carthage; Replaces Harbor
Can only be built in a coastal city
+1 trade route
+1 health from Fish, Crab, Clams
+50% commerce from trade routes
Courthouse Courthouse 120 Code of Laws +2 Espionage
-50% maintenance
Can turn 1 citizen into Spy
Required to build Forbidden Palace
Customs House Customs House 180 Economics
Harbor
Can only be built in a coastal city
+100% commerce from intercontinental foreign trade routes
Dike Dike 180 Steam Power Unique building for the Dutch; Replaces Levee
+1 hammer on the city’s river and water tiles
Can only be built in a coastal or riverside city
Drydock Drydock 120 Steel +1 unhealth
New water units receive +4 experience points
Builds water units +50% faster

Can only be built in a coastal city

Dun Dun

(Double Production Speed w/ Stone)

50 Masonry Unique building for Celts; Replaces Walls
+50% defense (except vs. gunpowder-based units)
-50% damage from bombard (except from Gunpowder units)
Free Guerilla I promotion for land units
Required to build Castle
Factory Factory 250 Assembly Line +1 unhealth
+2 unhealth from Oil and Coal
+25% hammer (+50% hammer with Power)
Can turn 2 citizens into Engineer
Required to build coal plant, hydro plant, nuclear plant
Feitoria Feitoria 180 Economics
Harbor
Unique building for Portugal; Replaces Customs House
Can only be built in a coastal city
+100% commerce from intercontinental foreign trade routes
+1 commerce on water tiles
Forge Forge 120 Metal Casting +1 unhealth
+25% hammer

Can turn 1 citizen into Engineer
+1 from Gems, Gold, Silver
Required to build Ironworks, The Colossus, The Eiffel Tower, The Statue of Liberty
Available for free on Modern and later starts

Forum Forum 150 Currency Unique building for Rome; Replaces Market
+25% gold
Can turn 2 citizens into merchant
+1 from fur, ivory, silk, whale
+25% Great Person birth rate
Garden Garden 80 Construction Unique building for Babylon; Replaces Colosseum
+1
+2 health
+1 per 20% culture rate
Ger Ger 60 Horseback Riding Unique building for Mongolia; Replaces Stable
+4 XP for new Mounted Units
Obsolete with Advanced Flight
Granary Granary 60 Pottery Stores 50% of food after growth
+1 health from Corn, Rice, Wheat
Available for free on Renaissance and later starts
grocer Grocer 150 Guilds
Currency
+25% gold
Can turn 2 citizens into Merchant
+1 health from Banana, Spices, Sugar, Wine
Required to build Supermarket
Available for free on Industrial and later starts
Hammam Hammam 100 Masonry
Mathematics
Unique unit for Ottomans; Replaces Aqueduct
+2 health
+2
Harbor Harbor 80 Compass +50% trade route yield
+1 health from clam, crab, fish
Can only be built in coastal cities
Available for free on Modern and later starts
Hindu Mandir Hindu Mandir

(Double Production Speed w/ Marble)

300 Music
Hinduism
2 Hindu Temples
+50% culture
+2 if Hinduism is state religion
Can turn two citizens into priest
+1 from Incense
Hindu Monastery Hindu Monastery 60 Meditation
Hinduism
+2 culture
+10% science
Required to train Hindu Missionary

Obsolete with Scientific Method

Hindu Temple Hindu Temple 80 Priesthood
Hinduism
+1 culture
+1
Can turn 1 citizen into Priest
Hippodrome Hippodrome 50 Drama Unique building for Byzantium; Replaces Theater
+3 culture
+1 per 5% culture rate
+1
+1 from Horses
Required to build Globe Theatre
Hospital Hospital 200 Medicine +3 health
Heal units extra 10% damage/turn
Required to build Red Cross
Hydro Plant Hydro Plant 200 Plastic
Factory
Provides power
Can only be built in a riverside city
Ikhanda Ikhanda 60 Unique building for the Zulus; Replaces Barracks
-20% maintenance
+2 with Nationhood
+3 EXP for new land units
Required to build Heroic Epic
Industrial Park Industrial Park
200 Industrialism
Factory
+2 unhealth
Can turn 2 citizens into engineers
+1 free engineer
+1 unhealth from coal, oil
Intelligence Agency Intelligence Agency
180 Communism +8 Espionage
+50% Espionage
Can turn 2 citizens into spy
Hydro Plant Hydro Plant 200 Plastic
Factory
Provides power
Can only be built in a riverside city
Islamic Monastery Islamic Monastery 60 Meditation
Islam
+2 culture
+10% science
Required to train Islamic Missionary

