How to Visit Singapore on a Budget of $30 per Day

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**Gasp**. Can it truly be done? Absolutely. I spent $30 a day for three days on a long-layover trip to the island nation in 2019. & it wasn’t even difficult. I got the full Singapore experience without the typical Singapore price tag. Here’s how you can tackle Singapore on a budget.

Update 2023: I’ve now been to Singapore twice. It’s still one of my favorite cities in the world. And it’s still very possible to visit Singapore on a budget. This time we spent $50 for two people in a single day.

5 Travel Tips for Visiting Singapore on a Budget

Singapore is not inherently cheap. Cocktails are $20, the signature dish of buttery pepper crab is $65 (if you’re lucky) & finding a place to sleep for under $100 a night can be a challenge. Singapore is known for its lack of budget accommodation options. But if I can do it, you can too.

1. Make Singapore a Stopover

Many travelers visiting Singapore are coming from other parts of Asia. It’s an easy stopover from Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Or even a great link between Southeast Asia and other backpacker-friendly destinations like Sri Lanka and India. Either way, Singapore’s International Airport (Changi) offers some of the cheapest airfare to/from Europe and the States. So save some cash & consider making Singapore the first or last stop on your trip.

The Long Layover: You can also book flights with a stopover in Singapore. When I began my first year-long trip abroad, I booked a flight to Bali with a three-day layover in Singapore. This was plenty of time to see the country & actually saved me money in the long run because the flight was such a deal.

The One-Day Layover: You can also leave the airport and visit Singapore on a layover as short as 7 hours. Just leave your bags at the Baggage Storage counter in Jewel (the mall inside Changi Airport) and take the metro into the city.

2. Lower Your Accommodation Standards…or better yet CouchSurf.

I’ll level with you…budget accommodation in Singapore isn’t going to be pretty. I stayed at the Campbell Inn Hostel. It was the absolute cheapest option at $11 for a dorm bed. & it wasn’t my favorite. But it was cheap & that’s really all I was looking for. Prepare yourself, the reviews are bad. But it’s not THAT awful.

Cambell Inn Positives: The dorms were smallish at 6-8 people per room and the beds did have a curtain for privacy. It’s also right in the heart of Little India & an easy walk to the metro. No bed bugs.

If you’re visiting Singapore on a long layover, consider sleeping inside the airport. In addition to the many transit hotels you can book ahead of time, the Changi Airport is one of the most sleep-friendly airports in the world. There are free snooze lounges in every terminal and you are pretty much free to post up on any bench or chair or floorspace within the airport. We did it in 2023. We slept from 12 AM to 6 AM on a secluded bench and then took a metro to explore the city before our flight out at 5 PM. Just don’t forget to store your bags at the Baggage Storage counter. This means…you don’t even have to book/pay for accommodation.

Or Join the Singapore Couchsurfing community.

You’ll likely get to stay in a posh Singaporean residence & make a new friend. Locals know all the best spots to eat & all the off-the-beaten-path sights that travel blogs frequently miss. It’s also free.

Using Couchsurfing, I found the best Murtabak in Indonesia while staying with the kindest host family in Medan, Sumatra.

Couchsurfing is an amazing community. You can host travelers, meet other solo travelers in the area, grab drinks with locals, or whatever strikes your fancy. But I understand that it’s also not for everyone. And it takes some time to find a local who may be willing to host you on your specific dates.

For solo-female travelers worried about trying Couchsurfing, here is a great guide on how to safely navigate the platform.

3. Embrace Hawker Stalls

The uber-high-tech city-state goes traditional when it comes to food. Singapore is a melting pot of Indian, Malaysian, and Chinese cultures coming together in a tasty hot pot of some of the world’s most mouth-watering cuisines. Those traveling to Singapore on a budget will still be able to tuck into a plate of local favorites even if you have to take a pass on the pepper crab.

In fact, food is integral to Singaporean culture. The country doesn’t have a unifying language, dance, song, or single set of traditions. But it does have its local recipes. It’s widely thought that these recipes are what keep Singaporeans together.

A few of my favorite Hawker Centers for eating in Singapore on a Budget

So, what is a hawker stall? It’s a cross between a mall food court & street food. Vendors cook family specialties and often have been serving the same menu for decades. Every dish is incredible. & also dirt cheap. $4 & under is the typical cost of a full meal. Some stalls are even Michelin-starred. Or have been a favorite of chef Anthony Bourdain. Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice was both. Their signature dish is also only $2.50.

• Tekka Center. Best for Indian-influenced dishes like Murtabak, roti, and dosa.
• Old Airport Road Hawker Center. This is a super local spot. Lots of Michelin-starred stalls here too.
• Haig Road Hawker Center. You have to come here specifically for the Puti Puring dessert that Netflix’s documentary “Street Food: Asia” made famous.

The Best Food Tour in Singapore!

Finding the BEST food in a short amount of time is tricky. That’s why I always recommend food tours- specifically street food tours — to foodie-centered travelers like myself. A Chef’s Tour is an excellent company that works with locals to find the most culturally important dishes (and the tastiest) so you learn a lot about the destination while you eat absolutely enormous amounts of food. Click here (or the image) for more info.

4. Utilize Public Transport

Singapore is the single easiest place I’ve ever tried to navigate. Its smooth river of high-end vehicles creates a constant stream of traffic on its roadways. It has replaced Asia’s stereotypical transport of careening tuk-tuks with taxis & Uber. But you don’t need either of those. Their extensive light rail & metro system connects nearly the entire city.

Even the airport.

