"Singapore? Isn't that crazy expensive?" It's the first thing people say when you mention a trip here, and it's only half true. Yes, a cocktail with a Marina Bay view can cost as much as a nice dinner back home. But here's the plot twist: some of the best food in Asia costs less than a sandwich in London, the metro is spotless and cheap, and a huge number of Singapore's most famous sights are completely free. The truth is that Singapore can cost almost whatever you want it to cost.
So how much does a Singapore trip really cost? This guide gives you honest, practical numbers: daily budgets for backpackers, comfortable travellers and splurgers; what hotels, food, transport and attractions actually cost; complete sample budgets for 3, 5 and 7 days; the cheapest (and priciest) times to visit; the hidden costs that surprise first-timers; and dozens of tips to stretch every dollar without missing the good stuff.
All prices here are in Singapore dollars (S$) and are rough planning figures. They change with seasons, events and exchange rates, so treat them as a realistic starting point, not a promise. Ready to do the maths? Let's go.
The 20-second answer
Excluding flights, a Singapore trip typically costs about S$80–130 per person per day on a budget (hostel, hawker food, MRT, free sights), S$200–350 per day mid-range (3–4-star hotel, mix of hawker and restaurants, one paid attraction a day) and S$500+ per day for luxury. Accommodation is the biggest cost; food and transport can be surprisingly cheap. Avoid big-event dates (like the Formula 1 weekend) for lower hotel prices, eat at hawker centres, use the MRT and mix free sights with a few headline attractions.
Flights: the cost that isn't in the daily budget
Everything above leaves out flights, because they depend so much on where you start. Still, a few patterns hold true for almost everyone flying into Changi.
- From nearby Asia (Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines), budget airlines make Singapore a cheap weekend hop, often costing less than a single night in a Marina Bay hotel if you book early and travel light.
- From India, China, Japan, Korea and Australia, there's plenty of competition on the route, which keeps fares reasonable outside school holidays and festive peaks.
- From Europe and North America, flights are the biggest single cost of the trip. The good news is that Singapore is one of the best-connected hubs on the planet, so sales and stopover deals are common.
Two money tips that people often miss. First, check the baggage rules on budget carriers: a cheap fare can double once you add a suitcase and a meal. Second, consider a stopover. If you're flying between Europe and Australia or elsewhere in Asia anyway, adding two or three nights in Singapore can cost very little extra in airfare, which makes it one of the cheapest ways to "add" a whole destination to your trip.
What a real day costs: three example days
Numbers in a table are useful, but it's easier to picture a budget when you walk through an actual day. Here are three honest examples for one person.
The thrifty day (about S$85)
You wake up in a capsule hotel in Chinatown (around S$55 for a pod). Breakfast is kaya toast, soft-boiled eggs and a kopi at a coffee shop for about S$6. You walk to the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and the Sri Mariamman Temple, both free, then ride the MRT to the Botanic Gardens (also free) for a morning in the shade. Lunch is a plate of chicken rice at a hawker centre for S$5. In the afternoon you explore Kampong Glam and Haji Lane on foot, then take the MRT to Marina Bay. Dinner at Satay by the Bay costs about S$12, and you finish with the free Garden Rhapsody light show under the Supertrees. MRT rides for the day come to around S$5. Total: roughly S$83, and you've seen a huge amount of the city.
The comfortable day (about S$260)
You're sharing a 4-star room near Bugis (your half is about S$140). Breakfast is at the hotel or a café for S$15. You spend the morning at Gardens by the Bay's two conservatories, lunch at a food court in a mall for S$12, then take a river cruise in the late afternoon. Dinner is a proper restaurant meal with a drink for about S$50 after service charge and GST. Transport is mostly MRT with one taxi back to the hotel, around S$20 in total. Tickets for the day add up to roughly S$60. Total: about S$260 to S$300, and very relaxed.
