Budget Travel Guides

Can you really see Singapore on a budget?

Singapore has a name for being expensive, but seeing Singapore on a budget is very possible. Hotels are the biggest cost. Food, transport and many of the top sights can be cheap or even free. With a few simple habits, a backpacker can spend much less than most visitors expect.

Cheap places to stay

A bed will likely be your largest daily cost. Most budget travellers choose one of three options.

• Hostels: beds in shared dorms, with lockers, shared bathrooms and common rooms. Read Are Singapore Hostels Safe? Lockers, Keycards and Tips before you book.
• Capsule hotels: an enclosed sleeping pod in a shared room, with more privacy than a bunk. Capsule Hotels in Singapore: How They Work explains the set-up.
• Value hotels: small private rooms with their own bathroom. Ibis Singapore on Bencoolen in Bugis and Holiday Inn Express Singapore Orchard Road are two 3-star choices.

Chinatown, Little India and Bugis have many low-cost stays near MRT stations. The MRT is the city's metro. Browse Hotels in Little India & Jalan Besar for more options. For a full guide, see Budget Hotels & Hostels.

Eat well for less at hawker centres

Food is where Singapore is kindest to your wallet. A hawker centre is a large, open-sided food court with many small stalls. Each stall cooks one or a few local dishes. A plate of chicken rice or a bowl of noodles often costs around S$4 to S$8. Prices change, so treat this as a rough guide.

Good places to start include:

• Maxwell Food Centre and Chinatown Complex Food Centre, two popular hawker centres in the city centre.
• Tekka Centre, a hawker centre in Little India.
• Old Airport Road Food Centre, a large hawker centre east of the centre that is popular with locals.

Kopitiams are another cheap choice. These are traditional coffee shops, often found under blocks of flats. Read What Is a Kopitiam? Singapore Coffee Shops Explained to learn how they work. Economy rice is good value too. You pick a few dishes to go with a plate of rice. How to Order Economy Rice and Keep the Bill Low shows you how.

Tap water in Singapore is safe to drink. Carry a refillable bottle and skip bottled drinks.

Free and low-cost things to do

Many of the best sights in Singapore cost nothing. Try these:

• Gardens by the Bay: the outdoor gardens and Supertree Grove are free. Only the cooled glass domes and some extras charge a fee.
• Singapore Botanic Gardens: a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is free to enter, apart from the orchid garden.
• Marina Bay Night Walk: a free evening stroll around the waterfront. See Free Light Shows in Singapore: Spectra & Garden Rhapsody for the free shows.
• Kampong Glam & Haji Lane and Little India: historic streets, shophouses and places of worship to explore on foot.
• Southern Ridges and Henderson Waves: a free walking trail with city and sea views.

For more ideas, read 20 Free Things to Do in Singapore.

Getting around for less

The MRT and public buses are cheap, clean and air-conditioned. Tap in and out with a contactless bank card or phone. Fares depend on distance, and most single trips cost around S$1 to S$3. Read How to Use the MRT in Singapore: A Tourist Guide before your first ride.

Walking is free, and many central areas sit close together. Taxis and ride-hailing apps cost much more, so save them for late nights or heavy rain. The MRT is also the cheapest way into the city from Changi Airport.

A rough daily budget for Singapore

Costs depend on how you travel. As a rough guide for a careful backpacker:

• Bed: around S$30 to S$80 a night for a dorm bed or capsule.
• Food: around S$15 to S$30 for three hawker meals and drinks.
• Transport: around S$5 to S$10 on the MRT and buses.
• Sights: nothing at all if you stick to free sights.

That adds up to roughly S$50 to S$120 a day. Rates rise during big events and public holidays. A price marked "++" does not yet include service charge and GST, the local goods and services tax. Prices change with dates and demand, so check the latest prices before you book.

FAQs about travelling Singapore on a budget

How much money do I need per day in Singapore?

A backpacker who sleeps in dorms and eats at hawker centres can often manage on roughly S$50 to S$120 a day. Hotels, taxis and bars push the cost up quickly.

Is Singapore expensive for backpackers?

Beds cost more than in many nearby countries. Food and transport are good value, though, and many top sights are free.

Do I need to tip in Singapore?

No. Tipping is not expected. Many restaurants add a service charge to the bill, but hawker stalls do not.

What is the cheapest way to get from Changi Airport to the city?

The MRT is the cheapest option. Changi Airport station sits between Terminals 2 and 3, and you can tap in with a contactless card.