Yes, food in Singapore can be very cheap and delicious if you eat at hawker centres, where you can find meals for as little as S$3.50-S$7, but it can also be very expensive in restaurants, so budget depends heavily on where you choose to eat, with food courts and kopitiams (coffee shops) offering mid-range options too.
Hawker centres One of the keys to travel Singapore on a budget is eating in the hawker centres (food courts). They're the cheapest and also the places where locals usually eat. A main dish can cost about 5-6 Singaporean dollars (3-4 euros).
Singapore is the most expensive country to visit in South Asia and one of the most expensive in the world. We have seen people spending more than INR 3 lakhs for just 5 days in Singapore.
For around SGD $140 per day, you can get a comfortable motel, travel using the MRT network, and eat at some world class food stands. You'll also be able to enjoy activities such as a visit to Gardens by the Bay and HeadRock VR for a really low cost.
The 5-4-3-2-1 grocery method is a viral TikTok trend for balanced, easy meal planning, guiding you to buy 5 vegetables, 4 fruits, 3 proteins, 2 grains/carbs, and 1 fun treat (or 2 sauces/spreads + 1 treat) for the week, simplifying shopping by focusing on food groups rather than specific recipes, allowing for flexibility while ensuring a variety of nutrients.
You can buy cheap Merlion-themed souvenirs like keychains, fridge magnets, and miniature statues. You will find Merlion-themed souvenirs almost everywhere, but check out Merlion Park, Chinatown Street Market, Bugis Street Market, and Pagoda Streets to buy them.
Yes it's sufficient and quite comfortable for the 5 days. Shopping wise, can get souvenirs at Bugis Street or Chinatown 3 for $10. You can do some restaurant meals at $30 per meal or food courts for $8. Just don't visit the high end/michelin restaurant that cost $180 per meal more than once and you will be fine.
If you want to step it up a notch but still stay on budget, mid-range restaurants and cafés offer meals for around £10-£20. Whether you're craving Western cuisine or something more exotic, you'll find plenty of variety. For self-catering travellers, groceries in Singapore are moderately priced.
The price ranges from 3 for $1 to S$2.50 per bottle, depending on where you are buying it. You can refill your water bottle with tap water for free. Attractions like USS and the wildlife parks provide drinking fountains to refill your water bottle. Around sd 1 to 2.5 .
For a good overview of Singapore's highlights, 4-5 days is ideal, covering Marina Bay, Gardens by the Bay, cultural districts like Chinatown, and Sentosa; however, 7 days allows for a more relaxed pace with museums, zoos, and local neighborhoods, while 3 days can cover the absolute essentials if you're short on time. A longer trip (10+ days) is great for deep dives into food, nature, and even day trips to Malaysia, but 5-7 days generally balances sightseeing with rest.
Tourists in Singapore must abide by the country's laws, which include restrictions on littering, chewing gum, smoking in public places, and consuming alcohol in public. Other important laws relate to jaywalking, vandalism, and public nudity.
The "60/90-day rule" in Singapore refers to immigration guidelines limiting short-term visitors (especially Malaysians) to a maximum stay of 60 days within any 90-day period, preventing long-term use of social visit passes (STVP) to circumvent work permit rules, though initial grants are often 30 days, extendable up to 90 days total with fees and approval from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA). Frequent entries and exits, or staying close to the limit, trigger scrutiny, with immigration officers assessing your history to prevent abuse, so always plan visits carefully.
Cash: While the majority of the general public prefers cashless payments, you can easily use cash for transactions in Singapore. It also comes in handy if you run into some problems while using your card.
If you're looking for the best free things to do in Singapore, this deserves to be at the top of your list. You can easily spend a day exploring the 101 hectare nature park by the Marina Bay Waterfront (there's three waterfront gardens such as Bay South Garden, Bay East Garden and Bay Central Garden).
