Visiting Singapore on a Budget: An Insider's Money-Saving Guide

Singapore consistently ranks amongst the most expensive cities in the world. But don't let that put you off of visiting. With a few tips and tricks, it's entirely possible to travel to this incredible Southeast Asian metropolis without breaking the bank.  

You can easily visit Singapore on a budget by dining on gourmet street eats in hawker centres, exploring the dozens of incredible free parks and green spaces, taking advantage of the numerous free cultural attractions around Little India and Chinatown, and staying in one of the many modern, wallet-friendly hotels.  

Visiting Singapore on a budget is easier than you think. In this guide you'll get practical advice on the best areas to stay, how to use public transportation to get around town, where to find the best cheap and free attractions, and so much more.  

If you're working with a tight budget, booking a reasonably priced hotel should be your first priority. While finding an affordable place to stay in Singapore might seem impossible, it's totally doable.  

Just because you're watching what you spend doesn't mean you can't stay in a stylish and modern hotel. Luckily for frugal travellers, Singapore is home to quite a few ibis hotels. They have everything you need for a comfortable stay without putting too much of a dent in your credit card.  

These hotels give essentials like modern rooms with plush beds, free Wi-Fi, AC, and flat-screen TVs. Many even offer extra perks, like rooftop swimming pools, and fitness centres. Plus, if you choose your hotel strategically, you can save even more money while taking advantage of your hotel's amenities. 

For example, stay at ibis budget Singapore Clarke Quay and you can walk to Chinatown's affordable hawker centres and soak up the sun from the hotel's rooftop pool. Or book a stay at ibis budget Singapore Selegie for easy access to the free attractions and cheap eats in Little India while resting up in artsy themed rooms at night.  

No matter where you want to stay in Singapore, chances are there's a budget-friendly ibis hotel nearby. 

Thankfully, Singapore is a very walkable city. If you don't mind doing a lot of walking, it is possible to walk between many of Singapore's top attractions, like Gardens by the Bay, Chinatown, Little India, and Orchard Road. But you don't have to walk everywhere if you don't want to. Singapore's excellent and affordable public transportation system, including buses and MRT (Mass Rapid Transit), makes getting around easy and cheap.  

If you're willing to pay a bit extra for MRT rides, you can easily get by without ever taking an expensive taxi or Grab during your trip. The MRT charges by distance, and if you're only taking short trips around the city centre, each ride should cost roughly S$1-2.  

If you think you'll be riding the MRT often and for long distances, it may be worth it to pay for a Singapore Tourist Pass. This gives you unlimited rides for one to five days, depending on how long you'll be visiting. 

Pro tip: To take full advantage of Singapore's efficient and affordable MRT system, it's best to choose a hotel that puts you within walking distance of an MRT station. That way, you'll be able to reach most areas of Singapore for just a few Singaporean dollars. The MRT also has a stop at Singapore Changi Airport, meaning you don't have to book an expensive taxi ride to get to and from the airport.  

Dining out in Singapore has a reputation for being super expensive. But it doesn't have to be. Singapore is home to over 120 hawker centres. These massive food courts are teeming with street food vendors slinging out incredible Malay, Chinese, and Indian fare for a fraction of the price you'd pay at a sit-down restaurant. You'll also find plenty of affordable local restaurants in Singapore. You just need to know where to look. 

If you're on a tight budget and you want easy access to affordable restaurants and hawker centres, it's best to base yourself in either Chinatown or Little India. 

There are multiple hawker centres clustered around the Chinatown area, all within walking distance of one another. The main hawker centre is Chinatown Complex Food Centre, which is home to a whopping 250 food stalls dishing out cheap eats. Other nearby options are Maxwell Food Centre, People’s Park Food Centre, and Amoy Street Food Centre. Base yourself in Chinatown and you can have your fill of local classics like Hainanese chicken rice, dim sum, xiao long bao (soup dumplings), and claypot rice.  

Little India is another haven for budget travellers. The main hawker centre here is Tekka Centre. There are roughly 300 food stalls here serving everything from affordable biryanis and dosas to cheap samosas and curries. There's so much variety that you can eat here for every meal and try something new every time. Little India is also home to some truly excellent budget-friendly restaurants, with Komala Vilas being a longtime local and tourist favourite.  

Pro tip: To save even more, visit hawker centres outside of Singapore's tourist hubs. Located just outside the city centre, Old Airport Road Food Centre offers a more local experience and more affordable prices.  

There are tons of cheap and even free things to do in Singapore. Here are some of the best: 

Visiting the iconic Supertree Grove in Gardens by the Bay is easily one of the best free things to do in Singapore. The "supertrees" are actually 12 plant-covered vertical gardens that reach heights of up to 50 metres. While it's magical to admire these futuristic structures from below, paying the small fee to access Supertree Grove's OCBC Skyway is one of the coolest cheap activities in Singapore. 

This 128-metre-long bridge allows you to walk 22 metres above ground, not only giving you a close-up glimpse of the supertrees but also allowing you to take in beautiful bird's-eye views of Gardens by the Bay and the Singapore skyline.  

Singapore is home to so many excellent free green spaces and parks, and the Singapore Botanic Gardens is one of the best. Dating back to 1859, this UNESCO World Heritage-listed botanic garden covers 200 acres of land and is home to over 10,000 species of plants. From tranquil lakes and cascading waterfalls to themed gardens and picturesque pagodas, exploring this place is another one of the coolest free things to do in Singapore. 

When it comes to cheap activities, it's absolutely worth paying the small fee to enter the National Orchid Garden, where you'll walk amongst 60,000 orchid plants and 1,000 species of orchids.   

Not only are both of these Singaporean neighbourhoods popular for their affordable hawker centres and budget-friendly restaurants, but they are also home to some of the best free attractions in Singapore. 

Start your journey in Chinatown, where you can explore the free Buddha Tooth Relic Temple & Museum before picking up some cheap souvenirs at the Chinatown Street Market and admiring the area's colourfully painted Chinese shophouses. After that, take the MRT to Little India, to marvel at the multi-hued Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, see the colourful facade of the colonial-era House of Tan Teng Niah, and hunt down cool street art murals. 

Haji Lane is a popular spot for both tourists and locals, thanks to its eclectic mix of alternative shops, cool cafes, and buzzing bars. Budget travellers will love visiting this funky little lane to see the street art murals and colourfully painted heritage buildings.  

When it comes to affordable activities, you can peruse second-hand goods in shops like Vintagewknd, Musicology Records, and The Digicam Depository. Head to Haji Lane during happy hour to take advantage of the cheap drink specials at popular bars and restaurants, including Good Luck, Piedra Negra, and Black Sheep & Co.