Singapore is a beautiful tropical island paradise filled with endless attractions, cool experiences, gorgeous architecture, and picturesque cityscape scenery.
One could go from standing on the 57th floor of the new-aged Marina Bay Sands Resort and admiring city views, to watching the sun set over Singapore at one of the plethora of beautiful beaches on Sentosa Island, all in a single day.
Or how about exploring Gardens by the Bay, a sprawling horticultural wonderland home to over 1.5 million plants and highly decorative floral displays. I guarantee you’ve never seen anything quite like it!
I’d say that a week touring Singapore is enough to let you experience the region’s most popular things to do, but as one of the world’s most expensive cities, I get it, the burning question for potential tourists like yourself remains: Is Singapore Expensive? Well, let’s take a look …
Singapore is Not for the Budget Traveler
Let’s get straight to it—Singapore is not a place I recommend for the budget traveler. Sure, you can get away with staying in cheap hostels, solely riding public transportation, and maybe, just maybe, grubbing on inexpensive street food in China Town, but things like attractions, experiences, and nightlife, which we can assume you’re primarily there for, are on the expensive side of things.
For instance, let’s take a look at what you’ll spend to enjoy Singapore’s most popular attractions ($1 SGD = $0.71 USD as of 9/2022):
- Marina Bay Sand’s SkyPark Observatory: $25 SGD = $18 USD
- Gardens By the Bay: $50 SGD = $36 USD
- Singapore Zoo: $48 SGD = $34 USD
- Singapore Flyer: $33 SGD = $23 USD
- Universal Studios Singapore: $66 SGD = $47 USD
- S.E.A. Aquarium: $41 SGD = $29 USD
- Singapore River Cruise: $25 SGD = $18 USD
As you can see, you’ll need to dig into your pockets if you plan on truly living your best life in the region, and those posted are only a few of the can’t miss things to do in Singapore.
Add that to the price of getting around town, eating, buying drinks, and accommodation, and you’ve got one pretty nifty dent in your checking account.
Can You Still Explore Singapore on a Budget?
Let’s say that even on a tight budget, you’re still very adamant about visiting Singapore. You won’t take no for an answer, and previous budgeted international trips you’ve taken have proved to be successful. So, in that case, what are some tips on how to survive Singapore on a budget?
Hostel & Food
You’ll want to find a cheap hostel in China Town Singapore. Not only is it a fantastic location that’s near prominent attractions, but it’s also safe, heavily visited by foreign tourists, and the one of the best places to find cheap food on a daily basis.
Transportation
Buy a Singapore Tourist Pass (STP) for unlimited rides between the city’s public transportation, including the subway and bus. You can purchase 1 day pass at S$10, 2 days at S$16, or 3 days S$20.
Things to Do & See
My top recommendations for things to do in Singapore on a budget are hanging around Marina Bay—no seriously, it’s a place where you can find a cozy spot and sightsee for hours on end—visiting Marina Bay Sands SkyPark Observatory for a beautiful bird’s eye view of the city, exploring the gorgeous floral displays at Gardens by the Bay, and taking a dip in ocean at the sandy beaches of Sentosa Island.
There are plenty of free things to do in Singapore, too, like exploring the Botanic Gardens, stopping by historic temples and mosque, and going on nature hikes.
What Should You Do?
Singapore can get expensive when it comes to tourist travel. With the island overflowing with highly-rated attractions and things to do, it’s better to arrive with enough “make it rain” money to explore the best of the best the region has to offer. And that, dear reader, is how you create the most memorable trips. Safe and happy travels!