The splurge day (S$600 and up)
Your half of a luxury harbour-view room is S$350 or more. You breakfast on a hotel buffet, take a taxi to Sentosa for a day at Universal Studios with an Express pass to skip the queues, lunch inside the park, and return for a rooftop cocktail at sunset and a chilli crab dinner by the water. Taxis all day, premium tickets and drinks push the total well past S$600. Is it worth it? For one special day, many people say absolutely, and it's easier to enjoy if the rest of the trip is thriftier.
Daily costs at a glance
Here's what a typical day costs per person, excluding flights, for three travel styles. Hotel costs assume two people sharing a room (the per-person share).
| Per person, per day | Budget | Mid-range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | S$40–70 (hostel dorm or capsule) | S$100–175 (half a 3–4-star room) | S$250+ (half a 5-star room) |
| Food | S$20–30 (hawker centres) | S$50–90 (hawker + restaurants) | S$150+ (fine dining, bars) |
| Transport | S$5–10 (MRT and bus) | S$10–25 (MRT plus the odd taxi) | S$40+ (taxis, private transfers) |
| Attractions | S$0–20 (mostly free sights) | S$30–70 (one paid attraction) | S$100+ (VIP passes, tours) |
| Extras (SIM, snacks, drinks) | S$5–10 | S$15–30 | S$50+ |
| Typical daily total | S$80–130 | S$200–350 | S$500+ |
Notice something? For budget and mid-range travellers, accommodation is roughly half the daily spend. That's why smart hotel choices, and smart dates, make the biggest difference to your total.
Accommodation: your biggest cost (and how to shrink it)
Land in Singapore is scarce and hotels are in high demand, so rooms cost more than in neighbouring countries. But there's a wide range.
- Hostels and capsule hotels: clean, modern dorms and pod hotels, often in Chinatown, Little India and Bugis. Great for solo travellers on a budget.
- Budget and boutique hotels: compact rooms (Singapore rooms can be small!) in heritage shophouse areas. Good value if you mostly sleep there.
- Mid-range 4-star hotels: the sweet spot for comfort, often with pools, a crucial perk in the heat.
- Luxury and iconic hotels: think rooftop pools, harbour views and legendary heritage hotels. Unforgettable, and priced accordingly.
Where to stay for value
You don't need to stay in Marina Bay to enjoy Marina Bay. Areas like Chinatown, Little India, Bugis and Lavender often offer better prices, fantastic food on the doorstep and quick MRT rides to everything. Because the MRT is so efficient, staying a few stops out of the centre costs you very little time and can save a lot of money.
Watch out for "++" rates: hotel prices in Singapore are often quoted before a 10% service charge and 9% GST, shown as "++". Always check whether a price is "nett" (final) or "++" (about 20% more) when comparing hotels.
Food: where Singapore gets wonderfully cheap
Here's the happiest part of any Singapore budget. The city's hawker centres, open-air food halls recognised by UNESCO as part of Singapore's cultural heritage, serve fantastic food for a few dollars a plate. Some stalls have even earned Michelin recognition, making them among the most affordable Michelin-listed meals on Earth.
| What | Rough price (S$) | Money-saving tip |
|---|---|---|
| Hawker meal (chicken rice, laksa, noodles) | $4–8 | Neighbourhood hawker centres are cheapest |
| Kaya toast breakfast set with kopi | $5–8 | The best-value breakfast in town |
| Kopi or teh at a coffee shop | $1.50–2.50 | Order local-style instead of a latte |
| Café latte | $6–8 | Save café visits for a treat |
| Mid-range restaurant dinner | $30–60 before "++" | Weekday set lunches are cheaper |
| Chilli crab dinner | $60–100+ per crab (market price) | Share one crab between two or three people |
| Beer at a hawker centre | $8–12 large bottle | Far cheaper than bars |
| Cocktail at a bar | $20–30+ | Look for happy hours |
New to hawker centres? A guided Chinatown hawker food tour teaches you exactly what (and how) to order, and it quickly pays for itself in confident, cheap and delicious meals for the rest of your trip.