Walking & riding the metro you’ll be able to reach every single iconic Singapore attraction. No need for expensive ride shares.

The average cost of riding the Singapore Metro? $1.10 per ride.

5. Make Little India Your Homebase.

Stay & eat in Little India. It’s the cheapest neighborhood. It has several metro stops to connect you to the rest of the city & it holds many unique attractions itself.

Looking for a few budget-friendly restaurants in Little India? I highly recommend Green Leaf Cafe. It had budget-friendly traditional vegetarian Indian food. Also, Al Bismi Indian Restaurant has the best Roti Banjuir I’ve ever had. It’s open 24 hours a day but I highly recommend it for breakfast.

11 Free Activities for those in Singapore on a Budget

Let’s talk attractions of Singapore. This is where you would think costs would add up. But Singapore has an insane number of free attractions. In fact, I didn’t pay a single entrance fee. Here’s the free stuff.

1. Gardens By the Bay

Singapore’s most iconic attraction. Having a wander through the super trees is 100% free. & even more surprisingly, the evening light show flickering across its branches is as well.

Don’t be fooled by all the ticket booths. Unless you plan to go up in the trees or inside the botanical garden portion of the park–it’s completely free.

Bucketlist Attraction You Cannot Miss: The twinkling Gardens by the Bay light show on the trees every evening at 7:45 PM & 8:45 PM.

2. Marvel at the Marina Bay Sands

Singapore’s skyline is dominated by the surfboard-shaped ultra-glam hotel. Until recently, you could purchase a day pass to the rooftop infinity pool but now, sadly, it’s only for guests.

3. The Mall at Marina Bay Sands

Step into the world of glitz & glamour at this Singapore mall. You won’t be able to purchase anything but walking around you’ll be fully engrossed in the futuristic world of Singaporean design. & it makes for some great people-watching. The giant “lotus” garden and building is right outside as well.

4. Sri Mariamman Temple

Singapore’s oldest Hindu temple. The colorful front facade welcomes you inside with throngs of tourists and other worshippers. If you’re lucky you’ll catch one of the three times of prayer per day.

5. Sri Veeramakaliaman Temple

My personal favorite temple in Singapore. Hindu, & very off the tourist track. It’s small but makes for a great stop as you meander through the streets of Little India.

6. Sultan Mosque & Haji Lane in Kampong Glam

Kampong Glam is the Muslim center of Singapore. Streets lined with colorful carpets, intricate lamps, & one impressive green and gold towering mosque. It’s like a city within a city.

It’s one of the three cultural neighborhoods that you’ll spend your afternoon wandering. Kampong Glam, Little India, & Chinatown.

7. Buddha Tooth Relic Temple & Chinatown

Chinatown is the most touristed region of Singapore. But it’s well worth wandering. It’s here, that the tiered blood-red stupa of the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple sits crowded with Buddhist devotees. There’s also loads of street art & plenty of tasty street food vendors.

8. Singapore Merlion

Yes, a mer-lion. It’s the national symbol of Singapore. Paying homage to its seafaring fisherman & its original name ‘Singapura’–meaning lion city. The giant white fountain is iconic in Singapore.

9. MacRitchie Reservoir & Tree Top Viewpoint

A glimpse of wilderness just a short jaunt away from downtown. Miles of hiking trails wind around the peaceful lake and across suspension bridges twisting through the tree-tops. Be prepared to share the trails with playful macaques.

IMPORTANT! Also, it’s important to note that these trails are LONG. I would bring plenty of water and some snacks if you plan on doing the tree-top loop. There is a water refill station about halfway. Roundtrip we ended up clocking about 15km.

10. Ladies Night at Clarke Quay

Clarke Quay is a historic stretch of colorful riverfront warehouses. Nowadays it’s very commercialized & the warehouses hold restaurants and bars. Drinks are expensive in Singapore but on Wednesday nights the neighborhood has ‘ladies night’ where many bars offer “5 Drinks Free” or “Unlimited Free Martinis”. Or you just wander and check out the interesting waterfront.

11. Changi Airport Waterfall

This incredible waterfall is actually inside the Changi Airport Mall called Jewel. You do have to go through immigration and enter the country to see the falls. It’s right outside Terminal One near the Baggage Storage desk. The water is turned off during nighttime and early-morning hours so be sure to time your visit accordingly.

Want to Get Out of the City?

Singapore is easy to visit on a budget because of the close proximity of all its attractions. You’ll spend most of your time grabbing short light rail rides & walking, but on the off chance you want to explore the outer corners of the country, here’s a quick list.

• Mount Faber Park for a leisurely walk among the trees along a pretty pedestrian path.
• Bukit Timah Nature Reserve for some stunning green views of Singapore’s primary rainforest.

Not so Budget-Friendly Bucketlist Item?

You’ve saved hundreds of dollars following these budget tips but when it comes to splurging…what’s worth it? Probably a signature Singapore Sling from the world-famous Raffles bar.

It’s going to run you around $25 dollars, but supposedly, the classic cocktail was first formulated here on the back of a napkin, like so many amazing concoctions before it.

Aside from that….nothing. (Unless you’re a huge crab fan, in that case, dig into a sloppy pile of pepper crab.)

Although Singapore has garnered a reputation for being an expensive travel destination for the rich & lavish, it’s just as easy to experience Singapore on a budget.

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Looking to Extend Your Stay in South East Asia?

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• The Very Best of Thailand: Why I Keep Coming Back To Siam.
• How to Hike Mount Bromo in Indonesia for FREE!

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