How Much Does Singapore Cost? 2026 Budget Guide | Prices & Tips
Singapore is often perceived as one of the world's most expensive cities, but it offers a surprisingly wide spectrum of costs depending on lifestyle choices. Visitors can manage on a daily budget ranging from $75 / S$95 for budget solo travelers to $751 / S$949 for those seeking full luxury. While fine dining and alcohol are premium-priced, the city's infrastructure and public services remain accessible. Compared to other major financial hubs, the efficiency of public transport provides significant savings for those who avoid private cars. Strategizing around the city's famous hawker centers and free public attractions allows for a high-quality experience without exceeding a modest budget.
Is Singapore expensive to visit?
Singapore is a city of extremes where one can expect to spend between $75 / S$95 and $751 / S$949 per day depending on whether they prioritize humble street food or five-star luxury.
On This Page
Daily Budget
How much to budget per person per day in Singapore
$75
per person /day
$225
per person /day
$751
per person /day
Trip Costs by Duration
Total estimated costs per person, excluding flights
| Trip Costs by Duration | Budget | Mid-Range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-Day Trip | $226 | $676 | $2,254 |
| 5-Day Trip | $375 | $1,127 | $3,756 |
| 7-Day Trip | $526 | $1,578 | $5,259 |
per person — Excludes international flights
Budget Buffer
Recommended contingency for unexpected expenses
A buffer of 15% is advisable to cover the 'plus plus' charges at restaurants, which include a 10% service charge and a 9% Goods and Services Tax (GST). Additionally, account for Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) tolls of $0.8 / S$1.01 to $4.75 / S$6 that are automatically added to taxi and Grab fares during peak hours.
How Does It Compare?
See how Singapore stacks up against other popular destinations
What Things Cost
Real prices for common tourist expenses in Singapore
Food & Drink (3)
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Hawker Centre Meal (Dish + Drink) A full meal with a drink (Kopi/Tea) costs ~$7.91 / S$9.99. Entry is free (verified). | $7.91 S$9.99 |
| Mid-range Restaurant Dinner (Per Person) Average cost per person is ~$36 / S$45. Note that '++' (service + tax) adds ~19% to the bill. | $36 S$45 |
| Local Pint of Beer (Bar/Pub) Alcohol is heavily taxed. A standard pint averages ~$13 / S$16. Happy hours often offer 1-for-1. | $13 S$16 |
Transport (4)
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Singapore Tourist Pass (1-Day Unlimited) Includes unlimited travel on MRT, LRT, and basic bus services (~$13 / S$17). | $13 S$17 |
| Changi Airport Taxi Surcharge (Evening Peak) Added to the metered fare. Standard time surcharge is ~$4.74 / S$5.99, peak is ~$6.33 / S$8. | $6.33 S$8 |
| Private Airport Transfer (4-seater) Fixed rate of ~$44 / S$55 including all surcharges. Useful for late-night arrivals. | $44 S$55 |
| Typical Grab (Ride-hail) city trip Fares surge during rain or peak hours (08:00–10:00 and 18:00–20:00). Average city trip is ~$14 / S$18. | $14 S$18 |
Accommodation (3)
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Dorm bed in a highly-rated hostel Expect to pay around ~$44 / S$55 for a clean, central dorm bed with air conditioning. | $44 S$55 |
| 3-star hotel (average per night) Prices vary significantly by neighborhood like Geylang vs. Orchard. | $121 S$153 |
| Luxury 5-star hotel (starting rate) Baseline rate for high-end international brands. | $373 S$470 |
Activities (3)
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Gardens by the Bay (Flower Dome + Cloud Forest) Includes Cloud Forest (with Avatar experience if running) and Flower Dome. Price for non-residents is ~$42 / S$53. | $42 S$53 |
| Marina Bay Sands SkyPark Observation Deck (Peak) Peak hours (17:00–22:00) cost ~$31 / S$39. Non-peak is slightly cheaper at ~$28 / S$35. | $31 S$39 |
| Singapore Zoo Admission (Adult) Cost for non-residents is ~$39 / S$49. Does not include tram unless specified during seasonal promos. | $39 S$49 |
Connectivity (1)
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Singtel Tourist SIM (14-day 100GB) Best value for short trips (~$9.49 / S$12). Pick up at Changi Airport arrivals. | $9.49 S$12 |
Food & Dining
What to eat and what it costs
Dining is the easiest way to save or splurge, with a full hawker center meal including a drink costing just $7.91 / S$9.99. In contrast, a mid-range restaurant dinner averages $36 / S$45 per person before the "plus plus" of service and tax. Alcohol is notably expensive due to high taxes, with a standard pint of beer in a bar costing roughly $13 / S$16.
