Singapore is without a doubt one of the top tourist destinations in Southeast Asia, maybe even the world. It’s also, however, one of the most expensive cities to visit. This is a fact and reality that can’t be avoided. If you want to be able to see and do everything in Singapore, you will have to fork over a significant amount of cash.

When I visited Singapore last December 2022, I was shocked at how high the prices were compared to other countries in Southeast Asia. This shouldn’t deter you from visiting the island-city-state, however, as it has an eclectic mixture of man-made superstructures, colorful districts, amazing cuisine, and gorgeous nature-filled spaces.

But coming to Singapore doesn’t have to break the bank either. In this post, I will detail some money-saving tips I learned from my recent trip to Singapore that will hopefully allow you to experience Singapore on a budget and spend less when you’re at the Lion City.

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Book Flights on Budget Airlines from Other Southeast Asian Destinations

If you’re planning on going to Singapore, especially if you’re coming from outside Southeast Asia, then it would be in your best interest to travel to more than one place within Southeast Asia in addition to Singapore. This will allow you to use budget airlines to travel to and from Singapore while also visiting other nearby destinations.

Singapore’s Changi airport is a world hub for air travel, and you can find multiple budget airlines with flights to Singapore from almost anywhere in Southeast Asia, such as Air Asia, Cebu Pacific, and Singapore’s very own Scoot! You can save a ton of money by booking with these no-frills airlines. I always recommend checking Skyscanner to find the cheapest flights possible.

Stay in Hostels Outside the City Center

Contrary to popular belief, there are places in Singapore where you can stay without having to spend a boatload of cash. While these accommodations might be smaller than the ones you are typically used to, and while most of them are still more expensive than their counterparts in neighboring countries such as Vietnam and Thailand, you can still find relatively “cheap” places to stay.

The general rule is that the farther you stay from the city center, the cheaper your nightly fee. But that being said, prepare to fork up $50 USD to $70 USD per night, even at hostels and capsule hotels. To make sure you stretch your money as far as it can go, consider traveling to Singapore as a group to save on hotel costs. You could also try couchsurfing, but be careful and read your potential host’s references before deciding to stay at their home.

Use the Buses and the MRT or Walk

One thing that Singapore has that is relatively inexpensive, however, is their public transportation. Their trains and buses are clean, efficient, and always arrive and depart on time. It is so easy to get to most places on the island, with the one exception being the Singapore Zoo area. Most journeys along the bus lines and MRT lines will only cost you $0.71 USD.

Now Singapore is also a very walkable city. When I was there I walked from the Merlion statue all the way around to the Helix Bridge and ended up in Marina Bay Sands. I also walked extensively throughout Chinatown, Little India, the Botanic Gardens, and Orchard Road. Depending on the weather, if where you’re going is nearby, it may be worth it to just take a nice stroll through Singapore’s busy streets. Do note, however, that it can get hot outside so maybe a bus ride or a subway ride might be a better idea at the hottest time of the day.

Finally, if you do need to go to places that the Buses and the MRT can’t reach, there is always Grab (Southeast Asia’s Uber) which, while expensive, can be made less so if traveling in a group.

Eat at Hawker Centers

Singapore is known for its street food structures known as Hawker Centers. Hawker Centers come in all shapes and sizes, with some having hundreds of stalls in them. These Singapore institutions came about after the Singapore Government wanted to get street food vendors off the street. From that goal, the Hawker Center was born. Hawker Centers are a great way to save money, with most meals costing around $3.76 USD!

The quality of the food is also incredible for the price, with some Hawker Center stalls even earning Michelin Stars. Hawker Centers can be found scattered throughout Singapore and wherever you are on the island, you’re probably pretty close to one. Definitely make sure to stop by a few of them for a quintessential Singaporean experience.

Find Free Things to Do

Not every single Singapore experience requires you to spend a large amount of cash to do them. While it’s true that if you want to go to Universal Studios or see the Cloud Forest or peruse some of Singapore’s plethora of museums, you will have to drop some amount of money, Singapore has a lot of free things to do.

You could stroll through the lush greenery of the Singapore Botanical Gardens, which is Singapore’s only UNESCO world heritage site. Walk the streets of Chinatown, Little India, and Kampong Glam while admiring their many temples and shrines. You could also see the Supertree Grove and explore the nearby shopping meccas of Marina Bay Sands and Orchard Road.

Singapore is filled with many fun and exciting things to do that don’t involve spending money. It’s just a matter of finding these hidden travel gems.

Use Klook for Paid Experiences

While this is in not an ad for Klook, I just want to mention them as they do offer pretty substantial discounts for many attractions in Singapore. Whether you want to tour multiple museums or make a visit to the many offerings on Sentosa Island, there’s bound to be a Klook deal that’s right for you.

I probably saved about $30 SGD by using Klook to book all of my experiences, which was more than enough to cover the transportation costs I would incur from going around the city. If you would like to go to Singapore on a budget vacation but don’t know where to start, I would suggest giving Klook a look.

Conclusion

Hopefully these Singapore on a budget tips help you save money on your Singapore vacation. Singapore is a dynamic, interesting, and all-around fun place to visit. Don’t let the prices deter you! Hopefully now you’re more prepared to enjoy your time in the Lion City.

Click to WATCH the first episode of my Singapore 2022 Vlog Series

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