Curious fact: alcohol is the single biggest "budget breaker" in Singapore because of high taxes. Travellers who drink moderately often find their food spending is lower than at home, while travellers who love bar-hopping often find it's much higher. Plan accordingly!
Transport: fast, clean and cheap
Singapore's MRT trains and buses are among the best in the world and cost very little. A typical ride costs around S$1–2.50 depending on distance, and you can simply tap a contactless bank card or phone at the gates. Most visitors spend less than S$10 a day getting around.
- Tap your card on the MRT and buses, and use the same card every time.
- Get a tourist pass if you'll ride a lot: the Singapore Tourist Pass gives unlimited rides for one to five days.
- Taxis and ride-hailing are affordable by global standards, but watch for surcharges: peak-hour, midnight (about 50% extra from midnight to 6am) and certain location surcharges.
- From the airport, the MRT is cheapest; a taxi or private transfer costs more but saves effort with luggage.
- Walk! Many central areas are close together, and walking between them costs nothing.
Attractions: what the big sights cost
Singapore's headline attractions are world-class, and priced like it. The trick is to choose the ones you're most excited about, mix them with free experiences, and book online, where prices are often lower than at the gate. Here are "from" prices for popular attractions at the time of writing.
| Attraction | Time needed | Price | Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| Universal Studios Singapore | Full day | From S$71.41 | Book → |
| Gardens by the Bay (conservatories) | 2–3 hours | From S$32.00 | Book → |
| Singapore Zoo | Half day | From S$30.46 | Book → |
| Night Safari | 3 hours (evening) | From S$15.65 | Book → |
| Bird Paradise | Half day | From S$24.62 | Book → |
| Singapore Flyer | 1 hour | From S$28.00 | Book → |
| Singapore Cable Car | 1 hour | From S$31.50 | Book → |
| Singapore River cruise | 40 minutes | From S$17.62 | Book → |
| Destination Pass (several attractions) | Varies | From S$47.11 | Book → |
"From" prices at the time of writing; they vary with dates and ticket types. The exact total is shown before you pay.
Sentosa on a budget
Sentosa, Singapore's resort island, is where many budgets get stretched, because it's packed with paid attractions in one place. But it doesn't have to be expensive.
- Walk in over the Sentosa Boardwalk from VivoCity for a tiny entry fee, or take the monorail. The Sentosa Express is the fast option, and once you're on the island the beach trams and buses are free.
- The beaches are free. Siloso, Palawan and Tanjong beaches are all open to everyone, with showers and shade nearby.
- Pick one big-ticket attraction rather than trying to cram in three. Universal Studios alone is a full day.
- Bring snacks and water. Food on Sentosa costs more than on the mainland; a hawker lunch at VivoCity's food court before you cross saves money.
- Combine cable car and a show with a bundle such as Wings of Time with the Cable Car, which is often cheaper than buying the two separately.
Shopping, tipping and the GST refund
Shopping is where Singapore can be either very cheap or wildly expensive. Orchard Road's luxury malls are full of global brands at prices similar to other big cities, while Bugis Street, Chinatown and Mustafa Centre in Little India are much better for souvenirs, snacks and everyday items. If a street stall has a price tag, it's usually fixed; at markets you can try a friendly bargain, but don't expect huge discounts.
Tipping is not expected in Singapore. Restaurants already add a 10% service charge, taxi drivers don't expect a tip, and hawker stalls certainly don't. Leaving small change is kind but never required, which quietly saves you 10–15% compared with many other countries.
The GST refund is worth knowing about if you're buying something big. Tourists can claim back GST on eligible purchases from participating shops when the total meets the minimum spend, using the electronic self-service kiosks at Changi Airport before you fly. Keep your receipts and passport handy, and leave a little extra time at the airport to do it.