Cheap Eats
Where locals eat — real places, real prices
Maxwell Food Centre
$3.96–$9.49 / S$5–S$12Chinatown · Street market
Arrive before 11:30 to avoid the massive queue for Tian Tian (~$3.96 / S$5 for a basic plate).
Zam Zam
$5.54–$12 / S$6.99–S$15Kampong Glam · Local chain
The venison murtabak is a local specialty (~$5.54 / S$6.99).
Old Airport Road Food Centre
$3.56–$12 / S$4.5–S$15Geylang/Mountbatten · Street market
Try the Lor Mee for a hearty ~$3.56 / S$4.5 meal.
Liao Fan Hawker Chan
$5.14–$9.49 / S$6.5–S$12Chinatown · Local chain
Formerly the world's cheapest Michelin-starred meal; it's still a bargain at ~$5.14 / S$6.5.
Samy's Curry
$12–$24 / S$15–S$30Dempsey Hill · Local chain
Served on banana leaves—a rustic classic in a high-end area (~$12 / S$15 for a curry).
Getting Around
Transport costs and the smartest ways to move
Public transit is world-class and highly affordable, with a 1-day Singapore Tourist Pass for unlimited travel costing $13 / S$17. Taxis and ride-hailing services like Grab are convenient but subject to evening peak surcharges of $6.33 / S$8 and electronic road pricing (ERP) tolls between $0.8 / S$1.01 and $4.75 / S$6. For late-night arrivals, a fixed-rate private airport transfer of $44 / S$55 offers a predictable alternative to metered taxis.
Accommodation Overview
Lodging is the largest expense, where a clean, air-conditioned dorm bed typically costs $44 / S$55 per night. Mid-range 3-star hotels average $121 / S$153, while entry-level luxury at international 5-star brands begins at approximately $373 / S$470.
Accommodation Budget in Singapore
Budget
Hostels, budget hotels, shared facilities
Mid-Range
3-star hotels, boutique stays, great locations
Luxury
5-star hotels, suites, premium amenities
💡 Prices vary by season. Book 2-3 months ahead for best rates.
Money-Saving Tips
Insider tricks to stretch your budget further
- 1 Eat at hawker centers like Maxwell Food Centre or Old Airport Road where high-quality meals are roughly $7.91 / S$9.99.
- 2 Use the Singapore Tourist Pass at $13 / S$17 for unlimited bus and MRT travel to avoid individual fare top-ups.
- 3 Drink tap water, which is perfectly safe and free, avoiding the high cost of bottled water in convenience stores.
- 4 Walk the Sentosa Boardwalk instead of paying the $3.16 / S$3.99 monorail fee to enter the island.
- 5 Buy alcohol at supermarkets before 22:30 to avoid bar prices that average $13 / S$16 per pint.
- 6 Pick up a Singtel Tourist SIM at Changi Airport for $9.49 / S$12 to get 100GB of data and avoid roaming fees.
- 7 Visit the Singapore Botanic Gardens, a UNESCO site that is free to enter, though the Orchid Garden has a small fee.
- 8 Watch the Spectra light and water show at Marina Bay Sands for free at 20:00 or 21:00 daily.
- 9 Look for 'Happy Hour' deals in Clarke Quay to reduce the impact of the high alcohol tax.
