How to Make Money in San Andreas

 San Andreas offers the player a huge variety of ways to make money. I've collected together some of the best ways. 

I have excluded missions from this list as you are obviously aware that you earn money from doing them. Furthermore, you didn't search for this article in order to find that out. So don't write in the comments that I left out missions

MegaBucks

There are several things you can go in San Andreas which will give you large one off payments which significantly boost your bank balance. Example include:

• $50,000 for completing the freight missions. + earnings
• $13,450 for completing Fire-fighter missions + earnings
• $10,000 completing for completing courier missions + earnings

Dependable Earnings

• Taxi driver. Slow at first but earnings increases significantly with the number of fares in a row.
• Killing drug dealers
• Buying/acquiring assets and collecting the money
• Fire fighter, paramedic and vigilante missions
• Redoing trucking and freight missions
• Burglary   

Spend Less

When your playing San Andreas your not just looking to make money you also want to get your moneys worth. Your biggest expense in the game will be weapons so anything you can do to save on them will make a big difference especially when you have to endlessly retry missions.

• Spray all 100 tags and free weapons will appear at your Ganton safe house
• Collect all the horseshoes and weapons will spawn in front of the Four Dragons
• Complete pimping missions and prostitutes will pay you.
• Eat fatty meals (not too many) and you won't need to buy food as often.
• Get weapons by stealing them from rival gang members
• Keep your weapons after getting wasted/busted by dating Katie Zhan and Barbara Schtenvart
• Learn where to find weapons instead of buying them.

Assets (businesses)

Assets provide a good income over time. However, you have to to collect it which is a pain. You are best to memorise the location of assets and swing by and collect the money whenever you are in the area. For example, every time you land or get a plane from Verdant Meadows collect your earnings.

Asset	Location	How to get it	Income
Johnston House	Ganton, Los Santos	Produces income after Doberman/ Home coming missions. Income increases with the number of hoods you control.	$8,000
Zero's RC	Garcia, San Fierro	Complete Zero's Missions and buy for $30,000	$5,000
Wang Cars	Downtown, San Fierro	Complete driving school and Yay Ka Boom Boom and buy for $50,000	$8,000
RS Hall	Flint County	Complete trucking missions	$2,000
Hunter Quarry	Bone County	Complete quarry missions	$2,000
Vank Hoff Hotel	Financial, San Fierro	Complete valet parking task	$2,000
Roboi's Food Mart	Commerce, Los Santos	Complete courier mission (on BMX outside asset)	$2,000
Hippy Shopper	Queens, San Fierro	Complete courier mission (on Freeway outside asset)	$2,000
Burger Shot	Redsands East, Las Venturas	Complete courier mission (on Faggio outside asset)	$2,000
Verdant Meadows	Bone County,	Buy for $80,000 for the mission “Verdant Meadows”	$10,000

Cheating

The above tips and tricks take time and perhaps your just too impatient for that. So, for completeness I have included a section on ways you can cheat to increase your money.

The following cheats will give you $250,000 when used: R1 R2 L1, X, LEFT, DOWN RIGHT UP LEFT DOWN RIGHT UP on PS2 or HESOYAM on PC.

The other way you can cheat without entering cheat codes is by using what gamers call a “soft reset”. That is turning the console on and off until you get what you want. This can be used to make money in the casinos (need access to third island) or by betting on the horses. What you do is go to the casino or betting shop and bet all your money. If you loose simply turn off the console and try again. When using this tactic your best to play either blackjack to double your money or to bet on a row and colour in Roulette.

Best Cheats in San Andreas (for PS2 and PC)

Using cheats can be a lot of fun. In this post I've collected a number of my favourites which you should try out.

However, your best not to save after using these. Using cheats can corrupt save files and will lower your criminal rating.

Insane Handling

TRIANGLE, R1, R1, LEFT, R1, L1, R2, L1.

