Yes — Singapore can be done on a budget
Singapore's reputation as one of Asia's most expensive cities is only half the story. If you eat at fine-dining restaurants, drink cocktails at Marina Bay Sands and take taxis everywhere, yes — it's easily £250 a day. Do the same trip using hawker centres, the MRT and Singapore's world-class free attractions and you'll spend less than £60 a day and eat some of the best food in Asia doing it.
Singapore is unique among Asian cities: it has a genuinely brilliant public transport system, world-class free-to-visit gardens and light shows, some of the cleanest tap water on earth, and Michelin-starred food for £4 a plate. The gap between doing the city well on a budget and doing it lavishly is smaller than any other big Asian city.
This guide covers realistic daily budgets, the best hawker centres, free things to do, affordable accommodation by area, transport hacks and a live budget calculator to plan your own trip. Whether you're stopping over for 24 hours or basing yourself for a week, everything you need to see Singapore comfortably — without overspending — is below.
Quick budget summary
Backpacker
£35–£55 / $45–$70
Hostel dorm, hawker meals, MRT, one free attraction per day and the occasional S$5 beer at a coffee shop.
Budget Traveller
£55–£90 / $70–$115
Private hostel room or capsule hotel, hawker + one casual restaurant per day, one paid attraction, MRT and short Grab rides.
Mid-Range Traveller
£90–£180 / $115–$230
3-star hotel, mix of hawker and restaurants, two paid attractions per day, MRT + Grab, one rooftop drink.
Luxury Traveller
£180+ / $230+
4/5-star hotel, sit-down restaurants, all major attractions, private transfers and rooftop cocktails at Marina Bay Sands.
| Trip length | Backpacker | Mid-range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekend (2 nights) | £90–£150 | £190–£360 | £450+ |
| 5-day trip | £220–£350 | £450–£900 | £1,100+ |
| 1 week (7 nights) | £300–£500 | £640–£1,260 | £1,600+ |
| Family of four · 5 days | £900–£1,400 | £1,800–£3,600 | £4,500+ |
Where your money goes
A rough breakdown of where budget-to-mid-range travellers actually spend their money in Singapore.
Accommodation
40%The single biggest cost. Hostel dorms £20–£30, capsule hotels £30–£55, budget hotels £65–£100, mid-range £120–£220.
Food
20%Hawker meals £3–£5, casual restaurants £10–£18, mid-range £20–£35, fine-dining £60+ per head.
Attractions
15%Free gardens & light shows or £15–£45 for Gardens by the Bay, Zoo, Sentosa.
Transport
10%MRT £3–£5/day. Grab £6–£15 per ride. Airport MRT £1 vs. taxi £15–£25.
Shopping
10%Optional. Orchard Road is world-class if you want it; markets in Bugis and Chinatown are much cheaper.
Miscellaneous
5%SIM card, water, snacks, coffees and travel insurance top-ups.
Affordable accommodation by area
Location matters more in Singapore than anywhere else in Asia because everything is a short MRT ride from everything else. Stay within a 5-minute walk of an MRT station and the city is yours.
Chinatown
Hostel £20–£30 · Budget hotel £65–£110Best for
Backpackers, foodies, first-timers
Transport
Chinatown MRT (NE/DT). 5 min to Marina Bay.
Safety
Very safe, busy well into the evening.
Nearby
Maxwell Food Centre · Chinatown Complex · Sri Mariamman Temple
Try: Adler Hostel · The Pod @ Beach Road · Dorsett Singapore
Little India
Hostel £18–£28 · Budget hotel £60–£100Best for
Cheap-eats lovers, culture seekers
Transport
Little India MRT (NE/DT). Direct to airport & Chinatown.
Safety
Safe day and night; livelier weekends.
Nearby
Tekka Centre · Mustafa Centre · Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple
Try: The InnCrowd Backpackers · Wanderlust Hotel · Village Hotel Albert Court
Bugis
Hostel £22–£32 · Budget hotel £75–£130Best for
Nightlife, shopping, walking
Transport
Bugis MRT (EW/DT). 4 min to Orchard.
Safety
Very safe; well-lit and busy till late.
Nearby
Kampong Glam · Haji Lane · Bugis Street Market
Try: Bunc @ Radius Hostel · Hotel G · Andaz Singapore (mid-range)
Lavender
Hostel £18–£26 · Budget hotel £60–£95Best for
Best-value budget hotels
Transport
Lavender MRT (EW). 6 min to Marina Bay.
