The SDGs encompass a wide array of intricate and multifaceted issues, with interwoven relationships among different goals, primarily manifested as synergistic and trade-off effects. Specifically, synergistic effects denote the phenomenon where achieving a particular goal simultaneously enhances the improvement of other goals, highlighting the mutually beneficial relationships among them. Conversely, trade-off effects signify that pursuing one goal might necessitate sacrificing other goals, leading to a delicate balance (Pradhan et al. 2017; Zhang et al. 2022). As the centers of regional population aggregation and economic activity, cities are crucial for achieving sustainable development. Conducting an SDG cross-sectoral and integrated assessment for cities at the prefectural level across China helps clarify the interconnections among SDGs in different cities. By dynamically simulating the achievement of SDGs under various future development scenarios, this approach supports the formulation of targeted strategies for sustainable urban development. It also promotes the optimal allocation of urban resources, maximizes the overall benefits of SDGs in cities, and enables the rational adjustment of sustainable development pathways. This is of great significance for effectively achieving the 2030 Agenda.