Singapore often tops the charts as one of Asia’s most expensive cities, sending shivers down the spines of budget-conscious British travellers. But don’t let its reputation for luxury shopping and five-star hotels fool you because this dynamic city-state offers plenty of affordable adventures if you know where to look (and the SG Arrival Card is totally affordable too!).
Forget what you’ve heard about needing deep pockets; with some savvy planning, you can experience Singapore’s highlights without decimating your travel fund.
Breaking Down the Budget
Let’s get practical about that £50 daily budget:
- Accommodation: £15-25
- Food: £10-15
- Transportation: £5-8
- Activities/Attractions: £5-15
This budget requires strategic choices, but Singapore’s excellent public infrastructure and abundance of free attractions make it entirely feasible. Here’s how to make every pound stretch further in the Lion City.
Budget Accommodation Without the Backpacker Blues
Singapore’s accommodation can take a massive bite from your budget, but several options keep costs manageable:
Hostels in Little India and Chinatown offer beds starting at around £20 per night. Beary Best and Wink Hostels provide clean, air-conditioned sanctuaries with solid WiFi. What more do you need?
Pod hotels like CUBE Boutique Capsule Hotel offer a step up from traditional hostels. For about £25, you’ll get a private sleeping pod with charging stations and privacy curtains which are perfect for light sleepers who dread dorm snorers.
Budget hotels occasionally drop to £40-50 during promotions, making them viable if you’re travelling with a companion to split costs. Hotel 81 and Fragrance Hotel chains offer no-frills but clean options throughout the city.
Feast Like Royalty, Pay Like a Pauper
Singapore’s reputation as a food paradise extends to budget travellers, with some of its best culinary experiences available for less than a fiver.
Hawker centres represent Singapore’s greatest gift to budget travellers. These open-air food courts serve incredible local dishes for £2-5 per meal. Maxwell Food Centre, Chinatown Complex, and Old Airport Road Food Centre offer hundreds of stalls serving everything from Hainanese chicken rice to laksa.
If you are really trying to stretch a pound, remember that many hawker stalls offer smaller portions at reduced prices so just ask for less rice or noodles. Lunch specials also typically cost less than dinner options for identical dishes.
Here is what you must try without breaking the bank:
- Tian Tian Chicken Rice at Maxwell (£3.50)
- 328 Katong Laksa (£4)
- Zhen Zhen Porridge at Maxwell (£2.50)
- Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken (the world’s cheapest Michelin-starred meal at just £3)
Getting Around Singapore
Singapore boasts one of Asia’s most efficient public transport systems, and thankfully, it’s also remarkably affordable.
MRT and buses form the backbone of Singapore’s transport network. Pick up an EZ-Link card (£5 with £3 stored value) from any MRT station to save on each journey. Most trips cost between £0.80-1.50. If you travel during off-peak hours (before 7:30 am or after 9:30 am) you score discounted fares.
The tourist pass offers unlimited travel for £5-8 per day, worth considering if you’ll make more than five journeys daily.
Walking costs nothing and works brilliantly in Singapore’s compact central districts. The city’s immaculate streets and covered walkways make strolling pleasant even in tropical heat.
Free and Almost-Free Attractions
Singapore packs an impressive array of free sights that would cost a small fortune elsewhere.
Gardens by the Bay offers free access to its outdoor gardens, including the Supertree Grove. While the Cloud Forest and Flower Dome conservatories charge admission (£16), the nightly Supertree light show at 7:45 pm and 8:45 pm costs absolutely nothing.
Just next door, Marina Bay’s waterfront promenade delivers million-dollar views without spending a penny. Catch the free Spectra light and water show outside Marina Bay Sands nightly at 8 pm and 9 pm.
The National Museum of Singapore, Asian Civilisations Museum, and National Gallery Singapore also offer free entry to their permanent exhibitions on specific evenings (usually Friday evenings from 6 pm).
If you are looking for some greenery, Singapore’s parks and nature reserves offer free tropical experiences. Southern Ridges Walk, MacRitchie Reservoir’s treetop walk, and Coney Island Park showcase Singapore’s surprising biodiversity without asking a penny!
And you can always get your culture fix by simply strolling through ethnic enclaves like Chinatown, Little India, and Kampong Glam to experience Singapore’s cultural diversity through temples, mosques, and vibrant street life.
So What Does a 3-Day Budget Singapore Itinerary Look Like?
Day 1: Colonial Core & Chinatown
– Morning: Free walking tour of the colonial district (tip £5)
– Lunch: Maxwell Hawker Centre (£4)
– Afternoon: Buddha Tooth Relic Temple (free) and Chinatown heritage wandering
– Evening: Chinatown Complex for dinner (£4) and drinks at Smith Street (£5)
Daily cost: £18 food/drink + £5 activities + £5 transport = £28
Day 2: Nature & Cultural Exploration
– Morning: MacRitchie Reservoir treetop walk (free)
– Lunch: Tekka Centre in Little India (£4)
– Afternoon: Little India exploration and Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple (free)
– Evening: Gardens by the Bay Supertree Grove and light show (free), dinner at Satay by the Bay (£6)
Daily cost: £10 food/drink + £0 activities + £7 transport = £17
Day 3: Singapore Highlights
– Morning: Kampong Glam exploration and Sultan Mosque (free)
– Lunch: Arab Street food stalls (£5)
– Afternoon: National Gallery Singapore during free admission hours
– Evening: Marina Bay light show (free) and dinner at Lau Pa Sat hawker centre (£6)
Daily cost: £11 food/drink + £0 activities + £6 transport = £17
These daily itineraries allow you to play it by ear and not overstuff your schedule. Take your time to stroll as much as you can because Singapore is truly best seen on foot! And if you plan it just right, you might even have a few pounds spare!
So What is Worth The Splurge?
While sticking to £50 daily is entirely doable, consider these worthy occasional splurges:
- Singapore Zoo (£25) consistently ranks among the world’s best and offers an exceptional Night Safari experience.
- One drink at Marina Bay Sands Skypark (£15) grants access to spectacular city views from the famous rooftop. Visit around sunset for the best value.
- The Singapore Flyer (£25) provides breathtaking panoramas if weather conditions are perfect.
//
Singapore delivers extraordinary value when approached strategically. Pack those pounds wisely, and Singapore will reward your budget-conscious choices with memories that could easily have cost three times as much!