Safety
Very safe and quiet at night.
Nearby
Kampong Glam · Jalan Besar cafés · Golden Mile Food Centre
Try: Beary Best! Hostel · Hotel Boss · Ibis Singapore on Bencoolen
Geylang
Hostel £15–£25 · Budget hotel £45–£85Best for
Cheapest overall · night owls
Transport
Aljunied / Kallang MRT. 10 min to CBD.
Safety
Safe, but red-light area on odd-numbered lanes; walk main road at night.
Nearby
Geylang Serai Market · No Signboard Seafood · Old Airport Road
Try: Value Hotel Balestier · Hotel 81 chain · Fragrance Hotel
Kampong Glam
Hostel £25–£35 · Boutique hotel £90–£160Best for
Design lovers, couples, walkability
Transport
Bugis MRT. 5 min walk to shops & cafés.
Safety
Very safe; the prettiest neighbourhood in Singapore.
Nearby
Haji Lane · Sultan Mosque · Arab Street cafés
Try: Adonis Hostel · The Sultan Hotel · Andaz Singapore
Cheap food guide: hawker centres
Hawker centres are Singapore's greatest budget travel gift — UNESCO-listed communal food halls where you can eat some of Southeast Asia's best food for £3–£5 a plate. Two stalls even hold Michelin stars. Every meal on a budget trip should happen at one.
Order at the stall, note the table number written on your receipt or card, and either "chope" a table with a packet of tissues (the Singaporean signal for "taken") or grab any empty seat you spot.
Maxwell Food Centre
Chinatown
Home of Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice — Anthony Bourdain's favourite plate in Singapore. Go for lunch.
Lau Pa Sat
CBD / Marina Bay
A restored 19th-century Victorian market with legendary satay street stalls that open in the evening on Boon Tat Street.
Old Airport Road Food Centre
Dakota
A local favourite with 150+ stalls including Xin Mei Xiang laksa and Nam Sing Hokkien Fried Mee.
Chinatown Complex
Chinatown
The biggest hawker centre in Singapore and home to the world's first Michelin-starred street food stall, Hawker Chan.
Newton Food Centre
Newton
The one from Crazy Rich Asians — touristy but great for satay, chili crab and BBQ stingray.
Tiong Bahru Market
Tiong Bahru
Beautiful 1950s art-deco market. Upstairs hawker centre has some of the best chwee kueh and lor mee in Singapore.
Tekka Centre
Little India
The best Indian and Malay hawker food in the city — biryani, roti prata and murtabak done properly.
Amoy Street Food Centre
Tanjong Pagar
CBD lunchtime favourite; try A Noodle Story (Michelin Bib) and J2 Famous Crispy Curry Puff.
Affordable dishes to try
| Hainanese Chicken Rice | S$4–S$6 | Tian Tian (Maxwell) · Ah Tai (Maxwell) |
| Laksa | S$5–S$7 | Sungei Road Laksa · 328 Katong Laksa |
| Char Kway Teow | S$4–S$6 | Hill Street Fried Kway Teow (Bedok) |
| Satay | S$0.70–S$1 per stick | Lau Pa Sat night street stalls |
| Roti Prata | S$1.50–S$3 | The Roti Prata House · Springleaf Prata |
| Hokkien Mee | S$5–S$8 | Nam Sing (Old Airport Road) |
| Nasi Lemak | S$3–S$6 | Selera Rasa Nasi Lemak · Adam Road |
| Kaya Toast set | S$5–S$7 | Ya Kun Kaya Toast · Tong Ah Eating House |
| Bak Kut Teh | S$8–S$12 | Song Fa Bak Kut Teh |
| Chilli Crab (splurge) | S$60–S$100 (share) | No Signboard Seafood · Jumbo |
Free things to do
Singapore has one of the best free attraction lists in Asia. You could fill five days doing nothing else.
Gardens by the Bay (outdoor)
The outdoor gardens, Supertree Grove and Dragonfly Lake are all free. Only the Cloud Forest and Flower Dome are paid.
Spectra & Supertree light shows
Free nightly shows at 8pm and 9pm at Marina Bay and Supertree Grove. Show up 15 mins early for the best spot.
Marina Bay Sands light show
Watch the free water and light show from the Helix Bridge or Merlion Park — the two best viewpoints.
