Starfield: Best Ways to Make Money Fast

In Starfield, Bethesda’s expansive space RPG, managing your finances is crucial. Whether you’re upgrading your ship, purchasing gear, or expanding your outpost empire, credits are the lifeblood of your interstellar adventures. While the universe is vast and full of opportunities, figuring out the best ways to make money quickly can feel daunting. Here’s a guide to help you rack up credits efficiently and enjoy your galactic journey to the fullest.

1. Loot and Sell Everything

Looting is one of the simplest ways to make money in Starfield. The game’s vast open world is filled with items you can collect and sell.

• Focus on High-Value Items: Prioritize grabbing weapons, suits, and rare resources. These often fetch a good price at vendors.
• Target Abandoned Outposts: These locations are rich in loot, from crafting materials to contraband.
• Don’t Overlook Containers: Always check lockers, safes, and crates for valuable items.

Pro Tip: Upgrade your ship’s cargo space or your carry capacity using the Weight Lifting skill to haul more loot in a single trip.

2. Smuggle Contraband

Smuggling contraband can be risky, but it’s one of the most lucrative ways to earn credits.

• What to Look For: Contraband items, like harvested organs or illegal tech, can be sold at Trade Authority kiosks for high prices.
• How to Avoid Scanners: Invest in ship modules like Scan Jammers or shielded cargo holds to avoid detection at security checkpoints.
• Best Places to Sell: Trade Authority locations, especially in less regulated systems, will happily buy your contraband.

Caution: If caught, you risk hefty fines or worse. Save your game before attempting a smuggling run.

3. Take on Missions and Bounties

Fulfilling contracts and bounties is another reliable way to earn credits while building your reputation in the galaxy.

• Mission Boards: Check mission boards at spaceports or in major cities like New Atlantis. Transport goods, deliver passengers, or complete tasks for organizations.
• Bounty Hunting: Hunt down pirates or wanted criminals. Completing these missions not only pays well but also boosts your standing with factions.
• Faction-Specific Missions: Join factions like the Freestar Collective or United Colonies for lucrative job opportunities.

Pro Tip: Combine missions with your exploration activities to maximize efficiency.

4. Mine and Trade Resources

Mining valuable resources is a cornerstone of the Starfield economy, and setting up a mining operation can yield consistent income.

• Scan for Rich Planets: Use your scanner to find planets rich in resources like titanium, platinum, or uranium.
• Set Up Outposts: Automate resource collection by building outposts with extractors and storage containers.
• Sell Resources: Visit Trade Authority kiosks or resource-specific vendors to offload your materials.

Efficiency Tip: Upgrade your outpost building skills to reduce setup costs and increase production rates.

5. Upgrade and Sell Ships

Ships are among the most valuable assets in Starfield. You can make significant profits by acquiring and selling them.

• Board Enemy Ships: Disable enemy ships during space combat, board them, and claim ownership. You can sell captured ships at shipyards for a profit.
• Trade Upgrades: Customize ships by adding modules and improvements, then sell them at a higher price.
• Hunt for Abandoned Ships: Occasionally, you’ll find derelict ships in space that you can repair and sell.

Warning: Selling ships requires visiting ship services technicians, and some may charge fees for registration.

6. Farm Alien Creatures

Alien creatures can drop valuable resources, such as animal byproducts and rare crafting materials.

• Target High-Density Areas: Scan planets for fauna-rich zones and set up hunting outposts.
• Sell Materials: Vendors often pay well for alien materials used in crafting.
• Bonus: Hunting aliens also provides XP, making it a dual-purpose activity.

Tip: Use the Zoology skill to increase the amount of resources collected from creatures.

7. Craft and Sell Items

Crafting in Starfield isn’t just for personal upgrades—it can be a profitable venture.

• Focus on In-Demand Items: Medpacks, weapon mods, and ship parts are always in high demand.
• Upgrade Your Skills: Invest in crafting skills like Outpost Engineering and Weapon Engineering to unlock advanced items.
• Sell at Premium Prices: Specialized vendors will often pay more for crafted items than general traders.

8. Trade Authority Kiosks: Your Best Friend

Trade Authority kiosks are scattered across the galaxy and are the go-to places for selling almost anything, including contraband and resources.

• Location: Look for kiosks in major cities or spaceports. They’re often near docking bays.
• Advantage: Unlike faction-specific vendors, Trade Authority kiosks buy all types of goods, including illegal items.

Pro Tip: Some kiosks reset their credit pool periodically, allowing you to sell large quantities without running into cash limits.

9. Explore and Find Treasure

The universe of Starfield is filled with hidden treasures, from ancient artifacts to rare ship parts.

• Focus on Exploration: Use your scanner to locate anomalies, derelict ships, and hidden outposts on planets.
• Treasure Maps: Occasionally, you’ll find maps or clues leading to hidden caches. These can contain credits or valuable loot.
• Faction Rewards: Exploring and assisting factions often leads to hidden treasure as a side reward.

Final Thoughts

Making money in Starfield is as much about strategy as it is about exploration. Whether you prefer the thrill of smuggling, the satisfaction of mining, or the excitement of space combat, the game offers countless ways to build your credit stash. Mix and match these methods to find what works best for your playstyle, and you’ll be living the high life in no time. Safe travels, captain!