By the WahLiao desk · Last verified 28 September 2026
Singapore on a budget is not only possible; it is one of the city’s best-kept pleasures. A careful visitor can see it properly for about S$100 to S$140 a day: S$50 to S$75 for a hostel or capsule bed, S$25 to S$35 for three hawker meals, under S$10 for trains, and one small ticket, with the rest of the day spent on sights that cost nothing.
The expensive Singapore is real, but it is optional. The cheap Singapore is where most Singaporeans actually live their days: in hawker centres, on trains, in parks and on free evenings by the bay. Here is how to join them.
A S$100 day in Singapore
| Line | What it buys | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Bed | A hostel dorm or capsule bed near an MRT station | S$50 to S$75 |
| Breakfast | Kaya toast, eggs and kopi at a coffee shop | S$5 to S$7 |
| Lunch | A hawker plate and a drink | S$6 to S$9 |
| Dinner | Satay, noodles or rice at a hawker centre | S$8 to S$15 |
| Getting around | Four or five MRT and bus rides | S$6 to S$10 |
| One ticket | National Orchid Garden or the Supertree Observatory | S$14 to S$15 |
| Total | About S$90 to S$130 |
The WahLiao Verdict
| Cost | About S$100 to S$140 a day, before flights. |
| What you get | The same city, the same food and most of the same sights as a visitor spending three times as much. |
| What you give up | A private room, taxis, rooftop bars and theme parks. |
| Worth it for | Solo travellers, students, backpackers and anyone who would rather spend on the next country. |
| Skip it if | You are travelling as a family, where a shared hotel room often costs less per head than dorm beds. |
Sleep: the only big line to manage
The bed is where budget trips are won or lost. Hostels and capsule hotels cluster in Little India, Lavender, Bugis and Chinatown, all near MRT stations. Book early for weekends and big events, and check that the price includes the service charge and tax. Skip the short-let flat listings: short stays in homes are not allowed in Singapore.
Eat: hawker centres, twice a day
A hawker meal costs about S$5 to S$8 with a drink, and the food is some of the best in the city. Eat lunch and dinner at hawker centres, drink tap water rather than bottled, and treat yourself to one restaurant meal a trip if you like. Alcohol is heavily taxed, so drink less, or drink at happy hour. What to Eat in Singapore lists the dishes and prices.
Move: trains, buses and your own card
Tap your own contactless card on the MRT and buses. Most rides cost S$1 to S$2.50, plus a S$0.60 daily fee on foreign cards. The Tourist Pass pays only if you ride more than about five times a day. Walk in the mornings and evenings; take the train in the midday heat. Taxis are the budget’s leak: avoid them, especially at peak and after midnight.
See: the best of Singapore is free
Many of the city’s best sights cost nothing: the Botanic Gardens, the outdoor Gardens by the Bay and its Supertree Grove, Garden Rhapsody and the Spectra light show, Merlion Park, Chinatown, Little India and Kampong Glam, Sentosa’s beaches on foot, and Jewel’s indoor waterfall. Pay for one or two things only: the National Orchid Garden at S$15, the Supertree Observatory at S$14, or the domes at S$46 if you have one splurge.
For more ideas, The Diary keeps things to do in Singapore, priced, including the Pulau Ubin bumboat for a few dollars each way.
Six small savings that add up
- Refill a water bottle from the tap, all day.
- Book attraction tickets online, where they are often cheaper than at the gate.
- Walk the Marina Bay loop at night instead of paying for a viewing deck.
- Go to the free evening light shows instead of a bar.
- Keep your receipts; tourists can claim back GST on purchases of S$100 or more in one shop.
- Take the MRT from Changi rather than a taxi; it costs about S$2.
Singapore on a budget: FAQ
How much money do I need per day in Singapore on a budget?
About S$100 to S$140 a day with a hostel bed, hawker meals, trains and one small ticket.
Is Singapore expensive for backpackers?
The bed is expensive by regional standards; almost everything else is cheap. Food and transport cost less than in many Western cities.
What is the cheapest area to stay in Singapore?
Little India, Lavender and Farrer Park, where hostels and capsule hotels sit a few stops from the centre.
Can I drink tap water in Singapore?
Yes. It is safe to drink everywhere, and refilling a bottle saves real money in the heat.
Read next
This page belongs to Visiting Singapore, our guide for first-time visitors. For the full cost picture at every budget, read How Much Does a Trip to Singapore Cost?, and for the cheap areas to sleep, Where to Stay in Singapore. For happy hour and alcohol prices, see Why Drinks Cost So Much in Singapore.
Sources checked 28 September 2026: Eatbook on typical hawker meal prices; Gardens by the Bay admission prices; NParks, Singapore Botanic Gardens; SimplyGo; Singapore Tourist Pass; Ministry of National Development on minimum rental periods. Bed and meal figures are desk estimates, shown as ranges. Last updated 28 September 2026.