Merlion Park
The city's iconic photo spot with the classic Marina Bay Sands and Merlion shot. Free 24/7.
Jewel Changi Airport
The world's tallest indoor waterfall, the Rain Vortex, plus a rooftop canopy park (small entry fee to the top nets only).
Fort Canning Park
Free heritage park with the famous Fort Canning tree tunnel and lawns for a picnic in the middle of the city.
Singapore Botanic Gardens
A UNESCO World Heritage Site — free to enter. Only the National Orchid Garden inside charges (S$15).
East Coast Park
A 15km stretch of beachfront park perfect for cycling, running or a hawker meal at East Coast Lagoon.
Kampong Glam
Wander the streets around Sultan Mosque and Arab Street — some of the prettiest shophouses in Singapore.
Haji Lane
A single narrow street of independent boutiques, murals and hipster cafés. Free to walk, easy to spend on.
Chinatown
Temple hopping (Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, Sri Mariamman) and street markets. Beautiful at night.
Little India
Colourful streets, temples and Mustafa Centre — Singapore's 24-hour cultural experience.
Southern Ridges Walk
A 10km tree-top walk connecting Mount Faber to Kent Ridge via the iconic Henderson Waves bridge.
MacRitchie Reservoir & TreeTop Walk
Rainforest boardwalks and a suspension bridge — Singapore's best hike, and completely free.
Marina Barrage
A free rooftop with the best Marina Bay skyline picnic view in Singapore. Locals bring kites.
Peranakan houses at Katong
The photogenic pastel shophouses of Koon Seng Road — free and often empty of tourists.
Best-value paid attractions
Not every paid attraction is worth it — but the ones below are the standouts. Book online via Klook or Trip.com for a 10–30% discount on gate prices.
Cloud Forest
S$28 (Cloud Forest only) / S$53 combo
Tip: Buy the combo with Flower Dome; both take 90 mins each.
Flower Dome
S$20 / S$53 combo
Tip: Book online for a 10–15% discount off the walk-up rate.
Singapore Zoo
S$49 adults / S$35 kids
Tip: Get the Park Hopper for Zoo + Night Safari + River Wonders — saves ~30%.
Night Safari
S$56 / S$40 kids
Tip: Book last entry (8:30pm) — cheaper crowds and better wildlife activity.
River Wonders
S$43 / S$31 kids
Tip: Skip if time is tight — Zoo and Night Safari are the standouts.
National Gallery Singapore
S$20 · free for citizens
Tip: Under-6s free. Rooftop bar is free to visit — great sunset spot.
ArtScience Museum
S$21–S$45 depending on exhibitions
Tip: Future World is the perennial favourite; book online.
Sentosa attractions
Island entry: free by boardwalk (10-min walk from HarbourFront)
Tip: Beaches, cable cars and Sentosa Merlion are free entry once on the island.
Singapore Cable Car
S$35 return
Tip: Sunset ride 6–7pm is the sweet spot — pair with dinner on Sentosa.
Universal Studios Singapore
S$83 adults / S$62 kids
Tip: Book 7 days in advance on Klook or Trip.com — savings of 15–25% are common.
S.E.A. Aquarium
S$44
Tip: Two-Park combos with USS bring the per-park price down significantly.
Marina Bay Sands SkyPark Observation Deck
S$32
Tip: Skip it — spend the same amount at CE LA VI's outdoor bar and enjoy the view with a drink.
Transport on a budget
The MRT + walking is the single biggest budget hack in Singapore. A whole day of public transport rarely tops S$5 — a fraction of a Grab across town.
MRT
The backbone of Singapore travel. Fares S$1–S$2.50 (£0.60–£1.50). Runs 5:30am–midnight. Six colour-coded lines cover every tourist zone.
Tip: Buy nothing — just tap in with any contactless Visa/Mastercard via SimplyGo.
Buses
Fares S$1–S$2.20. Slower than MRT but great for scenic routes (bus 36 to Changi through the coast is a local favourite).
Tip: Same SimplyGo contactless works on all buses.
SimplyGo / contactless cards
Just tap your home debit/credit card at the gate. No card fees, no minimum top-up — the easiest travel-card experience in Asia.
Tip: Apple Pay and Google Pay also work seamlessly.
EZ-Link card
The traditional stored-value card. Only worth it if you're staying 2+ weeks or don't have a contactless card.
