Singapore Tourist Pass vs EZ-Link card: which is better for your trip?
Should I get the Singapore Tourist Pass or an EZ-Link card?
For most visitors, an EZ-Link card (SGD 10 including SGD 5 credit, ~SGD 1.20–2.10 per MRT trip) is better value than the Tourist Pass (SGD 17–45 for unlimited rides). The Tourist Pass only pays off if you make 8+ MRT/bus trips per day. Most visitors doing 4–6 trips/day will spend less on EZ-Link. Contactless bank cards (Visa/Mastercard) via SimplyGo work at MRT without any card purchase at all.
The three ways to pay for Singapore public transport
Before comparing Tourist Pass to EZ-Link, it helps to understand that Singapore has three main options for public transport payment:
1. Singapore Tourist Pass — a stored-value card loaded with unlimited rides for a set number of days. Purchased specifically for tourist use.
2. EZ-Link card — Singapore’s standard contactless transit card used by residents and visitors alike. You load credit and pay per trip.
3. SimplyGo (contactless bank card/phone) — tap your Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, or Google Pay directly at MRT gates. Same fare as EZ-Link, no card needed.
Paper tickets were phased out. Cash payments on buses were eliminated. You must use one of the three above options.
Singapore Tourist Pass: the honest breakdown
The Tourist Pass sounds appealing — unlimited MRT and bus rides for a flat daily rate. But “unlimited” only has value if you actually ride enough to exceed what you would have paid individually.
Prices including refundable SGD 10 deposit:
| Pass | Total price | Deposit | Net transport cost | Net per day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 day | SGD 17 | SGD 10 | SGD 7 | SGD 7 |
| 2 day | SGD 24 | SGD 10 | SGD 14 | SGD 7 |
| 3 day | SGD 29 | SGD 10 | SGD 19 | SGD 6.33 |
| 4 day | SGD 37 | SGD 10 | SGD 27 | SGD 6.75 |
| 5 day | SGD 45 | SGD 10 | SGD 35 | SGD 7 |
To reclaim the SGD 10 deposit, you must surrender the card within 5 days of the pass expiry at a Tourist Pass vending machine or TransitLink office at specific MRT stations (Changi Airport, Raffles Place, etc.).
To break even on the 1-day Tourist Pass: you need SGD 7 worth of EZ-Link fares in one day. At an average fare of SGD 1.30 per trip, that means approximately 5–6 trips. At SGD 1.60 average (moderate-distance trips), break-even is 4–5 trips.
EZ-Link: per-trip cost reality
Singapore MRT fares are distance-based. The range:
- Minimum fare (1–2 stations): approximately SGD 0.83
- Average cross-city fare: approximately SGD 1.30–1.80
- Maximum fare (Changi Airport to Jurong): approximately SGD 2.16
Typical tourist day trip count and EZ-Link cost:
Compact day (staying near Marina Bay, walking between nearby attractions):
- Hotel MRT station → Orchard: SGD 1.50
- Orchard → Chinatown: SGD 1.10
- Chinatown → Marina Bay Sands: SGD 0.90
- MBS → Gardens by the Bay: walk/free
- Gardens → Hotel: SGD 1.00
- Total: ~SGD 4.50 — well under the Tourist Pass net cost of SGD 7
Active day (visiting spread-out areas):
- Hotel → Changi Jewel: SGD 1.80
- Changi → Mandai Zoo: SGD 2.10 (MRT + shuttle)
- Mandai → Little India: SGD 1.80
- Little India → Clarke Quay: SGD 1.20
- Clarke Quay → Hotel: SGD 1.40
- Total: ~SGD 8.30 — above Tourist Pass break-even, pass would save ~SGD 1.30
Heavy transit day (multiple long journeys):
- Multiple cross-island trips including Sentosa, Mandai, Changi in one day
- Could reach SGD 12–15 in fares
- Tourist Pass saves SGD 5–8 this day
Honest assessment: Most tourist days involve 4–6 MRT trips at average distances. At these numbers, EZ-Link costs approximately SGD 5–9/day, which is similar to or below the Tourist Pass net SGD 7/day. The Tourist Pass rarely offers significant savings for typical tourist behaviour.
SimplyGo: the cleanest option for many travellers
If you have a contactless Visa or Mastercard bank card, you can tap directly at any MRT gate or bus reader without buying any Singapore transit card. The fare is debited to your bank account at the same rate as EZ-Link.
