Singapore travel costs: what everything actually costs in 2026
How much does Singapore cost per day?
Budget travellers (hostel dorm, hawker meals, MRT, free attractions) spend around SGD 95/day. Mid-range travellers (mid hotel, mix of hawker and restaurant dining, some paid attractions) spend SGD 250–300/day. Luxury (5-star hotel, fine dining, private tours) runs SGD 940+/day. The biggest cost variable is accommodation — food and transport are cheap by any international standard.
Quick answer: Budget SGD 95/day (hostel, hawker meals, MRT, free attractions). Mid-range SGD 280/day (hotel, mix of hawker/restaurant, attractions). Luxury SGD 940+/day. Food and transport are cheap — accommodation is the expensive variable. Currency: 1 USD ≈ 1.27–1.35 SGD; 1 EUR ≈ 1.40–1.45 SGD.
Singapore costs at a glance: currency context
Singapore uses the Singapore Dollar (SGD). Exchange rates fluctuate, but rough 2026 reference points:
- 1 USD = approximately 1.27–1.35 SGD
- 1 EUR = approximately 1.40–1.45 SGD
- 1 GBP = approximately 1.60–1.70 SGD
- 1 AUD = approximately 0.80–0.90 SGD
Singapore is a high-income country — do not expect prices comparable to Thailand, Indonesia, or Vietnam. It is broadly comparable to Australia or moderately expensive European countries, with the crucial exception that food is dramatically cheaper than in those countries due to the hawker system.
Accommodation costs
Accommodation is where Singapore’s reputation for being expensive is most warranted. There is very little budget accommodation in central areas, and mid-range hotels command prices comparable to European capitals.
Hostel dorms
SGD 25–55 per bed per night. The price varies significantly by location (Chinatown cheaper than Orchard Road), dormitory size (12-bed dorms cheaper than 4-bed), and booking timing (weekends and holidays are more expensive).
What you get: Air conditioning (universal), shared bathrooms (generally clean), often a rooftop social area, lockers. Singapore’s hostel regulation is strict — quality is reliable at this price range.
Budget guesthouses / private hostel rooms
SGD 60–100 per night. Basic private room, usually with air conditioning. Shared or private bathrooms vary. Best areas: Little India, Chinatown, Geylang (15 min from city via MRT).
3-star mid-range hotels
SGD 120–200 per night. Reliable brand hotels (Ibis, ibis Styles, Hotel Boss), private bathrooms, breakfast sometimes included. Available in most central neighbourhoods. Book 4–6 weeks ahead for the best prices.
Upper mid-range (4-star)
SGD 200–350 per night. Good service, central location, swimming pools. Common choices include Mercure, Holiday Inn, and various Singapore boutique hotels. Marina Bay Sands area hotels, Orchard Road hotels, and Clarke Quay hotels fall in this range.
Luxury (5-star)
SGD 400–1,500+ per night. Marina Bay Sands (from SGD 550–800 for a standard room), The Fullerton Hotel (from SGD 450), Raffles Hotel (from SGD 900), Four Seasons, St. Regis. The Marina Bay Sands infinity pool (famous from every Singapore photo) is reserved for hotel guests only — it cannot be accessed separately.
Airbnb
Short-term rentals via Airbnb are technically regulated in Singapore — whole-unit short-term rental (under 6 months) requires HDB approval for public housing or various permits for private properties. Airbnb availability is limited and enforcement has increased. Stick to licensed hotels and guesthouses for legal clarity.
Food costs
Hawker centres (budget, best value)
Singapore’s hawker centres are government-subsidised covered food halls. They are the best food deal in the city and represent the heart of Singapore’s culinary culture.
Price guide:
- Rice or noodle main dish: SGD 4–8
- Teh tarik (pulled tea): SGD 1.20–1.80
- Fresh lime juice: SGD 2–2.50
- Roti prata with curry: SGD 1.50–3 per piece
- Satay (per stick): SGD 0.80–1.20
- Full hawker meal (main + drink): SGD 5–10
Three hawker meals daily costs SGD 15–25 total. This is the entire food budget for a budget traveller.
Casual restaurants and coffee shops
SGD 15–30 per person. Includes many Western fast food chains (McDonald’s is everywhere), casual Asian restaurant chains, and kopitiams (traditional coffee shops, slightly above hawker prices). Food courts in shopping malls are slightly more expensive than hawker centres but still affordable.
Mid-range restaurants
SGD 40–80 per person. Sit-down service, air conditioning, wine lists. This is where Singapore starts feeling expensive for travellers accustomed to Southeast Asian pricing.
Fine dining
SGD 100–300+ per person. Singapore has a strong fine dining scene, including multiple Michelin-starred restaurants. Joel Robuchon at RWS Sentosa, Odette (regularly ranked among Asia’s 50 best restaurants), and JAAN are in this category.
