Cash management becomes increasingly important as players progress through Monopoly GO. Early boards are relatively affordable, so upgrading landmarks whenever enough money is available often works well. Later boards are a different story. Building costs rise, repairs can eat into savings, and spending cash at the wrong time may delay the completion of an entire board.
The solution is not necessarily to save every dollar or upgrade the most expensive landmark first. A better approach is to understand how landmark costs work, compare available upgrades, and consider whether a building event could make the same investment more affordable. Collecting Monopoly Go Stickers can also be part of a broader progression strategy, as completing sticker albums may provide valuable rewards, including dice and other in-game bonuses.
With a little planning, landmark upgrades can become a more manageable part of long-term progression rather than a constant drain on cash reserves.
Understanding Landmark Upgrades in Monopoly GO
Each board in Monopoly GO features five landmarks. Every landmark requires multiple upgrades, and all five must be completed before the next board becomes available.
Landmark construction serves several purposes. It contributes to Net Worth progression, advances board completion, and develops the buildings associated with the current board. Houses and hotels are also connected to the game’s rent mechanics, creating additional opportunities for cash rewards when other players interact with developed properties.
As progression continues, the cost of upgrading landmarks can become substantial. This makes it increasingly important to consider the total cost of a board instead of looking only at the price of the next available upgrade.
A landmark that seems affordable on its own may represent only a small portion of the money needed to finish the board. Understanding that difference helps prevent unnecessary spending and makes it easier to plan around limited-time events.
How Much Cash Is Needed to Complete a Board?
Estimating the total cost before starting construction is a useful habit, especially on later boards.
A commonly shared community estimate uses the following formula:
First upgrade cost of the leftmost landmark × 112 ≈ estimated total board cost
For example, if the first upgrade costs 1.2 million cash, the estimated cost of completing the board would be approximately 134.4 million cash.
This calculation should be treated as a rough estimate rather than an official formula. Actual costs can vary, so the upgrade prices displayed in the game remain the best reference when planning a building session.
Even an approximate figure can help answer an important question: is there enough cash to make meaningful progress, or would it be better to wait?
When the available balance covers most of the remaining board cost, continuing with construction may be reasonable. When the balance is much lower, saving for a more efficient building session could be the better option.
There is no need to follow this approach rigidly on every board. Early-game upgrades are often affordable enough that steady progress makes more sense than extended periods of saving.
Should the Most Expensive Landmark Be Upgraded First?
The idea of upgrading the most expensive landmark first is popular among players who want to organize their spending. However, price alone does not determine whether an upgrade offers better value.
A more expensive landmark requires a larger investment, but that does not automatically mean it provides a better return per unit of cash. The value of an upgrade depends on its cost, the resulting progression, and the rewards available through the game’s current mechanics.
Starting with cheaper landmarks can also be useful. Lower-cost upgrades make it easier to begin construction and may help complete a board when the remaining costs are manageable.
The real problem is not choosing a cheap or expensive landmark. It is spending without considering the rest of the board.
For example, upgrading several landmarks by a single level may leave insufficient cash to complete any of them. A more focused approach can make budgeting easier, particularly when the goal is to finish a board before moving on.
Unfinished landmarks can also be damaged by Shutdown attacks. Repairing damaged buildings requires additional cash, although the exact impact depends on the situation. Shields offer protection against Shutdown attacks, making them worth checking before leaving the game.
A sensible priority system should therefore consider three factors:
- Upgrade cost: How much cash is required to complete the next level or landmark?
- Progression value: Does the upgrade contribute meaningfully toward completing the board or reaching a milestone?
- Timing: Would the cash be more useful during an upcoming building discount or another relevant event?
This approach is more flexible than automatically choosing the cheapest or most expensive landmark.
Builder’s Bash: A Good Time to Build
Builder’s Bash is one of the most relevant events for players planning landmark upgrades because it reduces building costs. Depending on the event, discounts can reach 50%.
The savings become particularly noticeable on expensive boards. An upgrade that normally costs 10 million cash, for example, would cost 5 million with a 50% discount.
Builder’s Bash has commonly featured different discount levels across landmark positions. However, the active event details should always be checked rather than assuming that every building session follows identical conditions.
How to Make the Most of Building Discounts
Preparation can make a significant difference during Builder’s Bash.
First, estimate the amount of cash needed to finish the current board. Next, check the available discounts and compare the actual prices of the remaining upgrades. This helps identify which purchases offer the greatest savings.
The highest percentage discount is not always the upgrade that saves the most cash in absolute terms. A 30% discount on a 20-million upgrade saves 6 million, while a 50% discount on a 4-million upgrade saves only 2 million.
That distinction matters when the objective is to stretch a limited cash balance as far as possible.
It is also worth considering whether the available cash can complete the board or reach another useful milestone. Spending everything on discounted upgrades is not necessarily efficient if the remaining construction costs are still too high.
