Game guide · Economy
Economy
every bill, every paradime - What life in Paralives actually costs: how bills arrive, what an hour of showering does to your water bill, which benefits pay out automatically, and how salaries climb from $250 to $2,100 a day.
Bills every Monday
$250 to $2,100 a day
2 automatic benefits
How Bills Work
the weekly rhythm
Utility bills land once a week on Monday. From the moment a bill arrives you have 24 hours to pay it, and payment takes 5 hours to go through, so don't leave it to the last minute.
Monday
Billing day
24h
Payment deadline
5h
Processing time
What Things Actually Cost
per hour of use
Computed from the game's own usage rates: this is how fast each kind of object burns paradimes while it's running. Hot water is by far the biggest drain, electricity is almost an afterthought by comparison.
Heavy water use - $39/hour
showers, baths
Light water use - $7.20/hour
sinks and taps
Major appliances - $1.20/hour
stove, washer and other big machines
Electronics - $0.36/hour
TV, computer and similar devices
Lights - $0.059/hour
every lamp left on
What does a shower cost?
A 20-minute hot shower runs through about 130 liters of water, roughly $13 on Monday's bill. Long baths and showers are the single biggest thing you can cut when money is tight.
Bills & Taxes
the cost of living
Electricity - $0.076/kWh
Charged at $0.076 per kilowatt-hour and billed every 7 days. What you pay depends entirely on what's running, see the real costs above.
Water - $0.10/L
Every liter that flows costs $0.10, billed every 7 days. Showers and baths dominate this bill; sinks barely register.
Municipal Taxes - 5%
5% of your lot's total value, charged every 3.5 days. The fancier your home and furniture, the bigger this bill, building modestly keeps it down.
Benefits & Income
safety nets
Child Allowance - +$200
Your household automatically receives $200 for having children, no application, no conditions.
Unemployment Benefits - +$100
If nobody in the household has a job, $100 arrives automatically to keep you afloat.
Services
outsource the chores
Daycare - $15/h per child
Daycare is billed per child for the time they spend there, about $15 per hour per child. Handy on work days, expensive as a habit.
Daycare Transport - $20
A flat $20 per trip when your child is picked up from a different lot.
Career Perks
payday modifiers
Some career unlockables change your household finances directly: bonuses add money on top of your salary, while training programs cost money for as long as they run.
Bonuses
| Perk | Amount |
|---|---|
| All Expenses Paid CEO | + $3000 |
| Delayed Pay | + $1000 |
| Accountant Responsibility | + $400 |
| All Expenses Paid | + $200 |
| Spared No Expenses | + $100 |
Paid trainings
| Training | Cost |
|---|---|
| Wellness Training Sessions | − $200 |
| Serious Behaviour Training | − $200 |
| Being A Better Learner | − $200 |
Trainings are an investment: you pay while they're active, in exchange for the skill or behaviour boost they grant.
Salary Ranges
lowest to highest
Salaries are paid per workday, and every rank adds a bonus on top. Entry-level studio jobs start at $250 base pay a day, while the corporate ladder tops out at $2100 for the CEO chair.
| Career | Company | $/day |
|---|---|---|
| Gameplay Programmer | Parallel Studios | |
| Character Artist | Parallel Studios | |
| Animator | Parallel Studios | |
| Environment Artist | Parallel Studios | |
| Engine Programmer | Parallel Studios | |
| Technical Director | ClickWork Industries | |
| Product Manager | ClickWork Industries | |
| Operations Director | ClickWork Industries | |
| Chief Happiness Officer | ClickWork Industries | |
| CEO | ClickWork Industries |
Economy FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How do bills work in Paralives?
Utility bills arrive once a week on Monday. Electricity and water are usage-based: the bill reflects what was actually running. Municipal taxes are 5% of your lot's value. You have 24 hours to pay each bill.
What's the most expensive utility in Paralives?
Hot water, by a wide margin. An hour of showering or bathing costs around $39, while running a major appliance for an hour costs about $1.20 and lights cost mere cents. If bills hurt, shorten the showers first.
What benefits can I receive?
Child Allowance pays $200 to households with children, and Unemployment Benefits pay $100 when nobody in the household has a job. Both arrive automatically, no application needed.
What happens if I don't pay a bill?
Each bill has a 24-hour payment deadline, and payment takes 5 hours to process. Don't let it slip: unpaid bills get your electricity and water cut off until you settle all accounts.
Related guides: Careers (/careers) · Wants (/wants)