Singapore is a vibrant city-state blending futuristic architecture, lush gardens, and diverse cultural neighborhoods. From the iconic Marina Bay Sands to historic hawker centers and world-class attractions, this island nation offers an unforgettable travel experience.
Local currency: Singapore Dollar (SGD, S$).
Daily budget by traveller style
Typical per-person daily spend in Singapore.
Cost breakdown
Typical price ranges across major spending categories.
Accommodation
- Hostel
- SGD 30-50/night (dorm at Pod Boutique or Beary Best)
- Budget
- SGD 90-140/night (Hotel Mono, Lloyd's Inn)
- Midrange
- SGD 160-280/night (Hotel G, Park Regis)
- Luxury
- SGD 450-1500+/night (Marina Bay Sands, Raffles, Capella)
Food
- Street
- SGD 4-8 (hawker centre meal)
- Local
- SGD 10-18 (kopitiam with drink)
- Midrange
- SGD 25-60 (casual restaurant)
- Fine
- SGD 120-400+ (Michelin starred)
Transport
- Bus
- SGD 0.95-2.15/trip (bus)
- Taxi
- SGD 8-20 (average city Grab ride)
- Airport
- SGD 2.50 (MRT), SGD 20-30 (Grab)
- Daytrip
- SGD 3-80 (bumboat to Ubin; ferry to Bintan)
Activities
- Museum
- SGD 15-20 (National Museum, Asian Civilisations)
- Sites
- SGD 28-35 (Gardens by the Bay conservatories)
- Tour
- SGD 65-95 (food walking tour)
- Excursion
- SGD 80-150 (Southern Islands ferry + kayaking)
Trip budgets by length
What a typical trip to Singapore costs end-to-end.
Budget traveller
SGD 420-560/week (hostel dorm, hawkers, public transport, free sights)
Midrange traveller
SGD 1050-1750/week (mid-range hotel, mix of restaurants, paid attractions)
Luxury traveller
SGD 4200-10500+/week (luxury hotel, fine dining, private tours, premium experiences)
Money-saving tips
Practical ways to stretch your budget further.
Eat primarily at hawker centres and kopitiams — full meals from SGD 4-8 with drinks. Quality is genuinely excellent at the best stalls.
Use EZ-Link card or SimplyGo for all public transport — stored value fares are 10-20% cheaper than cash fares
Visit Gardens by the Bay, Merlion Park, and Southern Ridges for free instead of paying for every attraction
Book attractions online 2-3 days in advance for combo discounts — Zoo + River Safari + Night Safari packages save 20-30%
Fly Scoot, AirAsia, or Jetstar for regional day trips; Johor Bahru is free to enter and dramatically cheaper for shopping
Happy hour (5-8PM) at most bars cuts drink prices by half — get your first few rounds in before prices increase
Free things to do
Memorable experiences that cost nothing.
Gardens by the Bay Outdoor
The iconic Supertree Grove, dragonfly lake, and entire outdoor gardens are free to walk through. The Garden Rhapsody light show at 7:45PM and 8:45PM is also free.
Merlion Park
The iconic Merlion statue at the mouth of the Singapore River with views of Marina Bay Sands and the CBD skyline. Best at sunrise or blue hour.
Southern Ridges Walk
9km ridgeline trail through multiple nature parks from HarbourFront to Dempsey Hill via the spectacular Henderson Waves bridge, completely free.
Chinatown and Little India Heritage Walks
Self-guided walks through Singapore's heritage ethnic enclaves using the free NHB Roots.sg app. Architecture, temples, shophouses all accessible without charge.
Esplanade Outdoor Stage Performances
The Esplanade — Theatres on the Bay hosts free outdoor concerts, cultural performances, and light shows throughout the year on its outdoor stage.
Night Safari free entry hours
The walk from Mandai MRT to the Night Safari through Mandai park connector passes wild jungle and is free — though Night Safari entry itself costs SGD 49.
MacRitchie Reservoir Park
Free entry to the entire central reservoir park for walking, jogging, and wildlife watching. The TreeTop Walk suspension bridge is also free of charge.
Jewel Changi Airport
The spectacular Rain Vortex (world's tallest indoor waterfall) and Shiseido Forest Valley at Changi Airport are free to view from the public areas without entry fee.
Fort Canning Park
Historic hilltop park with free public access, WWII fortifications, botanic history, and panoramic views of the city. Pleasant morning walk destination.
Marina Barrage Rooftop Park
The rooftop green of the Marina Barrage dam is free, with panoramic views of Marina Bay, the southern skyline, and the bay itself — popular with kite-flyers.