- 10 Use the free shuttle bus services provided by some major hotels and shopping malls in the Orchard Road area.
Seasonal Pricing
When prices rise and fall throughout the year
Dec, Jan, Feb, Jun, Jul
+20-35%
Sep, Oct, Nov
-15-20%
Mar, Apr, May
Singapore is hot year-round (26–32°C (79–90°F)). December and January are the wettest months, while March to May offers the best balance of lower rain and manageable hotel rates.
Events to Watch
- ● F1 Grand Prix (Sept): Hotels +300%
- ● Chinese New Year (late Jan/Feb): Many hawkers closed, peak flight prices
- ● National Day (Aug 9): Crowded Marina Bay area
Free Things to Do
The best experiences that cost absolutely nothing
- 1 Marina Bay Sands 'Spectra' Light & Water Show
- 2 Gardens by the Bay 'Garden Rhapsody' light show
- 3 Hiking across the Henderson Waves at the Southern Ridges
- 4 Exploring the Singapore Botanic Gardens
- 5 Visiting the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple in Chinatown
- 6 Walking through the colorful streets of Kampong Glam and Arab Street
- 7 Hiking the MacRitchie Reservoir Treetop Walk
- 8 Taking photos at the Fort Canning Tree Tunnel
- 9 Viewing the Jewel Changi Airport Rain Vortex
- 10 Exploring the iconic Merlion Park
- 11 Walking the Changi Jurassic Mile to see dinosaur installations
- 12 Visiting the Sri Mariamman Temple in Chinatown
Worth the Splurge
Premium experiences that justify the price tag
Singapore Sling at Raffles Hotel Long Bar
It's the birthplace of the cocktail; the price includes the iconic experience and bag of peanuts to throw on the floor (~$36 / S$46).
Sunset in the Sky (Marina Bay Sands Premium)
Includes priority access, champagne, and the absolute best sunset view in Southeast Asia (~$93 / S$118).
Night Safari Private Buggy Tour
Skip the massive tram queues and get a private guide to see the elusive leopards up close (~$395 / S$499).
Popular Activities
Top-rated tours and experiences in Singapore
Day Trip Costs
Popular day trips from Singapore and what they cost
Johor Bahru (Malaysia)
$7.91 / S$9.99 by bus
Free
$47 / S$60
Pulau Ubin
$6.33 / S$8 by boat
$12 / S$15
$28 / S$35
Payment & Money
How to pay and what to know about money
Singapore Dollar (SGD)
1 $ ≈ 1.26 $
No
Universal. Even hawker centers now accept cards or QR payments (SimplyGo/NETS).
Not expected. A 10% service charge is already included in restaurant bills. Rounding up taxi fares is appreciated but not required (~$0.59–$1.19 / S$0.75–S$1.5).
DBS, OCBC, and UOB are everywhere. Avoid 'dynamic currency conversion' at ATMs—always choose to be charged in SGD. Most ATMs do not charge local fees, but your home bank might.
Connectivity
eSIM: $9.5–$18 for 10-20GB (opens in new tab)
Local SIM: $9.49 / S$12 for 100GB (14 days)
WiFi: Excellent. Available in all malls, MRT stations (Wireless@SGx), and cafés.
The local $12 / S$15 (~$9.49 / S$12) Singtel Tourist SIM is unbeatable for value and speed.
Why you can trust this guide
35+ countries • 8 years analyzing travel data
Independent developer and travel data analyst based in Prague. 35+ countries visited across Europe and Asia, 8+ years analyzing flight routes, accommodation prices, and seasonal weather patterns.
- All neighborhoods verified by walking them
- Curated locations based on walkability & safety
- Real-time availability via live partner maps
- Prices based on Booking.com & Numbeo averages
Methodology: This guide combines on-the-ground neighborhood research, current hotel pricing data, and real traveler feedback to provide honest, actionable accommodation recommendations for Singapore.
Updated: February 16, 2026
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