PC: STICKLIKEGLUE

Spawn Hunter (attack helicopter armed with missiles)

CIRCLE, X, L1, CIRCLE, CIRCLE, L1, CIRCLE, R1 R2, L2, L1, L1

PC: OHDUDE

Super Powerful Punch (people will go flying if you hit them)

UP, LEFT, X, TRIANGLE, R1, CIRCLE, CIRCLE, CIRCLE, L2

PC: IAVENJQ

Cars Fly

PS2: UP, DOWN, L1, R1, L1, RIGHT, LEFT, L1, LEFT

PC: RIPAZHA

Super Jump (be able to jump insanely high)

Up, Up, Triangle, Triangle, Up, Up, Left, Right, Square, R2, R2

PC: LFGMHAL

Super Bunny Hop (jump insanely high on a BMX)

Triangle, Square, Circle, Circle, Square, Circle, Circle, L1, L2, L2, R1, R2

PC: JHJOECW

Tank Car (your car becomes invincible and can explode other cars on touch)

L1, L2, L2, Up, Down, Down, Up, R1, R2, R2

PC: JCNRUAD 

Help with Chiliad Challenge: How to Complete it Easily by Cheating

The Chiliad challenge is not very much fun. It's the one where you have to race down mount chillard on a bike.So you may want to, essentially, skip it by cheating. The challenge is required for 100% completions so there is no way around doing it. But don't despair – it can be done very easily. The truth is: you don't even have to be first across the finish line to win the race!

What to do is start the race and let everyone else win. Just go a long at your own pace and ignore the other racers. Once you get see the finishing line – stop. Now take out a sniper rifle and kill all the other racers (You can get one at the nearby Amu-Nation before the race). You'll notice your position improves with every one you take out. When you've got them all you'll be in first place. Now cycle over the line victorious.

However, pay attention to the countdown timer that starts when you get off the bike. If it goes to zero you will loose and have to start again. So shoot a few, get back on the bike and then get off again and get the rest.  

Boxville Locations San Andreas (Burglary Missions)

In order to do the burglary side missions you need to have completed the mission Home Invasion and get in a black Boxville. Not, just any Boxville – it has to be a black one. These can only be found at specific locations and cannot be found driving on the roads.

Only one of these can be found on each island. There locations are, by island:

• Los Santos: Opposite the Gym in Ganton.
• San Fierro: opposite the fire station in Doherty (run down building). Not far from the garage save point.
• Las Venturas: in Pilgrim behind a building right next to the intersection with the free-way.

General Tips

• Carry a silenced pistol
• The best money can be make in Prickle Pine and Vinewood.

If you earn $10,000 from these missions you will get infinite sprint and a $3,000 bonus.

How to Get 100% Completion on GTA San Andreas

100% completion is easier said than done. The problem is that you've ignored certain hard stuff in the game and now your going to have to complete all of them. Furthermore, some of it is very dull going.

You can check your completion percentage by pressing start and then going to stats then miscellaneous.

Required

• Complete all missions
• Buy all safe houses
• Acquire all assets
• Spray all 100 tags
• Take all 50 snapshots
• Collect 50 horseshoes and 50 oysters
• Finish all events at the stadiums
• Learn all the moves at the three gyms
• Complete all the Amu-Nation shooting challenges.
• Complete:
  • Paramedic missions
  • Vigilante missions
  • Fire-fighter missions
  • Pimping
  • Taxi (50 fares does not need to be in a row)
  • Freight Train
• Complete vehicle challenges
  • BMX challenge
  • NGR-500 challenge (Easter basin, San Fierro)
  • Chillard Challenge
• Finish import/export missions (30 cars)
• Win all races (see white squares on map)

Not Required

You may have assumed that certain things would be required. You do not need to bother with any of these to get 100% completion:

• Taking over all territories
• Getting Hitman rating in all weapons
• Getting King of San Andreas as your criminal rating
• Dating all girls

Rewards

When you complete the above you will get 

• One Million dollars
• Infinite Ammunition
• Double vehicle strength
• Rhino tank parked on the bridge over Ganton
• Hydra on top of Sweets house

In addition a BMX appears in front of the Police station in Los Santos. Not very exciting though...

K Rose Songs List

All of the songs on K rose are country songs and were not written specifically for the game. They include such legends as Merle Haggard, Eddie Rabbitt and Wille Neloson. K rose is what originally got me into country music.  