Advantages of SimplyGo with bank card:
- No card purchase, no queue at the machine
- No card fee (EZ-Link charges SGD 5 non-refundable card fee)
- Works immediately on arrival at Changi Airport
- No end-of-trip card return needed to reclaim deposit (Tourist Pass issue)
Disadvantages:
- Foreign bank card transaction fees may apply (1–3% on some cards)
- Less convenient if your card does not have contactless or if it fails at the gate
- Cannot be used for Sentosa Express monorail (EZ-Link or Tourist Pass required there)
For many Western travellers with Revolut, Wise, or similar fee-free travel cards: SimplyGo via bank card is unquestionably the best option — no Singapore card to buy, no fee, same fare.
Who the Tourist Pass actually benefits
The Tourist Pass makes financial sense for a fairly specific type of visitor:
- You are doing a packed day with 8+ MRT/bus trips — perhaps hitting Mandai, Sentosa, Chinatown, Marina Bay, and Little India all in one marathon day
- You have young children who generate extra transit legs (trips back to the hotel for rest, back out again)
- You dislike top-up logistics and want to pay once and not think about transit costs
- You are buying multiple Tourist Passes and want to bundle convenience for a group
For most solo travellers and couples on moderate-paced itineraries: EZ-Link or SimplyGo will be cheaper and simpler.
The Changi Airport situation
From Changi Airport T2/T3, the MRT East-West Line runs directly to City Hall and beyond. This is the cheapest airport transfer (~SGD 2 by MRT versus SGD 25–40 by Grab).
Tourist Pass for airport day: If you arrive at Changi on Day 1 and immediately buy a Tourist Pass, you start the clock on your pass day. Make sure the day count suits your actual visit duration. A 3-day Tourist Pass purchased on arrival gives you Days 1–3 of unlimited transport — calculate whether this matches your actual departure logistics.
Simplest Changi arrival option: Have a contactless bank card ready and tap through the MRT gates via SimplyGo immediately. No queue, no card purchase.
See changi-airport-to-city for the full airport transfer options.
Practical recommendation
Use SimplyGo (contactless bank card) if:
- You have a Visa or Mastercard with NFC/contactless that does not charge foreign transaction fees
- You want zero admin on arrival
Buy EZ-Link if:
- Your bank card charges foreign fees
- You prefer the psychological certainty of a local transit card
- You want to use vending machines, 7-Eleven, or store purchases that accept EZ-Link (some convenience stores accept it as payment)
Buy Tourist Pass if:
- Your daily trip count will genuinely reach 7–8+ trips/day
- You value fixed costs over per-trip calculation
- You are travelling in a group and want simple management
For further transport detail, see getting-around-singapore and mrt-guide-singapore.
Frequently asked questions about Tourist Pass vs EZ-Link
Can I get a refund on an EZ-Link card at the end of my visit?
Yes. You can refund residual EZ-Link balance at any MRT station TransitLink office. There is a SGD 0.50 administrative fee for refunds. If you have less than SGD 1 left, the balance is not refunded. Alternatively, leave it as future Singapore visit credit — EZ-Link cards do not expire.
Do Tourist Pass and EZ-Link cards work on buses?
Yes, both work on all SBS Transit and SMRT buses in Singapore. The same tap-in/tap-out system applies. Tourist Pass gives unlimited bus rides within its validity; EZ-Link deducts distance-based fares.
Does the Tourist Pass cover the Sentosa Express monorail?
Yes — the Tourist Pass covers the Sentosa Express monorail (SGD 4 entry per trip for EZ-Link users). This is an area where the Tourist Pass has a small advantage over EZ-Link if you are making multiple Sentosa trips in one day.
Can I top up my EZ-Link card at Changi Airport?
Yes. There are EZ-Link top-up machines (GTMs — General Ticketing Machines) throughout Changi Airport, including before MRT entry. You can also buy a new EZ-Link card at the TransitLink office in Changi Airport Arrival Hall.
What happens if my EZ-Link card runs out of credit on the MRT?
If your balance is too low to cover a trip, you cannot exit the MRT station turnstile. You will need to add value at an add-value machine (GTM) inside the station. EZ-Link cards have a default minimum balance requirement of SGD 0.10.
Is there a Singapore Tourist Pass for airport transfers?
The Tourist Pass covers MRT including the Changi Airport MRT connection. It does not cover taxis, private hire (Grab), or the Changi airport shuttle services. The airport MRT fare is simply included in the unlimited rides of the Tourist Pass.
