When you’re travelling Asia, you need a fair bit of money behind you. Singapore is frequently branded as ‘expensive’, which means that many backpackers simply miss it out to save money and explore cheaper countries more, or, they go and blow their budget.
Although Singapore is a perfect location to visit if you do want to splash your cash, I want to prove to you that it can be done well on budget. So here goes…
Flight prices will always change, so I can’t tell you how much a flight will be. However, I can tell you that Singapore is very close to many other places, such as Malaysia, Indonesia and Taiwan. Flights can usually be found at about S$90 (£50) or less, depending on where you’re flying from, the time of year, the time of day (and obviously, how lucky you are).
However, flying isn’t the only option. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous you can travel from Malaysia, via land. Now I personally did not do this, however I do know others that did, and they said it helped my their experience in Malaysia.
Singapore is fairly small so many of the places are walkable if your accommodation is in good area. A map will always be handy (I personally use the Lonely Planet App).
Also, you can often do three or four things in one day, so a great way to stop spending money on transport is to group what you’re doing together, catch the MRT to the first stop and then walking back, seeing the sights, from there.
Getting an EZ-Link card s definitely a good shout. They are S$12 (£6.50) with a S$5 (£2.70) non-refundable deposit. Getting around on the MRT is definitely the cheapest, quickest and easiest way to get around Singapore.
Buses are cheap too, and you can use your underground MRT card on the buses if you don’t fancy the underground. You will be able to get a taxi, but just as in any city, these will be more expensive. Try to avoid rush-hour by travelling in the early morning or late at night, and of course, always make sure the meter is on.
This is where I am a (slight) hypocrite, as I actually stayed in a hotel, which is not what to do when on a tight budget. However, on my second trip to Singapore I did stay in a hostel for one night, and I found, just like any other city, there is a range of different priced hostels. Although you might not be getting as much for your money as you might in other Asian countries, such as Cambodia and Vietnam, it is still possible and isn’t completely unreasonable.
Another great thing about Singapore is that it’s reasonably small, so even if you do find yourself in accommodation that is little out of the way, you will still be able to get to where you want to go efficiently.
I found that hostels start from S$14.50 (£8), which was a pretty big shock for me as I had just come from the Philippines, and then Thailand. In the grand scheme of things, it is only an extra £3 or so a night, depending on the standard you have been setting else where. I opted for one of te cheapest hostels to compare what you get for your money.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t blown away by the value for money. It was okay, fairly clean, with computers, reliable wi-fi, with breakfast included and comfortable beds. I was exactly what you would expect to find in one of the cheaper countries, just a few pounds extra.
I don’t really think this is too much of a big deal, and I definitely don’t think this will be the only thing to break your budget if you’re not careful. It might be good to set other restrictions to counteract this additional cost, for example, walking instead of getting the MRT, swapping bottled water from fresh fruit juice or alcohol, or just cutting back on extra luxuries.
If you are on a very strict budget and you think that £8pn is too expensive for a crowded dorm room, you could try couch surfing. I, personally, have never done this, but I have spoken to plenty that have. I’ve always heard pretty goof reviews, so it might be worth giving it a try!
When choosing a hostel, try to find one that is near an MRT station so you can get around easily. This is typically the cheapest method of transport that runs pretty much exactly like London Underground. Quick, simple, cheap – a backpackers dream.
Food is what often racks up the price when traveling as it can be so tempting to indulge yourself in every type of cuisine instead of saving the pennies and cooking in your accommodation. However, if you know where to go in Singapore, it’s actually cheaper to eat out – this is what a lot of Singaporeans do.
The secret? Hawker centres.
Hawker centres are basically just massive centres will lots of stalls selling food, drink and desserts. Food will be traditional but you will also find a fair amount of Indian and Malaysian food. To make things even better, the average dish will be between S$3-6 (£1.60-3.30) – and they are big portions.
Just be a little careful, some sellers may try to rip you off when they see you’re a tourist, so make sure you are aware of the prices of the dishes you are buying and do not give into them if they want more. The great thing about Hawker centres is there is so much of everything but a lot of them will do more or less the same, so you can shop around.
You will find letters on the stalls ranging from A-E, which indicate how good the stall is. A being the highest and E being the lowest, so keep that in mind when choosing where you eat.
: Hawker centres are more popular for locals than tourist and they get very busy. It’s a good idea to find a table first and get someone to wait at that table before you go to order. Getting a clean table during peak time is definitely doable, just a bit annoying (especially if you have a tray full of food and drink).
1- Lau Pa Sat: This is my favourite place to eat in Singapore. So much so, that I eat there pretty much every other day when visiting. There is always such a great vibe going on, even during the quieter periods. The food is among the best Singaporean food I have tried, and it’s right by Raffles Quay, so there are lot if interesting things to do in walking distance. Lau Pa Sat has brilliant architecture that can often be overlooked during the hustle and bustle, and be sure to check out the transformation of Boon Tat Street, as it is filled with huts selling fresh satay and aunties selling beer by the jug. The last great thing about this Hawker centre is that it is 24 hours (depending on the individual stalls), so you never need to be hungry in Singapore!
2- Chomp Chomp: Although this Hawker centre mainly operates at night (between 5pm-12am), it is still very popular with the locals. Chomp Chomp is one of the more famous Hawker centres, which specialises in satay, hokkien noodles and of course, carrot cake!
3- Bukit Timha Food Centre: Slightly smaller than other Hawker centres, Buki Timha still offers a wide range for food options throughout the day. You will find breakfast options in the early morning, and BBQ’s in the evening selling fresh, cheap produce. You will be able to find all the classic Singaporean dishes here and more! It is also located above a wet market, which is a pretty cool experience to have if you’re new to them.
The final thing to remember when eating is; anywhere air-conditioned will be more expensive. Therefore, places like food courts in shopping centres will be very pricey, so you may want to avoid them. (Hawker centres usually have fans to keep everyone cool with outdoor seating).
You have to try Hainanese chicken rice – it’s a must.
One other big way to save money on food and drink in Singapore is by drinking tap water. It is totally safe to drink water straight from the tap, so you can save money on buying water, which at best is S$2 for a 2 litre bottle in any 7/11 or Minimart.
Swapping alcohol for water will also be a good idea. There are massive taxes on alcohol and cigarettes, so you could be very optimistic and productive and use Singapore as the beginning of a detox!
This has got to be one of the worst words in the English language, but it’s important nonetheless. By giving yourself a realistic budget you will be able to keep track of your spending, thus ensuring that Singapore doesn’t blow up your bank account. Plus, if you do it well and have money left over, you can treat yourself the next day!
Check out my other guide on how to budget when travelling.
Singapore is beautiful, and it does have a lot of free activities, such a visiting the gardens or exploring Little India. There are lots of places that you can explore without having to pay a penny, you might just want to hop on the MRT to help you get there!
Take a look at my other blog post for more things to do in Singapore for free.
Fairly obvious, I know, but sometimes people are fined simply because they did not know what they were doing is frowned upon in Singaporean society. Here are just a few to look out for:
- Using other people’s wi-fi
- Littering
- Spitting
- Jay walking
- Smoking (both cigarettes and vape)
These are just a few of many laws in Singapore. To find out more, check out:
Singapore is definitely not he cheapest place to do in Asia, but it is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful and definitely worth a visit. You don’t have to spend long there to get a general feel of the place and visit the must see’s, but if you do have the time and the money, I would stay in Singapore for as long as possible, because it is absolutely amazing.
Wanderlust Lucy 