Song List 

• Jerry Reed - Amos Moses 
• Conway Twitty & Loretta Lynn -Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man 
• Hank Williams -Hey Good Lookin 
• Juice Newton -Queen of Hearts 
• Asleep At The Wheel -The Letter That Johnny Walker Read 
• The Desert Rose Band - One Step Forward 
• Willie Nelson -Crazy 
• Pasty Cline - Three Cigarettes in the Ashtray 
• Mickey Gilley -Make The World Go Away 
• Ed Bruce -Mama Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys 
• Merle Haggard -Always Wanting You 
• Whitey Shafer - All My Exes Live In Texas
• Eddie Rabbit: I love a Rainny Night 
• Statler Brothers - “New York City”
• Statler Brothers - “Bed of Roses”

You can listen to the complete album on Youtube. Here is a video I found: 

And since you seem to like country music here is another one of Eddie Rabbits songs you may like: 

Can you Complete GTA San Andreas without Using Any Cheats?

The short answer is: yes. I've done it. It can be done.

However, not using cheats makes the game significantly more difficult especially at the beginning. I know people who claim that San Andreas can not be completed without cheats.

The main problems you face when you don't use cheats is that of money and weapons. You have probably got used to having the best weapons right at the very start without having to pay for them. Winning the gun battles at the start with an M4 is not very difficult.

As a result you will die more which is, of course, expensive. Some missions will require you to buy weapons. Having to retry these missions several times gets very expensive.

This is not to say that you can never use cheats. Cheats are fun. But you should not save your game after using these cheats. Go and save then play around with some cheats – turning off the console before saving. 

How to fly The Hydra in GTA San Andreas

The Hydra is without a doubt the most difficult plane to fly. However, once you get the hang of it you will learn to love the controls and find that the Hydra is one of the best planes to fly.

So, first things first...

Take off

To take off you just need to hold down X. This will make you hover. You can move slowly forward and backward using the left analogue stick.

Now, get up to a decent height before trying to fly forward.

Flying

To fly you need to move the nozzles from pointing downward to pointing backwards. You do this by pushing the right analogue stick forward and holding it until you start to go forward (you have to press X too). You also need to retract the landing gear by pressing down the left analogue stick.

The plane should now fly as normal. You can also drop a flare by pressing O or fire missiles with L1.

Landing

There are two possible ways to land:

1. As normal – lower landing gear with R3 and land
2. Vertically – slow the aircraft and move the thrusters so they point downwards using the right analogue stick. The hold down square which will lower you down. Again, remember to lower the landing gear. 

Plane Locations in San Andreas

By far the fastest way to move around the extensive map in GTA is to use aeroplanes. The fastest being the hydra by far, probably followed by the enormous AT-400 and the Shamal.

Hydra

A super fast, highly maneuverable fighter jet.

• Available on top of Sweets house in Ganton when you have 100% completion 
• Verdant Meadows (after completing Vertical Bird)
• Easter Bay Naval Base 
• Area 69

AT-400

A massive commercial airliner. Difficult to get out of hanger and to fly. 

• Found inside a hanger at the airport in Las Ventura. It's at the south side and you have to stand in front of the hanger door and wait for it to open. It does not always appear so drive off and try again if it's not there. 

Dodo 

Small slow but easy to handle plane. 

• At each of the three airports 

Skimmer 

Basically a dodo that can land on water. 

• In front of the Sherman Dam, Bone County, Third Island. 
• Bayside Marina, Tierra Rob, Third Island
• Arco del Oste, Bone County, Third Island 
• Near Tee Pee Model, Bone County, Third Island 

Beagle 

Propeller powered aircraft. 

• Easter Bay Airport, San Fierro 
• Fort Carson, Bone County (may be imposible to fly out)

Crop Duster 

Light aircraft

•  On top of a hill in Flint County, near the Farm (where you stole the combine for Truth)
• North of the Hunter Quarry. 

Nevada 

Bulky aircraft based on the DC-3. 

• Easter Bay Airport, San Fierro (does not always spawn)

Rustler 

Antique fighter jet. 

• Easter Bay Airport, San Fierro
• Verdant Meadows 

Shamal 

Fast business jet

• Found at all three airports 

Stuntplane 

Very hard to fly but you can do some amazing tricks with it. Try pressing R3 when flying. 

• Verdant Meadows after all flying school challenges compete to silver or above. 

