How to make money in GTA San Andreas

Money is tight at the start of San Andreas. IGN notes that most missions after CJ gets back to Grove Street pay in respect rather than cash. It gets much easier once you own a few businesses and finish some side activities. Everything here uses normal play only: no glitches and no exploits.

Early game

Vehicle missions

Steal a taxi, police car, fire truck, ambulance or train and press the right stick (2 on PC) to start its side mission. IGN says the pay rises as the levels get harder, and the full sets add lasting bonuses, such as maximum health from Paramedic and stronger body armor from Vigilante.

Burglary

After Ryder’s mission Home Invasion, take the black Boxville van out at night and rob houses. IGN says one is parked across the road from the Ganton Gym. Move slowly inside to keep the noise meter down, then drive the goods to the lockup. IGN calls it a solid, repeatable earner, and about $10,000 in stolen goods also unlocks unlimited sprint.

Roboi’s Food Mart

IGN’s money guide names this Los Santos asset as one to go after early. It becomes yours after four levels of courier missions and then pays out regularly.

Drug dealers

IGN notes that dealers stand still with their hands crossed and carry around $2,000. They are usually armed with a pistol, so take care when health is low.

Assets

Assets are businesses that pay out over time once you own them. IGN lists ten:

Most become assets through their own mission chains. Two worth knowing:

• Johnson House: IGN’s money guide says it starts paying during Sweet’s mission Doberman, and its asset page says income grows as you take and hold the hoods around Grove Street. See our gang wars guide.
• Verdant Meadows airstrip: after the mission Green Goo it pays up to $10,000, which IGN calls joint highest of any asset.

Story and side missions

Later story missions pay well. IGN’s walkthrough of the Las Venturas casino missions, for example, lists rewards from $5,000 to $10,000 each. Race tournaments, stadium events and challenges such as triathlons and the Lowrider Challenge also pay, and IGN calls the challenge payouts sizeable.

One time payouts

Our collectibles guide covers the sets, and the shooting range challenges also count for 100% completion.

Gambling

You can bet at the Inside Track under the Mulholland Intersection, play pool at the Ten Green Bottles bar near Grove Street, and visit the casinos in Las Venturas. IGN says winning bets raises CJ’s gambling skill, which opens the bigger games. It is still luck based, so only bet what you can afford to lose. The guides disagree on whether the Luck stat from horseshoes helps: GamesRadar says it does, IGN says it does not.

Three Definitive Edition achievements come from gambling: What are the Odds (win a race at the Inside Track), Double or Nothin’ (win a maximum bet on red or black) and Lucky Spinner (win at least $1,000 in one spin of the wheel).

Spend less

• Wear body armor. It costs $200 and keeps you out of the hospital, where CJ loses his weapons and money.
• Date Katie and Barbara. IGN says their perks let CJ keep his weapons and lose less cash when wasted or busted. See our girlfriends guide.
• Buy safehouses as you need them. IGN puts the cost of every safehouse at $879,000, so pick ones near the missions you are doing first.

Big goal

The Definitive Edition achievement Ain’t Nothing But a G Thing asks for every gang turf, every property and $1,000,000 in cash at the same time.

Updated October 27, 2026