Budget & Costs
What Does Singapore Cost?
Singapore is a city of contrasts when it comes to budget: You can eat a Michelin-starred dish for 3 SGD (Hawker Chan's Soya Sauce Chicken Rice) or spend 500 SGD on a dinner at Restaurant André. Hotels are expensive, food is cheap, transport is inexpensive, alcohol is very expensive. The art lies in the mix.
Typical Prices (Guidelines 2025/2026)
| Item | Price (SGD / EUR) |
|---|---|
| Hawker Center Dish | 3–6 SGD / 2–4 € |
| Coffee (Kopi) at Kopitiam | 1.50–2.50 SGD / 1–2 € |
| Coffee at Café (Latte) | 6–8 SGD / 4–6 € |
| Restaurant (Mid-Range) | 25–50 SGD / 17–35 € |
| Beer at Hawker Center | 7–10 SGD / 5–7 € |
| Cocktail at a Bar | 18–28 SGD / 12–19 € |
| Hostel (Dormitory) | 25–50 SGD / 17–35 € |
| Hotel (Mid-Range, Double Room) | 150–300 SGD / 100–210 € |
| Marina Bay Sands (1 Night) | from 500 SGD / from 350 € |
| MRT (Single Ride) | 1–3 SGD / 0.70–2 € |
| Gardens by the Bay (Domes) | 32 SGD / 22 € |
| MBS SkyPark Observation Deck | 26 SGD / 18 € |
| Singapore Sling (Raffles Hotel) | 37 SGD / 26 € |
Budget Levels
Backpacker / Budget (60–100 SGD / 40–70 € per day)
Hostels in Chinatown or Little India (cheapest location), three times daily Hawker Center (15 SGD/day for three meals!), MRT instead of taxi, free attractions (Botanical Garden, Merlion, Esplanade, many temples). Singapore is one of the few countries where world-class food is the cheapest on the menu. Skipping alcohol saves the most — a beer costs as much as two meals.
Mid-Range (150–300 SGD / 100–210 € per day)
Boutique hotels in Chinatown or Tiong Bahru, mix of Hawker Center and restaurants, the main attractions with entry fees (Gardens by the Bay, Sentosa), occasionally a cocktail in the evening. The Singapore Tourist Pass Card for public transport (20 SGD/3 days) saves money. Comfortable way to experience Singapore without missing anything important.
Comfort / Luxury (400–1000+ SGD / 280–700+ € per day)
Marina Bay Sands or Raffles Hotel, fine dining (Odette, Burnt Ends, Zén), rooftop bars (CÉ LA VI, 1-Altitude), private city tours and spa treatments. Singapore's luxury segment is top-notch — the city has more Michelin-starred restaurants than many European capitals, and the hotel scene is among the best in the world.
Tipp
The Singapore Hack: Eat like the locals in Hawker Centers (3–6 SGD per meal) and invest the saved money in experiences and a nice accommodation. A day in Singapore can cost under 20 SGD for food and transport with three Hawker meals and MRT transport — leaving budget for the highlights.
Saving Tips
Singapore doesn't have to be expensive. The best strategies:
- Hawker Center instead of Restaurant: Singapore's Hawker Centers offer world-class food for 3–6 SGD. Three meals a day cost less than a single restaurant lunch. And the food is often better.
- Kopi instead of Starbucks: A traditional Kopi (Singaporean coffee with condensed milk) at a Kopitiam costs 1.50 SGD — a latte at Starbucks 7 SGD. And the Kopi is more authentic.
- Free Attractions: Botanical Garden (UNESCO, completely free), Merlion Park, Esplanade, Fort Canning Park, Supertree Light Show (free, only the OCBC Skyway costs), Haji Lane, Chinatown Temple, Sri Mariamman Temple.
- MRT instead of Taxi: The MRT system is affordable (1–3 SGD), efficient, and air-conditioned. A taxi from the airport to the city center costs 20–40 SGD, the MRT only 2.50 SGD.
- Singapore Tourist Pass: 20 SGD for 3 days of unlimited MRT and bus — worth it if you're traveling a lot.
- Water: Tap water is safe and tastes good — refill your bottle instead of buying. Free drinking fountains in all malls and public buildings.
- Happy Hour: Cocktails in Singapore cost 18–28 SGD — but during Happy Hour (typically 5–8 PM) there are often 1-for-2 offers. Clarke Quay and Boat Quay have the most Happy Hour deals.
- Klook/Traveloka: Online tickets for attractions are often 10–20% cheaper than at the counter. Combo tickets for Gardens by the Bay + MBS SkyPark save additionally.
War dieses Kapitel hilfreich?