Burn and Lap - San Andreas Driving School Tips

This was the one I had the most trouble with - it took me hundreds of attempts and got me very mad before realising the trick to make it easy.

What you have to do is change the camera angle. If you go to the third view (looking out of the windscreen like a real car) you get a much better feeling for the turns and can control the car far more instinctively. Also you should make the turn when the last central cone goes off the screen.

Helicopter and Plane Challenges - Bet You Can't do this

Here is a fun post. I've came up with a few challenges for you to try and do with a helicopter.

With a Helicopter

1. Fly under a bridge 
2. Land in the restricted area 
3. Take off in one of the helicopters located in the police departments 
4. Kill pedestrians by using the rotor blades. 

With a Plane 

1. Fly under a bridge 
2. Fly upside down in the hydra metres from the sea and then get back up without crashing 
3. Do a barrel roll and loop the loop in an AT-400
4. Land a Shamal in Grove Street 

How to get the Pilots Licence before Learning to Fly

It is possible to get a flying licence at the very start of the game. Once you have a pilots licence the airport gates will open. The licence is obtained by increasing the flying skill and can only be done by flying (obviously). If you wait until the third island you can get it by completing the Toreno mission entitled Learning to Fly (get bronze in all Flying School challenges).

Getting in

The first problem is getting into the airport when the gates will not open. To get into Los Santos International Airport all you have to do is get a car, park it against the wall of the airport, get on top of the car and jump over the wall. You don't even get a wanted star for this.

Improving Flying Skill

Since it is early in the game you may want to explore the area north of Los Santos but don't fly to other islands as Hydras (fighter jets) will shoot you down and you will get a five star wanted level.

The fastest way to improve flying skill is to do tricks such as barrel rolls and loop the loops.  The videos below give a good demonstration of these tricks.


 

Maximise Carl's Sex Appeal in San Andreas

This makes the boring job of dating a little bit easier. If you have a full sex appeal bar you will be able to start  dating any girl you find without worrying about her particular tastes such as muscle or fat.

To maximise you must do the following things:

1. Buy your clothes only at Didier Sachs and buy one of every category of item - focus on the Tuxedo. 
2. Get tattooed all over 
3. Get the Cornrow hairstyle or Groove cut. 
4. Build up your muscle and don't get fat
5.  Drive an awesome car such as a Bullet, Super GT or Cheetah etc

You can notice your sex appeal changing if you get out your car, press L1. Then park the car in the garage, run away and when the door is shut press L1 again. Watch the sex appeal bar plummet. 

Alternatively, you can collect all 50 Oysters and this will protect against low sex appeal effects. 

How to Get and Fly the AT-400 in San Andreas - Biggest Plane in the Game

The At-400 is incredible. When you open the hanger door and get it out you cannot believe the size of the thing. You know the plane that you get when you fly Junk Air? Well you can fly this plane yourself. You will have to be a pretty skilled pilot to even get it on the runway.

AT-400 Location

 The AT-400 does not always spawn so you will have to keep going away and coming back again. It can be found at the airport at Las Venturas in a massive hanger. Just enter and follow the fence along. The door will slowly open if you stand near it.

Getting it out

Not intended to be rude but anyway. To get the plane onto the runway (a must) will take some skill full use of the rudder. First you will need to back all the way out of the hanger without any manoeuvring. Then go back and forward by moving the rudder when reversing and steering while going forward. Remember the button you press to move the rudder in the correct direction.   

Landing

If you are familiar with flight simulators this will be simple.

You must use the map to make sure you are coming in the right direction. To do this make sure the arrow on the map points in the direction of the runway long before attempting to land.

Upon landing point the aeroplane upwards so that it lands on its back wheels and then bring it's nose down.

The video below demonstrates very good flying of the AT-400.

How to Increase your Gambling Skill to Play the Big Money Tables

Your not going to get very far if you are simply playing for a dollar. You want to have some fun on the 100,000 or 1 million tables. No soft resets mind you. You wouldn't consider that would you?

In order to borrow more or play the bigger tables you need to increase your gambling skill bar. This is very simple to do: just spend money. The more you spend the higher the skill will become. For every 1000 you spend your skill will increase by 1 per cent. You will need to spend 100,000 (give 100 percent skill) in the casino to be able to play the million dollar table.  The other three levels require 1, 5 and 10 percent skill respectively.

