Converting castles into cities - is it worth it?

[bigdaddy1204]

We all know that cities earn more money than castles. In some cases, considerably more (double or more). For example, Trebizond can bring in well over 2,000 florins a turn as a city, but you may only get 800 or so as a castle.

However, it can be expensive to turn a castle into a town. At least 4000 florins or maybe more. So my question is, 'Is it worth it'?

[Lifthrasir]

It depends how you economy is, how your power is and how far you're in your campaign.
First, it depends if you can afford that conversion and are able to wait many turns to get your city making good money (as you will have to build or rebuild some things).
Second, can you afford for many turn a settlement that won't be optimised? I mean, the new city doesn't make good money straight and you loose a castle to recruit good units.
Last, if you're already quite far in your campaign, it might be better to conquier an existing city than to convert one of your castle, even if it means going for a long war with another faction.

I usually do that for specific factions for non strategic settlement (I mean quite safe in my kingdom, not under siege 50% of the time or even more) and early in my campaign.

[Duck of Death]

Id say it also depends on how patient you are (playing the long game and building your army slowly if you turn most castles into cities) and what faction you are.

Like as England, since they are generally safe from invasion on their island, I turn all 4 castles there to cities except Nottingham then slowly build a strong army to invade wherever I decide to invade.
But as someplace like the Byzantines or HRE, where you are always surrounded by potential enemies, that approach might be harder.

[Sint]

But as someplace like the Byzantines or HRE, where you are always surrounded by potential enemies, that approach might be harder.

You already have so much money as the HRE you don't really need to convert them.

[bigdaddy1204]

What if you have a small castle that isn't going to make any money, but you convert it to a village? It can then grow faster, and potentially be converted back into a castle later when it has achieved a high population.

[riuk881]

it also depends on the city/castle level as some levels can't be converted.