Cheap Eats· 4 min read
How to Eat Cheaply in Singapore Without Missing Out
Where the cheap meals are in Singapore and the simple habits that keep your food spending low, without skipping the dishes worth trying.
Photo: ProjectManhattan, CC0, cropped
Food & Drink
Cheap Eats Guides
Singapore doesn't have to be expensive: hawker meals, food courts and set lunches that taste far better than the price.
This page collects our guides to cheap food in Singapore. They show you how to eat well on a small budget, from hawker stalls and mall food courts to economy rice. Each guide is written for visitors, with local words explained.
Pick a guide below for your area or style of eating. Then use the tips under the list to keep the bill low.
Plan it with EatStays: Hawker Favourites and Old Airport Road Food Centre.
Showing 1–5 of 5 guides
Per page
- Cheap Eats
- Cheap Eats
· 4 min read
How to Order Economy Rice and Keep the Bill Low
A step-by-step guide to ordering at a mixed rice stall, how the price is worked out, and the picks that keep the bill low.
Cheap Eats· 4 min read
Chinatown Cheap Eats Crawl: A Half-Day Route
A half-day walking route through Chinatown that links food centres, snack shops and drink stops for an afternoon of budget grazing.
Cheap Eats· 4 min read
Cheap Meals for Big Appetites in Singapore
Eight hearty hawker plates that cost little and keep you going for hours, plus how to ask for more rice, noodles or an egg.
Cheap Eats· 4 min read
Cheap Eats on Orchard Road: Mall Basements and Food Courts
Where to find low-cost meals on Singapore's main shopping street, from mall food courts and basement food halls to a nearby hawker centre.
Cheap food in Singapore: where to start
Singapore has a name as an expensive city. Hotels and drinks can cost a lot, but cheap food in Singapore is easy to find. Most locals eat at hawker centres, coffee shops and food courts. A filling plate of rice or noodles there costs a small part of a restaurant bill. You do not need to give up good food to save money.
For an overview before you plan your meals, read How to Eat Cheaply in Singapore Without Missing Out.
The cheapest places to eat
Hawker centres
A hawker centre is a large, open-sided food hall with many small stalls. This is where you find the best value. A plate of chicken rice, noodles or nasi lemak often costs about S$4 to S$7. Prices change, so check the stall sign. In the city centre, try Maxwell Food Centre or Chinatown Complex Food Centre. In Little India, try Tekka Centre.
Coffee shops
A kopitiam is a neighbourhood coffee shop with a few food stalls inside. Prices are close to hawker centre prices. You will find them on the ground floor of many public housing blocks. What Is a Kopitiam? Singapore Coffee Shops Explained tells you what to expect.
Food courts in malls
Food courts are air-conditioned food halls, often in mall basements. They cost a little more than hawker centres. In return, they are cool and easy to find. Cheap Eats on Orchard Road: Mall Basements and Food Courts covers the main shopping street.
Economy rice and big portions
Economy rice is one of the cheapest meals in the city. You get a plate of rice, then point at two or three cooked dishes from the trays. The price depends on how many dishes you pick and what they are. Meat and fish cost more than vegetables, tofu and egg. How to Order Economy Rice and Keep the Bill Low explains how it works.
Hungry after a long day of walking? Cheap Meals for Big Appetites in Singapore is written for you. Filling, low-cost choices include Nasi Padang, Prata with curry and a big bowl of noodle soup.
Cheap eats by area
- Chinatown: follow Chinatown Cheap Eats Crawl: A Half-Day Route for a ready-made plan.
- East: Old Airport Road Food Centre in the Geylang and Paya Lebar area has a wide choice of local dishes.
- Little India: try prata, biryani or a banana leaf meal. Banana Leaf Rice in Little India: How the Meal Works explains the format.
- Kampong Glam: Zam Zam Restaurant serves murtabak near Sultan Mosque. Murtabak is a thin dough stuffed with spiced meat and egg, then fried.
- Marina Bay: Satay by the Bay serves hawker food near the water. See Marina Bay on a Budget: Free Sights and Cheap Eats for more.
Tips to keep the bill low
- Drink tap water. Tap water in Singapore is safe to drink. Carry a refillable bottle.
- Order local drinks. Kopi (local coffee) and teh (local tea) cost much less than café drinks.
- Watch for "++". Restaurants often add a service charge and GST, a sales tax, to menu prices. Hawker prices are usually final.
- Try set lunches. Many restaurants offer lower-priced set menus on weekdays.
- Eat a local breakfast. A set of Kaya Toast with eggs and coffee is filling and cheap.
- Walk a few minutes. Food right next to big sights often costs more. A hawker centre nearby can be much cheaper.
For more ways to save, see Budget Travel and Money & Costs. To cut your room bill too, browse Value Hotels.
FAQs about cheap food in Singapore
How much does a cheap meal cost in Singapore?
A hawker meal usually costs about S$4 to S$7. A food court meal costs a little more. Prices change, so check the signs.
Is hawker food safe for visitors?
Yes. Hawker stalls are licensed and inspected. Busy stalls with a quick turnover are a good choice.
Where can I eat cheaply near Orchard Road?
Try the food courts in mall basements. They are air-conditioned and sell many local dishes at fair prices.
Do I need to tip in Singapore?
No. Tipping is not expected. Hawker stalls and food courts do not add a service charge.