Alcohol
Notoriously expensive in Singapore. Beer (bottled, 330ml): SGD 6–10 at hawker/kopitiam level, SGD 12–18 at bars, SGD 18–25 at tourist bars and Clarke Quay. House wine by the glass: SGD 18–30. Cocktails: SGD 20–35. A Singapore Sling at Raffles Hotel’s Long Bar: SGD 37. The Raffles version is more ritual than value — see singapore-sling-worth-it.
Practical food cost summary
| Category | Daily food cost estimate |
|---|---|
| Full hawker eating (3 meals) | SGD 15–25 |
| Mix of hawker + one restaurant meal | SGD 40–60 |
| Two restaurant meals + hawker breakfast | SGD 60–100 |
| Full restaurant dining | SGD 100–200 |
| With alcohol | Add SGD 30–80 |
Transport costs
MRT
Most journeys: SGD 1.20–2.50. Airport to city: SGD 2. A day of typical tourist MRT movement costs SGD 5–10.
Singapore Tourist Pass: SGD 17 (1 day unlimited), SGD 24 (2 days), SGD 29 (3 days). Worth it if doing 5+ MRT trips per day; otherwise pay-as-you-go EZ-Link (SGD 10 card including SGD 5 credit) is more economical.
Grab
- Airport to city centre: SGD 25–45 (off-peak), SGD 35–55 (peak)
- Short city hop (5–10 min): SGD 8–15
- Medium city trip (20 min): SGD 15–25
- Sentosa surcharge: SGD 6 extra on any vehicle entering by road
Taxi
Similar pricing to Grab, with metered fare structure. Airport surcharges add SGD 5–8. Late-night (midnight–6 am) surcharges add 50% to the meter.
Buses
Single journeys SGD 1–2.50 depending on distance. The bus network is extensive but requires more local knowledge than the MRT. Budget travellers can use buses for longer suburban journeys; for tourist areas, the MRT is simpler.
Ferry (day trips)
Bintan: SGD 45–75 return (Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal). Batam: SGD 35–60 return. Pulau Ubin: SGD 4 each way (bumboat, Changi Point Ferry Terminal). Johor Bahru causeway crossing: SGD 1–3 by public bus.
Attraction costs
Major paid attractions: honest prices
| Attraction | Adult | Child (4–12) |
|---|---|---|
| Universal Studios Singapore | SGD 83 | SGD 63 |
| Singapore Zoo | SGD 48 | SGD 33 |
| Night Safari | SGD 55 | SGD 38 |
| River Wonders | SGD 42 | SGD 30 |
| Bird Paradise | SGD 48 | SGD 33 |
| S.E.A. Aquarium | SGD 43 | SGD 30 |
| Gardens by the Bay Cloud Forest | SGD 28 | SGD 18 |
| Gardens by the Bay Flower Dome | SGD 28 | SGD 18 |
| Gardens by the Bay (both domes) | SGD 32 | SGD 22 |
| Marina Bay Sands SkyPark | SGD 32 | SGD 26 |
| Sentosa cable car (roundtrip) | SGD 27 | SGD 18 |
| Sentosa Express monorail | SGD 4 | SGD 4 |
| Wings of Time evening show | SGD 16–28 | SGD 14–20 |
| Skyline Luge (4 rides) | SGD 35 | SGD 35 |
| Adventure Cove Waterpark | SGD 40–45 | SGD 30–35 |
| Singapore Flyer observation wheel | SGD 33 | SGD 21 |
City passes: when they save money
The Go City All-Inclusive Pass covers 40+ attractions including USS, Zoo, Night Safari, Gardens by the Bay Conservatories, River Wonders, and more. Pricing varies by day count — roughly SGD 148 (1 day), SGD 188 (2 days), SGD 258 (3 days). Break-even: if you visit USS (SGD 83) + Zoo (SGD 48) + Night Safari (SGD 55) in 2 days, that is SGD 186 individually vs SGD 188 for a 2-day pass — roughly equivalent. For 3 days of heavy attraction use, the pass saves meaningfully. See go-city-worth-it.
Free attractions
Supertree Grove (ground level), Garden Rhapsody light show, Spectra light show, Marina Bay waterfront, Chinatown, Little India, Kampong Glam, Botanic Gardens main gardens, East Coast Park, Southern Ridges walk, Fort Canning Park. A full day of free Singapore is genuinely excellent. See free-things-to-do-singapore.
Miscellaneous costs
Mobile data
M1 tourist SIM card: SGD 10–20 for 3–8 days data. Singtel tourist SIM: similar pricing. eSIM: SGD 8–15 from various providers. Free WiFi at Changi Airport, most hotels, and many shopping malls.
Sunscreen and toiletries
Available at Watson’s, Guardian, and 7-Eleven throughout the city. Sunscreen SPF50+ costs SGD 12–20 for a good-quality bottle. Do not pack large bottles through security — buy on arrival.
