Building Settlers?

[Doubleplusgood3]

Can anyone give me a rough estimate of how many cities I should have by the year 0. I feel like I'm always left behind with 2-3 cities.

 

[HamTard]

It depends on the type of victory you're going for. Cultural victory only requires 4 cities and for you to ally with the cultural city states, since the more cities you own the more expensive social policies get.