Is Singapore worth the money?
This is the question behind the question, isn't it? Compared with its neighbours, Singapore is not a cheap destination. A night in a mid-range hotel here might pay for three nights in parts of Malaysia or Thailand. So why do so many travellers still say it was worth every dollar?
Partly it's the ease. Everything works: the trains are on time, the streets are safe at night, the tap water is drinkable, English is widely spoken and you can get from the airport to your hotel in half an hour. That means you spend less time and money fixing problems and more time enjoying yourself. Partly it's the food, which is some of the best value in the world and reason enough to visit. And partly it's the density of experiences. In a single day you can walk through a rainforest dome, eat in three different culinary traditions and watch a light show among giant artificial trees.
The trick is to spend on the things that matter to you and save everywhere else. If you love food, eat like a king at hawker centres and skip the rooftop bars. If you love theme parks, splurge on Universal Studios and stay in a simple hotel. Singapore rewards travellers who choose, rather than those who try to do everything at full price.
Free things that make your budget go further
This is where Singapore quietly becomes a bargain. Some of its most iconic experiences cost absolutely nothing:
- Gardens by the Bay's outdoor gardens and Supertree Grove, plus the free evening Garden Rhapsody light show.
- Spectra, the free light-and-water show on the Marina Bay Sands waterfront.
- Singapore Botanic Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that's free to enter.
- Jewel Changi's Rain Vortex, the world's tallest indoor waterfall, with free evening light shows.
- Merlion Park and the Marina Bay promenade, day or night.
- Chinatown, Little India, Kampong Glam and Haji Lane: neighbourhoods, temples, mosques and murals are free to explore.
- The Southern Ridges and Henderson Waves bridge for free views and a walk through the treetops.
- Sentosa's beaches, free to enjoy once you're on the island.
- Haw Par Villa, a wonderfully quirky park of folklore statues, free to enter.
A realistic, happy formula for most visitors is one paid highlight a day plus one or two free experiences.
Sample budgets: 3, 5 and 7 days (per person, excluding flights)
These examples assume two people sharing a room. Adjust up for solo travel (you'll pay the whole room) and down for families sharing rooms.
| Trip length | Budget | Mid-range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 days | S$250–400 | S$600–1,050 | S$1,500+ |
| 5 days | S$400–650 | S$1,000–1,750 | S$2,500+ |
| 7 days | S$560–900 | S$1,400–2,450 | S$3,500+ |
A 5-day mid-range example, day by day
- Day 1: arrive, Marina Bay walk, Gardens by the Bay conservatories, free Garden Rhapsody show, hawker dinner at Satay by the Bay.
- Day 2: Universal Studios Singapore on Sentosa, then the beach at sunset.
- Day 3: Singapore Zoo in the morning, the Night Safari in the evening.
- Day 4: Chinatown, Little India and Kampong Glam on foot, a hawker food tour, a river cruise at night.
- Day 5: Botanic Gardens, Orchard Road, then Jewel Changi before your flight.
Rough spend: hotel S$600–875 (per person, sharing), food S$250–400, transport S$50–100, attractions S$200–300 and extras S$75–150, which comes to roughly S$1,175–1,825 per person.
The cheapest (and priciest) times to visit
Singapore's weather is warm all year, so prices are driven more by events, holidays and demand than by seasons. Hotel prices can jump dramatically when big events are on.
| When | Weather | Hotel prices | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| January – early February | Cooler, some monsoon rain | Moderate, rising near Chinese New Year | Festive season can push prices up |
| February – April | Often the driest, sunniest months | Moderate | A popular sweet spot for weather and value |
| May – early June | Hot, occasional storms | Often good value | Quieter before school holidays |
| June – July | Hot, occasional haze | Busier | School holidays and mid-year sales |
| August | Hot | Moderate | National Day celebrations (9 August) |
| Around the Formula 1 weekend (Sept/Oct) | Warm, showers | Highest of the year | Hotels near Marina Bay sell out; avoid if you're on a budget |
| October – November | Wetter inter-monsoon storms | Often good value outside events | Quieter period, Deepavali lights |
| December | Rainy monsoon season | High near Christmas and New Year | Holiday travel, Orchard Road lights |
The money-smart rule: before booking, check whether your dates overlap with the Formula 1 race weekend, major concerts or big conferences. Shifting your trip by a single week can sometimes cut your hotel bill dramatically.