Obsolete with Scientific Method

Islamic Mosque Islamic Mosque

(Double Production Speed w/ Marble)

300 Music
Islam
3 Islamic Temples
+50% culture
+2 if Islam is state religion
Can turn two citizens into priest
+1 from Incense
Islamic Temple Islamic Temple 80 Priesthood
Islam
+1 culture
+1
Can turn 1 citizen into Priest
Jail Jail 120 Constitution +4 Espionage
+50% Espionage
-25% War
Can turn 2 citizens into spy
Available for free on Modern and later starts
Jewish Monastery Jewish Monastery 60 Meditation
Judaism
+2 culture
+10% science
Required to train Jewish Missionary

Obsolete with Scientific Method

Jewish Synagogue Jewish Synagogue

(Double Production Speed w/ Stone)

300 Music
Judaism
3 Jewish Temples
+50% culture
+2 if Judaism is state religion
Can turn two citizens into priest
+1 from Incense
Jewish Temple Jewish Temple 80 Priesthood
Judaism
+1 culture
+1
Can turn 1 citizen into Priest
Laboratory Laboratory 250 Computers
Observatory
+1 unhealth
+25% science
+50% spaceship production
Can turn 1 citizen into scientist
Levee Levee 180 Steam Power +1 hammer on river tiles
Library Library 90 Writing +2 culture
+25% science
Can turn 2 citizens into scientist
Required to build University, National Epic, The Great Library
Lighthouse Lighthouse 60 Sailing +1 food on water tiles
Required to build The Great Lighthouse
Available for free on Industrial and later starts
Madrassa Madrassa 90 Writing Unique building for the Arabian; Replaces Library
+25% science
Can turn 2 citizens into priests
Can turn 2 citizens into scientists
Required to build University, National Epic, Great Library
Available for free on Modern and later starts
Mall Mall 150
Refrigeration
Grocer
Unique building for the Americans; Replaces Supermarket
+1 food
+20% gold
+1 health from cow, deer, pig, sheep
+1 from Hit Musicals, Hit Singles, Hit Movies
market Market 150 Currency +25% gold
Can turn 2 citizens into merchant
+1 from fur, ivory, silk, whale
Available for free on Industrial and later starts
Mausoleum Mausoleum 120 Constitution Unique building for the Indians; Replaces Jail
+4 Espionage
+50% Espionage
+2
-25% War
Can turn 2 citizens into spy
Available for free on Modern and later starts
Military Academy Military Academy
Military Science +3 culture
+50% military unit production
Can be built by Great General
Mint Mint
120 Metal Casting Unique building for the Malinese; Replaces Forge
+1 unhealth
+25% hammer
+10% gold

Can turn 1 citizen into Engineer
+1 from Gems, Gold, Silver
Required to build Ironworks, The Colossus, The Eiffel Tower, The Statue of Liberty
Available for free on Modern and later starts