Tip: S$5 non-refundable card fee — SimplyGo is a better choice for most visitors.
Walking
Central Singapore is very walkable if the weather's kind. Chinatown → Marina Bay is 20 mins; Bugis → Little India is 15 mins.
Tip: Use covered walkways (they're everywhere) during afternoon rain.
Grab
Uber-style ride-hailing. Reliable, air-conditioned and honest. 15-min ride typically S$10–S$18.
Tip: Grab is 3–6× more expensive than MRT — reserve it for late nights or heavy rain.
Airport transfer
MRT from Changi to city: S$2 / 40 mins. Grab: S$20–S$30 / 25 mins. Taxi: S$25–S$35 (midnight surcharge applies).
Tip: The MRT airport line runs until 11:18pm — after that, Grab wins.
Best budget itineraries
~£45–£70 pp
Singapore in One Day
The perfect stopover.
- 9:00 — Kaya toast breakfast at Ya Kun (£5)
- 10:00 — Gardens by the Bay outdoor + Cloud Forest (£17)
- 12:30 — Lunch at Maxwell Food Centre (£4)
- 14:00 — Chinatown temples & Peranakan shophouses (free)
- 16:00 — Haji Lane & Kampong Glam walk (free)
- 18:30 — Dinner at Lau Pa Sat satay street (£8)
- 20:00 — Marina Bay Spectra light show (free)
~£40–£65 pp/day
3-Day Budget Itinerary
The classic first visit at a relaxed pace.
- Day 1 — Marina Bay: Gardens by the Bay, Merlion, Spectra light show
- Day 2 — Neighbourhoods: Chinatown, Kampong Glam, Little India, Haji Lane
- Day 3 — Nature: MacRitchie TreeTop Walk + Singapore Zoo OR Sentosa via free boardwalk
~£40–£60 pp/day
5-Day Budget Itinerary
Sees everything worth seeing without splurging.
- Day 1 — Marina Bay basics + free light shows
- Day 2 — Chinatown, Maxwell, Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, Ann Siang Hill
- Day 3 — Botanic Gardens + Orchard Road stroll + rooftop sunset at CE LA VI
- Day 4 — Sentosa via boardwalk: beaches, cable car (optional), USS if you have kids
- Day 5 — Katong Peranakan houses + East Coast Park + a Night Safari to finish
Money-saving tips
- Stay within a 5-minute walk of an MRT station — halves your daily transport spend.
- Eat every breakfast and lunch at hawker centres — Michelin-starred food for £3–£4.
- Carry a refillable water bottle. Tap water is world-class and refills are everywhere.
- Walk between nearby attractions — Chinatown to Marina Bay is a 20-minute stroll.
- Visit the National Museum of Singapore during free-entry mornings (check the current schedule).
- Book attraction bundles on Klook or Trip.com — 15–30% cheaper than gate prices.
- Take the free Sentosa boardwalk instead of the monorail (S$4 return) — nicer views, five extra minutes.
- Travel January–February or June–July for cheaper hotels — school-holiday spikes hit December and March/April.
- Compare hotels across Booking, Agoda and Trip.com — Singapore hotels vary 20%+ between platforms.
- Skip observation decks. CE LA VI, Level33 and Smoke & Mirrors have free entry and the same view with a drink.
Typical prices
| Coffee (kopi) at hawker | S$1.50–S$2 (£0.90–£1.20) |
| Espresso at a café | S$5–S$7 (£3–£4.20) |
| Hawker meal | S$4–S$8 (£2.40–£4.80) |
| Casual restaurant meal | S$15–S$25 (£9–£15) |
| Mid-range restaurant meal | S$30–S$60 (£18–£36) |
| Beer at a coffee shop | S$8–S$12 (£4.80–£7.20) |
| Beer at a rooftop bar | S$18–S$25 (£11–£15) |
| Bubble tea | S$5–S$7 (£3–£4.20) |
| MRT single journey | S$1–S$2.50 (£0.60–£1.50) |
| Grab, 15-min ride | S$10–S$18 (£6–£11) |
| Museum entry | S$15–S$25 (£9–£15) |
| Gardens by the Bay combo | S$53 (£32) |
| Hostel dorm bed | S$30–S$50 (£18–£30) |
| Budget hotel double | S$100–S$170 (£60–£100) |
| Mid-range hotel double | S$180–S$350 (£110–£210) |