Cash, cards and currency
Singapore is very card-friendly. Contactless payments work on the MRT, in malls, at most restaurants and increasingly at hawker stalls, many of which also accept local QR payments. Still, it's wise to carry a small amount of cash, around S$50 to S$100, for older hawker stalls, markets and small shops that are cash-only.
For the best exchange rates, avoid changing money at your home airport. Licensed money changers in Singapore, especially in places like The Arcade at Raffles Place and Mustafa Centre, often offer competitive rates, and ATMs are everywhere (check your bank's withdrawal fees first). When a card machine asks whether you want to pay in your home currency or in Singapore dollars, always choose Singapore dollars; the "convenient" home-currency option usually hides a poor exchange rate.
Hidden costs that surprise first-timers
- "++" on bills: restaurants and hotels often add 10% service charge plus 9% GST to listed prices.
- Taxi surcharges: midnight, peak-hour and some location surcharges can add up.
- Alcohol: heavily taxed, so even casual drinks are pricey.
- Currency conversion: card machines may offer to charge you in your home currency; always choose SGD to avoid poor exchange rates.
- Foreign card fees: check your bank's overseas transaction fees before you fly.
- Data roaming: home roaming can be expensive; a local eSIM is usually far cheaper.
- Fake "arrival card" websites: Singapore's official SG Arrival Card is free; avoid third-party sites that charge a fee.
- Fines: littering, eating or drinking on the MRT and smoking outside designated areas can be fined, so don't let a fine sneak into your budget.
Twenty ways to save money in Singapore
- Eat most meals at hawker centres and food courts.
- Order local coffee (kopi) instead of café lattes.
- Drink tap water, which is safe, and carry a refillable bottle.
- Tap your card on the MRT, or buy a tourist pass for heavy travel days.
- Stay in Chinatown, Little India, Bugis or Lavender for better hotel value.
- Avoid big-event dates, especially the Formula 1 weekend.
- Book attractions online, often cheaper than at the gate.
- Consider a multi-attraction pass if you'll visit several paid sights.
- Plan free evenings around Garden Rhapsody and Spectra.
- Explore neighbourhoods on foot; it's free and fascinating.
- Take weekday set lunches at restaurants for cheaper "restaurant" meals.
- Look for happy hours if you want a drink.
- Share big dishes like chilli crab.
- Use a local eSIM instead of roaming.
- Pay in SGD, never your home currency, on card machines.
- Claim your tourist GST refund on bigger purchases.
- Visit the free Botanic Gardens instead of a paid park on a relaxed day.
- Use Sentosa's free beaches rather than paid beach clubs.
- Avoid taxis after midnight unless you really need one.
- Mix one paid highlight with free experiences every day.
Budgeting for families
Singapore is fantastic for families, but costs multiply quickly with more people. A few family-specific tips:
- Kids' tickets are cheaper at most attractions, and very young children are often free.
- Family rooms or serviced apartments can be better value than two hotel rooms, and a kitchenette saves on breakfasts.
- Hawker centres are family heaven: everyone picks their own dish, and the bill stays low.
- Free playgrounds and splash areas in parks and malls keep kids happy between paid attractions.
- Multi-attraction passes can save a lot when you're buying for four.
- Taxis for four can cost less than four MRT fares on longer trips, and they're easier with kids.
