Singapore – top budget tips

Singapore has a reputation for being expensive, and it’s definitely not as cheap as many neighbouring countries. However there are a lot of things you can do to keep costs down and still enjoy your stay!

Use public transport

Singapore’s public transport is quick, reliable, safe and very affordable. We used the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT – Singapore’s subway/metro) system multiple times a day, including to and from the airport. It was always quick and very easy to use, and trips were reasonably priced.

Accommodation

Before planning our trip, we’d heard stories about Singapore’s accommodation being exorbitantly priced. However, when booking we found that there was a wide range of options available to suit a variety of budgets, from luxury hotels to more basic accommodation. As Singapore is a relatively small place, and has excellent public transport, there’s a wide variety of areas to stay in which give good access to the main attractions. We’d recommend comparing prices on sites like booking.com as well as directly with the accommodation you’re interested in booking.

Eating and drinking

Singapore also has a reputation for being an expensive place to eat and drink. While it’s true that restaurants and bars can be expensive, you can definitely have a great experience on a budget. The best food we ate in Singapore came from the hawker centres, which have a huge range of food at very affordable prices (think $5-$6 Singaporean dollars for a large meal). The food is safe to eat as Singapore has very strict hygiene standards. You can also buy beer and non-alcoholic drinks, all of which were reasonably priced.

We’d also recommend checking out convenience stores and supermarkets, which is always a fun experience to try different foods!

Make the most of free activities

There are a lot of free activities that you can do in Singapore. Some of the most well known include experiencing the light show at Gardens by the Bay, as well as the light show at Marina Bay Sands. One of our favourite activities was visiting Sentosa Island. We caught the MRT to VivoCity, then walked across a bridge to the island (you can also catch a Monorail, which is paid from VivoCity to Sentosa but is free on the way back!). While at Sentosa we enjoyed visiting Fort Siloso and swimming at the beaches, both of which were free. We also rode the miniature ‘train’ shuttle along the beaches which was also free. As well as beach clubs and restaurants, food was also available at cheap prices from convenience stores (or you could take your own). Other free activities include visiting the parks and gardens, including Fort Canning Park, the Botanic Gardens and MacRitchie Reservoir, and exploring the many different neighbourhoods Singapore has.

Flights

Singapore is a hub for air travel, and this means it’s well serviced by a number of airlines. We were able to get cheap flights with budget carrier Scoot. We’d recommend keeping an eye out for flight deals and sales.