Is Singapore Really That Expensive to Visit?
Is Singapore expensive to visit? My simple answer to that is Singapore can be as expensive or as cheap as you would like. In general and compared to other Southeast Asian countries, Singapore is known to be more expensive. I’ve heard people comparing Singapore prices to that of cities in the United States or Europe, but is that really true? Is dining in Singapore expensive? Are attractions outrageously pricey? Can I afford lodging in Singapore? In this post I’ll dive into answering all those questions so you can make your own judgements on whether or not Singapore is as cheap or as expensive as you think. I can already tell you, that Singapore is not as expensive as you might think.
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If traveling to Singapore, you probably already paid for the most expensive cost, the airfare.
Rest assured, Singapore really is not as expensive as you might think. Then again, Singapore can be as expensive or as cheap as you make it out to be.
Sure you can go to the fancy clubs and fine dining restaurants. Of course, you will pay an arm and a leg. But it doesn’t have to be like that.
I’ll be honest, one thing that I found to be quite expensive was alcohol. As a guy who loves trying craft beer from different countries, it was hard to pay around $16 for a pint of beer.
On the other hand, there were many free attractions, transportation was cheap, and Hawker Centres provide amazing dishes for a very reasonable price.
So is Singapore expensive to visit? Below is my on the ground report of how I fared in Singapore with my budget.
Keep in mind, I don’t seek out luxurious stuff. I just want to stay in decent places, eat local food, and see interesting attractions. My travels to Singapore are more on the budget – friendly side, so just keep in mind that this is based on my personal experiences and likes.
Accommodations in Singapore
Singapore’s most iconic building is the Marina Bay Sands. This is a well known resort that in my opinion is probably worth staying at, at least for one night. Unfortunately, the Marina Bay Sands can cost hundreds of dollars a night. Is it worth it? Maybe for one night or maybe spending $700 a night is flat out crazy.
Not all hotels in Singapore are luxurious resorts or expensive hotels. We stayed at the Paradox Singapore Merchant Court right by Clarke Quay and we were very satisfied with our stay.
The Paradox Singapore Merchant Court was under $250, but it was a resort with an awesome pool, extensive breakfast buffet, and everything else you can think of when it comes to a resort.
If you look on Agoda, there are nice hotels that will cost you $70 or less a night. You can even find hostels with dorm rooms for $25 a night.
Attractions and Things to do in Singapore
There are so many fun and free attractions in Singapore.
I was surprised that many of Singapore’s top attractions are free.
We visited Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve in the northern part of the country near the border of Malaysia. Outside of taking a Grab to get here, the park itself was free for visitors.
Singapore Botanic Gardens was also a free attraction, we spent a half day here. The Singapore Botanic Gardens is a UNESCO site, usually anything that has that UNESCO label is automatically a paid attraction.
Of course, you can walkaround the Gardens by the Bay, although some of the attractions within the park charge a fee, it’s relatively low.
One thing I found to be on the expensive side was the S.E.A Aquarium. Tickets were SGD 44 which is about $32. I just found that for what it was it was a bit heavy on the entrance price.
Cost of Transportation
For tourists, transportation in Singapore was cheap. I highly recommend using either Grab to get around or use the MRT.
We decided to get the EZ-Link cards. These are prepaid cards that can be used on the MRT. We purchased them at a country within the metro station.
To get from Point A to Point B varied but it was only a dollar or two.
When traveling around SE Asia, I recommend using Grab. We’ve used this in Vietnam, Malaysia, The Philippines, and it’s always been the cheapest mode of transportation. Grab is easy, safe, and cheap.
Dining and Food Options
The best way to eat like a local in Singapore is to visit one of the many Hawker Centres.
When visiting Singapore, especially if it is only for a few days, there is no other place you need to try then a Hawker Centre.
Hawker Centres are found throughout Singapore and are basically clean and organized food markets. You’ll find a wide range of vendors at Hawker Centres from famous Chicken and Rice to vendors selling Shawarma.
At the Hawker Centres, each vendor is different so prices vary. But I found everything to be very reasonably price, dishes range anywhere from $2 – $10.
Honestly, I don’t see why anyone would go to a restaurant in Singapore especially with the abundance of Hawker Centres.
So if you truly want to eat like a local in Singapore and are looking for local cuisine that won’t break the bank, visit a Hawker Centre.
I wrote a post on more about Hawker Centres, First Timer’s Guide to Singapore’s Hawker Centres.
My Recommended Tips for Saving Money when Visiting Singapore
- Dine like a local and eat cheaply at a Hawker Centre
- Use Grab instead of Taxis
- Rely on the MRT and purchase an EZ-Link Card
- Visit free attractions like the Botanical Gardens or Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
- Limit spending on alcohol, as alcohol taxes in Singapore are not cheap
Conclusion
So, is Singapore Expensive to Visit? I still think Singapore can be as expensive or as cheap as you make it out to be. I know many people splurge when they go on vacation. But if you are budget minded like me or go on multiple trips a year and don’t have that kind of money to spend, then Singapore can be a very cheap destination. Many attractions in Singapore are free and some of the best cuisine can be found at the Hawker Centres. Besides the occasional beer I just had to have that was at least in my opinion very expensive, I found Singapore to be cheap. So, if you are the type of person that likes to go out and buy drinks and try high end restaurants or if you prefer to visit places the locals go to for cheap, Singapore is a great destination to visit no matter what your budget is.
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