A mid-range family of four might spend roughly S$500–800 a day including a family room, food, transport and one major attraction, depending heavily on hotel choice and which attractions you pick.
Solo travellers: the maths is different
Solo travel changes the numbers mainly because you don't share a room. The good news is that Singapore has excellent hostels and capsule hotels designed for solo travellers, and hawker food works perfectly for one. A realistic solo budget is around S$100–150 a day staying in a pod or hostel, or S$250–400 a day in a mid-range hotel. Walking tours and food tours are great value for solo travellers because they combine sightseeing, local knowledge and company.
Couples, too, get a better deal than solo travellers, because the room is the big fixed cost and everything else scales per person. Two people sharing a mid-range hotel, eating mostly at hawker centres and choosing one paid attraction a day can comfortably keep their combined spend to around S$450 to S$550 a day. Honeymooners who want one or two nights of luxury often split their stay: a few nights in a good-value hotel in Bugis or Chinatown, then a grand finale at a famous harbour-view hotel. You get the photos and the rooftop pool, without paying luxury prices for the whole trip. Groups of friends can save even more by booking a serviced apartment with several bedrooms, sharing taxis (four people in a taxi often costs less than four MRT fares for longer trips) and ordering a spread of dishes at a hawker centre to share, which is also the most fun way to eat in Singapore.
Pre-trip money checklist
- ☑ Check your dates against big events (F1, concerts, conferences)
- ☑ Compare hotels outside Marina Bay (Chinatown, Bugis, Little India)
- ☑ Check whether hotel prices are "nett" or "++"
- ☑ Pre-book your must-do attractions online
- ☑ Consider a multi-attraction or tourist transport pass
- ☑ Use a card with low foreign transaction fees
- ☑ Set up a local Singapore eSIM before you fly
- ☑ Carry a little cash for hawker stalls
- ☑ Pack a refillable water bottle
- ☑ Complete the free official SG Arrival Card, not a paid third-party version
Fun money facts about Singapore
- Singapore's hawker culture is on UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage, which may make your S$5 lunch the world's best-value heritage experience.
- Some hawker stalls have Michelin recognition, among the cheapest Michelin-listed meals anywhere.
- Singapore and Brunei dollars are interchangeable at par in many shops.
- A packet of tissues on a hawker table means "reserved", the cheapest booking system in the world.
- Many of Singapore's most photographed sights are free, including the Supertrees, the Merlion and the Rain Vortex.
Frequently asked questions
How much money do I need per day in Singapore?
Roughly S$80–130 per person per day on a budget, S$200–350 mid-range and S$500 or more for luxury travel, excluding flights. Accommodation is the biggest cost.
Is Singapore expensive for tourists?
Hotels, alcohol and big attractions can be expensive, but hawker food, public transport and many free sights make Singapore very affordable if you plan well.
How much does a 5-day Singapore trip cost?
Excluding flights, around S$400–650 per person on a budget and S$1,000–1,750 per person mid-range, assuming two people share a room.
What is the cheapest time to visit Singapore?
Prices depend more on events than seasons. Avoid the Formula 1 weekend, Chinese New Year and year-end holidays for lower hotel prices; quieter periods outside major events usually offer better value.
How much does food cost in Singapore?
A hawker meal usually costs S$4–8, local coffee S$1.50–2.50, and a mid-range restaurant dinner S$30–60 per person before service charge and GST.
Is 3 days enough for Singapore?
Three days covers the highlights, such as Marina Bay, Gardens by the Bay, Sentosa and the cultural neighbourhoods. Five days is ideal to add the Zoo, the Night Safari and a relaxed food tour.
Are attraction passes worth it in Singapore?
They can be if you plan to visit several paid attractions, especially for families. Compare the pass price with the individual tickets for the attractions you'll actually visit.
Featured experiences in this guide
Plan a smarter Singapore trip
Lock in your must-see attractions and money-saving passes at clear prices, and spend the rest on chicken rice and sunsets.