Saving for Builder’s Bash can be worthwhile, particularly on later boards. However, waiting indefinitely is not always practical because event schedules are variable and immediate progression may sometimes offer better value.
Landmark Upgrade Strategies for Different Stages of the Game
The most suitable spending strategy changes as upgrade costs increase.
Early Game: Focus on Steady Progress
On the first few boards, landmark upgrades are generally easier to afford. Building regularly helps advance through the game without requiring extensive cash reserves.
At this stage, there is little reason to overcomplicate every decision. Completing boards and becoming familiar with the game’s mechanics are more useful than trying to optimize every individual purchase.
Mid-Game: Start Planning Ahead
As prices increase, random upgrades can make board completion more difficult. Keeping track of remaining costs and checking the event schedule becomes more useful.
Rather than spending every available dollar, consider saving enough to complete a meaningful portion of the board or take advantage of a building discount.
Late Game: Pay More Attention to Timing
On expensive boards, discounts can save substantial amounts of cash. This makes event timing an increasingly important consideration.
Before starting a large building session, compare the cost of upgrading immediately with the potential savings from waiting for Builder’s Bash. If another event also rewards board or landmark progression, completing upgrades during the relevant window may provide additional value.
However, there is no single strategy that works in every situation. Cash availability, active events, and the cost of the remaining upgrades should all influence the decision.
Five Common Landmark Upgrade Mistakes
1. Spending Cash as Soon as It Becomes Available
Frequent small upgrades may feel productive, but they can leave too little cash for a larger purchase or a useful event.
Checking the remaining board cost before spending helps keep construction on track.
2. Choosing Landmarks Based Only on Price
The cheapest upgrade is not automatically the most efficient, and the most expensive landmark is not necessarily the best investment.
Comparing costs with the progression gained provides a more useful basis for deciding what to build next.
3. Ignoring Builder’s Bash
Upgrading at full price when a relevant discount is available can mean missing out on substantial savings.
Before spending a large amount of cash, check whether a building event is active and whether waiting would improve the overall value of the planned upgrades.
4. Neglecting Shields
Shutdown attacks can damage landmarks, leading to additional repair costs. Checking the available shields before logging off is a simple way to reduce exposure to these attacks.
Shields do not guarantee complete protection in every situation, but they remain an important part of managing a developed board.
5. Assuming All Cash Should Be Spent Immediately
Keeping cash available is not wasted progress. It provides flexibility when a building discount appears or a larger upgrade becomes affordable.
At the same time, saving indefinitely does not help if the cash could be used to complete a board or claim a worthwhile reward. The goal is to balance immediate progress with future opportunities.
Combining Landmark Upgrades With Other Events
Building decisions can become more valuable when they coincide with other Monopoly GO events.
Landmark Rush and Board Rush may reward players for completing relevant landmark or board objectives, depending on the event rules. Wheel Boost can also be useful when board construction contributes toward Color Wheel opportunities. The Monopoly Go Partners Event offers another opportunity to plan resource usage, as players may want to save dice and other resources to make progress on partner milestones and earn event rewards.
When a building discount overlaps with another useful event, the additional rewards may justify completing upgrades sooner rather than waiting for another cycle.
Event schedules and conditions can change, so check the in-game event information before committing a large amount of cash or using resources for a specific strategy.
Dice management also matters. Dice allow players to move around the board and participate in events, while cash is needed for landmark construction. Planning these resources together can help players work toward specific rewards without spending everything at once.
Rather than always prioritizing dice, cash, or landmarks, consider which resource is most useful for the current objective.
A Practical Checklist Before Upgrading
Before starting the next building session, review the following points:
- Check the upgrade costs of all five landmarks.
- Estimate the remaining cost of completing the board.
- Decide how much cash can be spent without limiting future options.
- Check whether Builder’s Bash or another relevant event is active.
- Compare actual cash savings rather than looking only at discount percentages.
- Avoid starting more upgrades than the available budget can comfortably support.
- Check shields before leaving the game.
These steps do not guarantee the fastest possible progression, but they make spending decisions more deliberate and reduce the chance of running out of cash at an inconvenient time.
Landmark upgrades are essential to progression in Monopoly GO, but the way cash is managed can make a noticeable difference over time.
The most effective approach is not to follow a rigid rule about upgrading the cheapest or most expensive landmark first. Instead, consider the cost of the remaining board, the value of each upgrade, and the timing of available events.
Early in the game, steady building is often enough. As costs rise, planning around Builder’s Bash and other relevant events becomes more valuable.
Spend cash when it supports meaningful progression, take advantage of discounts when they offer genuine savings, and avoid upgrading simply because the money is available.
With a more deliberate approach to landmark construction, players can manage their cash more effectively and make board progression a smoother part of the Monopoly GO experience.