Monument Monument
30 Mysticism +1 culture
+1 for Charismatic leaders
Obsolete with Astronomy
Nuclear Plant Nuclear Plant 250 Fission
Factory
Small chance of nuclear meltdown
Provides power with Uranium
Obelisk Obelisk 30 Mysticism Unique building for the Egyptians; Replaces Monument
+1 culture
+1 for Charismatic leaders
Can turn 2 citizens into Priest
Obsolete with Calendar
Observatory Observatory 150 Astronomy +25% science
Can turn 1 citizen into scientist
Required to build Laboratory
Odeon Odeon
80 Construction Unique building for the Greek; Replaces Colosseum
+3 culture
+2
+1 per 20% culture rate
Can turn 2 citizens into artist
+1 from Hit Singles
Pavilion Pavilion
50 Drama Unique building for the Chinese; Replaces Theatre
+3 culture
+25% culture
+1 per 10% culture rate
Can turn 2 citizens into artists
+1 from dye
Required to build Globe Theatre
Public Transportation Public Transportation
150 Combustion +1 health
+1 health from oil
+2 health with Environmentalism
Rathaus Rathaus
120 Code of Laws Unique building for Holy Roman Empire; Replaces Courthouse
+2 Espionage
-75% maintenance
Can turn 1 citizen into Spy
Required to build Forbidden Palace
Available for free on modern and later starts
Recycling Center Recycling Center 300 Ecology No unhealth from buildings
Research Institute Research Institute
250 Superconductors Unique building for the Russians; Replaces Laboratory
+1 unhealth
+25% science
+50% spaceship production
Can turn 1 citizen into scientist
+2 free scientists
Sacrificial Altar Sacrificial Altar
90 Code of Laws Unique building for the Aztecs; Replaces Courthouse
+2 Espionage
-50% maintenance
-50% anger duration from sacrificing population
Can turn 1 citizen into Spy
Required to build Forbidden Palace
Salon Salon
150 Astronomy Unique building for the French; Replaces Observatory
+25% science
+1 free artist
Can turn 1 citizen into scientist
Required to build Laboratory
Scotland Yard Scotland Yard
+100% Espionage
Can be built by Great Spy
Security Bureau Security Bureau 220 Democracy +8 Espionage
+50% defense against espionage
Helps thwart rival spies
Can turn 2 citizens into spy
Seowon Seowon 200 Education
Library
Unique building for the Koreans; Replaces University
+3 culture
+35% science
Required to build Oxford University
Shale Plant Shale Plant
150 Assembly Line
Factory
Unique building for the Japanese; Replaces Coal Plant
+10% hammer
Provides power (+2 unhealth)
Stable Stable 60 Horseback Riding New mounted units receive +2 experience points
Stele Stele 30 Mysticism Unique building for the Ethiopian; Replaces Monument
+1 culture
+25% culture
+1 for Charismatic leaders
Obsolete with Astronomy
Stock Exchange Stock Exchange
200 Banking Unique building for the English; Replaces Bank
+65% gold
Required to build Wall Street
Supermarket Supermarket 150 Refrigeration
Grocer
+1 food
+1 health from cow, deer, pig, sheep
Taoist Monastery Taoist Monastery 60 Meditation
Taoism
+2 culture
+10% science
Required to train Taoist Missionary

Obsolete with Scientific Method

Taoist Pagoda Taoist Pagoda

(Double Production Speed w/ Copper)

300 Music
Taoism
3 Taoist Temples
+50% culture
+2 if Taoism is state religion
Can turn two citizens into priest
+1 from Incense
Taoist Temple Taoist Temple 80 Priesthood
Taoism
+1 culture
+1
Can turn 1 citizen into Priest
Terrace Terrace 60 Pottery Unique building for the Incans; Replaces Granary
+2 culture
Stores 50% of food after growth
+1 health from Corn, Rice, Wheat
Available for free on Renaissance and later starts
Theatre Theatre 50 Drama +3 culture
+1 per 10% culture rate
Can turn 2 citizens into artists
+1 from dye
Required to build Globe Theatre
Totem Pole Totem Pole
30 Mysticism Unique building for the Native Americans; Replaces Monument
+1 culture
New archery units receive +3 EXP
+1 for Charismatic leaders
Obsolete with Astronomy
Trading Post Trading Post
60 Sailing Unique building for the Vikings; Replaces Lighthouse
Free Navigation I promotion for naval units built in this city
+1 food on water tiles
Required to build The Great Lighthouse
Available for free on Industrial and later starts
University University 200 Education
Library
+3 culture
+25% science
Required to build Oxford University
Walls Walls

(Double Production Speed w/ Stone)

50 Masonry 50% defense (except vs. gunpowder-based units)
Required to build Castle
Ziggurat Ziggurat
90 Priesthood Unique building for the Sumerians; Replaces Courthouse
+2 Espionage
-50% maintenance
Can turn 1 citizen into Spy
Required to build Forbidden Palace

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