It is also worth noting that slot machines do not contribute so are a waste of time.

Keep your Weapons after Going to Hospital (Wasted) or Getting Busted

This is one of the coolest things I found out that you can do in San Andreas. It is so simple to do and can save you a fortune especially when you are taking over hoods.

Keeping Weapons After Getting Wasted 

All of your hospital trips will also be free! To do this all you have to do is date Katie Zhan. You don't have to have any progress at all.

She can be found initially at Avispa Country Club in San Fierro just south of your garage. You will need to have at least 75% muscle so get yourself away to the gym to impress her.

Keeping Weapons After Getting Busted 

Again getting busted like wasted will not cost you any money. The process is the same as above. All you have to do this time is date Barbara Schtenvart. She can be found outside El Quebrados police station. Unless you have 100% sex appeal Carl will need to be fat to impress her so get eating (but don't throw up).  

Completing the Ambulance (Paramedic) Missions Tips and Tricks

This may not be the most exciting thing to do in the game but it is well worth doing. When you have done all 12 levels you will get a massive health boost not to mention a ton of money made during the mission. To start the side-mission simply get into an ambulance and press R3. You are best to do this mission near one of the countryside/desert hospitals rather than in the cities. I did this mission in Fort Carlson in Bone Country (third island). To successfully complete the mission with ease follow these steps:

1. Pick up an undamaged ambulance from outside a medical centre preferable in the countryside or desert. Look around to make sure there are no cops watching (you don't want to do side missions with a wanted star)
2. Before setting off to pick up passengers put up the map and work out the best way to collect them by travelling the shortest distance. Remember that the ambulance can only take 3 passengers. 
3. Keep track of the doors that passengers get in (two go in the back on in the side door). That way you can park so that the passengers have to walk the minimum distance. 
4. When stopping outside the medical centre press R1 and not square. That way you will stop in the red circle without reversing. 
5. When moving away from the medical centre don't worry about running people over. 

Note: you cannot pay and spray an ambulance so be careful not to set it on fire. Also you will fail the mission for killing the people you should be picking up.  

Desert Eagle San Andreas: When You Unlock It and Where to Find One

The Desert Eagle is a formidable weapon which often kills in one shot that is ideal for taking over hoods and doing missions.

It is unlocked after the mission Breaking the Bank at Caligula's (Wu Zi mission).

Locations

1.  Playa Del Seville at the corner of the wire fence (not far from Ocean Docks) 
2. Angel Pine Junkyard in Wheatstone 
3. Trailer park of The Lil' Probe Inn in Bone Country (end of one of the solar panels) 

(Jump to 2 mins in)

Prostitutes (hoes) In San Andreas: A Guide

This is quite a silly addition to San Andreas but it's pretty amusing anyway.

To pick up a prostitute in the game simply follow these steps:

1. Drive around Los Santos and look for scantly clad women.
2. Stop and blast the horn at them (R3)
3. When they ask "Do you want a good time honey" reply positively by pressing the right button. 
4. Let them get into your car and stop somewhere secluded. 

Instead of wasting money when she gets out you can just kill her and take the money back. However, if you complete the pimping missions they will actually pay you! 

Girlfriends Dating Guide - How to Have Hot Coffee in San Andreas

Girlfriends are in my opinion a pretty crap addition to the game and are very boring. However, you are at one point in the game required to take part in this crap so you might as well do it right and get it over with.

Choosing a Car

Cars have sex appeal and affect the outcome of a date. A safe bet is to go for a sports car such as Alpha, Banshee, Cheetah, Super GT, Flash or Bullet. You should avoid crashing it and if it is damaged go and pay and spray. It is worthwhile storing one of these in a garage near your girlfriends house.    

Sex Appeal

Go to the gym and build up your muscle but not too high. Also keep up with the latest fashions as you unlock new clothes shops.

Also get the Cornrow hair cut which will increase sex appeal by 30%.

Listen

At the start of the date you will be given a hint at what they want to do or where she wants to go. Pay attention to this. Also, in general, avoid cheap fast food places.

What's the Point

For the mission breaking the bank at Caligula's you will need the key card. You can also get some pretty cool cars (the Monster Truck being the best) and some outfits.