_This document presents a baseline fantasy economy suitable for D&D 5e–style worlds. All values assume a stable economy, a 30‑day month, and standard coinage. Figures are intentionally conservative to keep silver and copper meaningful._ --- ## Coin Reference - **Copper (cp):** petty expenses, utilities, minor services - **Silver (sp):** survival wages and everyday living - **Gold (gp):** skilled labor, professional pay, comfort - **Platinum (pp):** nobility, institutions, large transactions --- ## Common Hourly Wages _Used for day labor, short-term hires, and scene-level economics. Assumes an average 8‑hour workday and ~240 work hours per month._ ### Unskilled Labor (Hourly) |Role|Hourly Wage| |---|---| |Farmhand|2–3 cp| |Porter / Dockworker|2–3 cp| |Stablehand|2–3 cp| |Street cleaner|2 cp| |Servant (live-out)|2–3 cp| ### Skilled Labor (Hourly) |Role|Hourly Wage| |---|---| |Blacksmith|2–3 sp| |Carpenter|2–3 sp| |Mason|2–3 sp| |Brewer|1–2 sp| |Tailor|1–2 sp| ### Military & Security (Hourly) |Role|Hourly Wage| |---|---| |Town Guard|3–8 cp| |Veteran Guard|1–2 sp| |Mercenary|2–4 sp| |Knight Retainer|3–5 sp| ### Professional & Learned Work (Hourly) |Role|Hourly Wage| |---|---| |Healer (mundane)|5–7 sp| |Court Scribe|4–6 sp| |Mage Assistant|5–8 sp| |Engineer / Architect|6–10 sp| ### Elite & Dangerous Work (Hourly or Contract) |Role|Hourly Equivalent| |---|---| |Assassin|1–3 gp| |Arcane Consultant|1–2 gp| |High Priest|8 sp–1 gp| --- ## Common Monthly Wages _Typical pay rates across most stable regions. These are baseline averages; danger, scarcity, or prestige can raise them significantly._ ### Unskilled Labor |Role|Monthly Wage| |---|---| |Farmhand|5–6 gp| |Porter / Dockworker|5–6 gp| |Stablehand|5–6 gp| |Street cleaner|4–5 gp| |Servant (live-out)|4–6 gp| ### Skilled Labor |Role|Monthly Wage| |---|---| |Blacksmith|50–70 gp| |Carpenter|45–65 gp| |Mason|50–70 gp| |Brewer|40–60 gp| |Tailor|40–60 gp| ### Military & Security |Role|Monthly Wage| |---|---| |Town Guard|6–20 gp| |Veteran Guard|20–40 gp| |Mercenary|60+ gp| |Knight Retainer|60–90 gp| ### Professional & Learned Work |Role|Monthly Wage| |---|---| |Healer (mundane)|120–150 gp| |Court Scribe|90–120 gp| |Mage Assistant|120–180 gp| |Engineer / Architect|150+ gp| ### Elite & Dangerous Work |Role|Monthly Wage| |---|---| |Assassin|300+ gp (contract-based)| |Arcane Consultant|300–600 gp| |High Priest|250+ gp| --- ## Poor Laborer _Farmhands, porters, dockworkers_ **Monthly Income:** ~6 gp ### Monthly Bills |Expense|Cost| |---|---| |Shared housing or tenement|3 gp| |Basic food (bread, stew, porridge)|2 gp| |Firewood, candles, oil|5 sp| |Clothing upkeep|3 sp| |Local taxes or tithes|2 sp| |**Total Monthly Bills**|**6 gp**| **Savings:** None --- ## Skilled Worker (Middle Class) _Blacksmiths, carpenters, masons, brewers_ **Monthly Income:** ~60 gp ### Monthly Bills |Expense|Cost| |---|---| |Modest home or shop room|15 gp| |Decent food|9 gp| |Firewood & lighting|1 gp| |Tool maintenance|6 gp| |Guild dues & taxes|3 gp| |Clothing replacement|1 gp| |**Total Monthly Bills**|**36 gp**| **Typical Savings:** ~24 gp --- ## Town Guard / Soldier _City watch, standing militia_ **Monthly Income:** 6–60 gp (rank and city dependent) ### Monthly Bills (If Housed by the City) |Expense|Cost| |---|---| |Housing & meals|Free| |Gear upkeep|3 gp| |Ale & recreation|3 gp| |Tithes or city fees|1 gp| |**Total Monthly Bills**|**7 gp**| **Savings:** Moderate to high unless injured or fined --- ## Professional _Healers, court scribes, mage assistants_ **Monthly Income:** ~150 gp ### Monthly Bills |Expense|Cost| |---|---| |Comfortable housing|30 gp| |Good food|15 gp| |Books, ink, reagents|30 gp| |Clothing & appearance|6 gp| |Taxes, licenses, bribes|15 gp| |**Total Monthly Bills**|**96 gp**| **Typical Savings:** ~54 gp --- ## Noble Household _Minor nobility or powerful merchants_ **Monthly Income:** 300+ gp ### Monthly Bills |Expense|Cost| |---|---| |Servants and guards|120 gp| |Food, wine, banquets|60 gp| |Horses and stables|30 gp| |Clothing and jewelry upkeep|30 gp| |Political gifts and bribes|60 gp| |**Total Monthly Bills**|**300 gp**| **Savings:** Situational; wealth is spent to maintain power --- ## Common Monthly Utilities (Reference) |Service|Cost| |---|---| |Firewood and fuel|3–6 sp| |Candles or lamp oil|2–4 sp| |Bathhouse access|5 sp| |Laundry service|3 sp| |Sewer or well tax|5 sp| |City head tax|5 sp–2 gp| --- ## Economic Rule of Thumb Most people **earn silver and spend silver**. Gold represents weeks or months of labor, and a single gold coin can meaningfully alter social dynamics in poorer communities. _If a person is not trained, titled, or risking death, their economy does not revolve around gold._