Laundry
Self-service laundromats in budget areas charge SGD 3.50–5 per wash + SGD 2–4 per dry. Most hostels offer laundry facilities for guests. Hotel laundry service is expensive (SGD 5–12 per item).
Entrance to temples and mosques
Most temples (Buddha Tooth Relic, Sri Mariamman, Sri Veeramakaliamman) are free to enter. Sultan Mosque is free for non-prayer visitors during visiting hours. Donations are appreciated.
Tipping
Not customary in Singapore. A 10% service charge and 9% GST are added to most restaurant bills — check if these are included in menu prices or added on top. Tip jar culture exists at some Western-style cafes (optional, genuinely optional). Do not feel obligated to tip at hawker centres.
Complete daily budget breakdown by traveller type
Budget traveller: SGD 95/day
| Expense | Cost |
|---|---|
| Hostel dorm bed | SGD 35 |
| Hawker breakfast | SGD 4 |
| MRT (4 journeys) | SGD 6 |
| Hawker lunch | SGD 7 |
| Free attractions (Supertrees, Marina Bay walk) | SGD 0 |
| Hawker dinner | SGD 8 |
| Drinks (water + teh tarik) | SGD 3 |
| Snacks from 7-Eleven | SGD 3 |
| Sundries and contingency | SGD 10 |
| Daily total | ~SGD 76–95 |
Add SGD 27–55 on attraction days (cable car, zoo entry, etc.)
Mid-range traveller: SGD 280/day
| Expense | Cost |
|---|---|
| 3-star hotel | SGD 140 |
| Hawker breakfast | SGD 8 |
| MRT/Grab mix | SGD 20 |
| Hawker lunch | SGD 10 |
| Paid attraction (average, amortised) | SGD 40 |
| Mid-range restaurant dinner | SGD 55 |
| Two beers at bar | SGD 28 |
| Sundries, souvenirs, tips | SGD 20 |
| Daily total | ~SGD 250–320 |
Luxury traveller: SGD 940+/day
| Expense | Cost |
|---|---|
| 5-star hotel (Marina Bay Sands or equivalent) | SGD 600 |
| Grab for all transport | SGD 60 |
| Fine dining dinner | SGD 200 |
| Premium breakfasts and lunches | SGD 80 |
| Paid attractions / premium experiences | SGD 100 |
| Daily total | ~SGD 900–1,200 |
Budget-planning tips: what to splurge and what to skip
Worth spending on:
- One or two major paid attractions (Night Safari, USS, or Gardens by the Bay Conservatories) — these justify the price
- Good accommodation in a central location saves on transport and provides a comfort base
- Hawker centre eating at multiple different centres (not more expensive, just better variety)
Worth skipping on budget:
- Marina Bay Sands SkyPark — the ground-level Marina Bay view is impressive and free
- Clarke Quay drinking (expensive, very tourist-oriented)
- Sentosa cable car as daily transport (use the free Boardwalk)
- Madame Tussauds and Trick Eye Museum (poor value at any budget)
- Airport-to-city Grab (MRT saves SGD 22–42 per person)
See singapore-tourist-traps and what-to-skip-singapore for the full honest avoidance guide.
Frequently asked questions about Singapore travel costs
Is Singapore more expensive than Tokyo?
Roughly comparable, with different expensive categories. Tokyo is cheaper for accommodation (mid-range Japanese hotels are excellent value) and has similarly cheap street food. Singapore is cheaper for street food than Tokyo but more expensive for comparable accommodation quality. Both are significantly more expensive than Southeast Asian cities. For a comparable mid-range trip, Tokyo and Singapore cost roughly SGD 200–300/day each.
Should I buy SGD before I travel or at Changi Airport?
Changi Airport currency exchange counters are reasonably priced by airport standards. City centre money changers (Mustafa Centre in Little India, Golden Landmark in Bugis, Lucky Plaza on Orchard Road) typically offer 2–4% better rates than airport counters. Using a fee-free travel card (Wise, Revolut, Charles Schwab in the US) for SGD ATM withdrawals is often the most cost-effective option. Avoid dynamic currency conversion at ATMs — always choose to be charged in SGD.
How much cash should I carry in Singapore?
SGD 40–80 at any time. Singapore is highly cashless — MRT, most restaurants, and all hotels accept card payment. Hawker centres are the main cash-use situation (many individual stalls are cash-only, though younger-generation stalls increasingly accept PayNow QR or contactless). Carry small bills (SGD 2, SGD 5, SGD 10) for hawker use.
Are Singapore attraction prices listed in SGD or USD?
All Singapore prices are in SGD. Changi Airport and some major tourist attractions may display USD equivalents — always verify you are paying SGD prices at the point of purchase. Pre-booking attraction tickets online (via the attraction’s own website or authorised resellers) generally guarantees SGD pricing and often includes small discounts versus walk-up prices.
