Singapore has a reputation as an expensive city, and hotels and drinks certainly are. But food can be very cheap, public transport costs little, and many of the best sights are free. Here is what a day in Singapore really costs, and where your money goes.
How much should you budget per day in Singapore?
As a rough guide per person, excluding flights, and assuming you share a room:
| Style | Per day | What it looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | S$100–150 | Hostel or simple hotel, hawker food, MRT, mostly free sights |
| Mid-range | S$250–400 | Three- or four-star hotel, hawkers and some restaurants, one paid attraction a day |
| Luxury | S$600+ | Five-star hotel, restaurants and bars, taxis, ticketed experiences |
Hotel rates swing a lot with the season and big events such as the Formula 1 race weekend, so book early for those dates.
How much is food in Singapore?
Hawker centres are the best value in the city. A plate of chicken rice, noodles or a rice set usually costs about S$5 to S$8, and a fresh juice or kopi a couple of dollars more. A 2023 study by the Institute of Policy Studies found that three hawker meals a day cost about S$17 on average; prices have crept up since. Restaurants are much more expensive, especially with the 10% service charge and 9% GST added to the bill.
How much does transport cost?
Very little. Most MRT and bus trips cost between about S$1 and S$2.50 with a contactless card, and you do not need a pass. A taxi from Changi Airport to the city costs about S$25 to S$45 on the meter, plus an airport surcharge. See getting around Singapore.
How much do attractions cost?
| Attraction | Non-resident adult |
|---|---|
| Flower Dome & Cloud Forest, Gardens by the Bay | S$46 |
| OCBC Skyway, Gardens by the Bay | S$14 |
| SkyPark Observation Deck, Marina Bay Sands (off-peak) | S$35 |
| Garden Rhapsody, Spectra, Jewel's Rain Vortex | Free |
Big ticketed days out such as Universal Studios on Sentosa or the Mandai wildlife parks cost more, so check prices and bundles on their official sites.
What can you do for free?
A lot: the outdoor gardens and Supertree Grove at Gardens by the Bay, the Singapore Botanic Gardens, the Merlion and the Marina Bay waterfront, the temples of Chinatown, Kampong Glam and Little India, and three free light shows every evening. Our list of free things to do in Singapore has the details.
How can you save money in Singapore?
- Eat at hawker centres and food courts rather than restaurants.
- Drink tap water, which is safe, and refill a bottle.
- Look for happy hours: alcohol is heavily taxed, so drinks are expensive.
- Use the MRT instead of taxis, and tap your own contactless card.
- Plan your evenings around the free light shows.
- Claim the GST refund on bigger purchases; see our Singapore travel tips.
Facts checked October 2026. Ticket prices are non-resident rates set by each attraction. Daily budgets and food prices are estimates; hotel rates in particular vary with season and events.
