Singapore cityscape
Although Singapore is my favorite city in the world, I have to admit to its one downside: it’s expensive. Even worse, every time I return the prices have increased, especially for hotel and hostel fees. In addition, in recent years the $ Sing continues getting stronger, making exchange rates worse for western visitors. This all adds up to increasingly expensive visits to one of my favorite destinations. Boo. :(
But what exactly does ‘expensive’ mean anyhow? After all, ‘cheap’, ‘affordable’, and ‘expensive’ are all extremely relative terms. In this travel tips report I detail the actual daily costs of a budget visit to Singapore.
I recently spent two wonderful weeks there, during which time I noted down current prices for everything from hostel beds to street stall foods to transportation fees and admission tickets. And since I’ve been traveling, working, and living around SE Asia since 1998, I’m quite familiar with other SE Asian countries’ currencies, exchange rates, and costs. Following are various prices in exact figures in $ Singapore, comparison prices in neighboring countries, and their $ US equivalents. (all current for 2012)
Preliminary notes:
$S = Singaporean dollars
RM = Malaysian ringit
TB = Thai baht
rp = Indonesian rupia
exchange rates at time of writing, are:
$1 US = $S 1.25
$1 US = 3 RM
$1 US = 30 TB
$1 US = 9400 rp
Following are costs of various goods and services in Singapore and SE Asia:
budget rooms / dorm beds / hostel rates:
Singapore $S 20- $S 30/dorm bed = ($16-24 US)
Malaysia 20-25 RM/dorm bed in KL or 25-30 RM/room elsewhere ($7-8 US)
Thailand 200-400 TB/room ($6.50-10 US)
Bali 70,000-100,000 rp/room ($8-10 US)
conclusion: Singapore’s budget accommodation is more than double or triple price of nearby countries
local meals at street stalls / food courts / local restaurants:
Singapore $S 3.50- $S5 ($2.80-4 US)
Malaysia 3.50-6 RM ($1.20-2 US)
Thailand 30-50 TB ($1-1.65 US)
Bali 5000-10,000 rp ($0.60-1.20 US)
Indian roti canai and tea tarik meal:
Singapore $S 2 ($1.60 US)
Malaysia 2.20 RM ($0.70 US)
chicken on rice meal:
Singapore $S 3.50-4 ($2.80-3.20 US)
Malaysia 3.50-5 RM ($1.20- 1.65 US)
Thailand 30-40 TB ($1-1.35 US)
Bali 5000-6,000 rp ($0.60-0.70 US)
Indian dosai and tea tarik meal:
Singapore $S 2-3.20 ($1.60-2.50 US)
Malaysia 2.20 RM ($0.70 US)
conclusion: Singapore’s local meals are more than double price of nearby countries
fresh lime juice with ice:
Singapore $S 1-2 ($1-1.60 US)
Malaysia 1-1.50 RM ($0.35-0.50US)
Thailand 10-20 TB ($0.35-0.65 US)
Bali 3000-5000rp ($0.35-0.65 US)
conclusion: Singapore’s local drinks are more than triple the price of nearby countries
1.5 L of 100+ electrolyte drink:
Singapore $S 2.70-3.00 ($2.0-2.50 US)
Malaysia 2-3 RM ($0.65-1US)
1.5 L of bottled water:
Singapore $S 2-3 ($1.60-2.50 US)
Malaysia 2-3 RM ($0.65-1 US)
Thailand 10-30 TB ($0.35-1 US)
Bali 2500-3000 rp ($0.30-0.35 US)
conclusion: bottled water / drinks in Singapore are more than double or triple the price
mobile phone sim card, with variable credit added:
Singapore $S 15-18 ($12-14.50 US)
Malaysia 8.80 RM ($2.90 US)
Thailand 200 TB ($6.50 US)
Bali 20,000 rp ($2 US)
conclusion: Singapore’s sim cards are 2-6 times more expensive than in nearby countries
Bus between KL and Singapore:
ticket bought in Singapore $S 25-30 ($21-24 US)
ticket bought in Malaysia 30 RM ($10 US)
Train between KL and Singapore, 2nd class sleeper upper birth:
Singapore $S 40 ($32 US)
Malaysia 40 RM ($13 US)
conclusion: train and bus tickets for travel between Singapore and Malaysia that are bought in Singapore cost more than double price of tickets bought in Malaysia
Metered taxi for 30 minute ride:
Singapore $S 20-25 ($16-21 US)
Malaysia 12-15 RM ($4-6 US)
Thailand 200-400 TB ($6.50-$13 US)
Bali 50,000-70,000 rp ($6-8 US)
conclusion: Singapore’s taxis cost 2-4 times more than in nearby countries
final conclusions:
So, the overall conclusion drawn from these concrete samples is that Singapore is more than double price of neighboring countries. In many cases, costs are triple or more. Here are a few more relevant details:
budget room in Bali Indonesia- $10 US / 100,000 rp
budget accommodation:
Please note that budget accommodation in Singapore does NOT mean a ROOM. It means a bed in a dorm room, with anywhere from 6-18 beds. Prices vary depending on the number of beds and whether they are mixed with both guys and girls or exclusively female rooms. The all-girl rooms cost more. The prices I quoted above are for cheaper dorm beds. Another class of more ‘modern hip’ hostels charge $S 40-50 per bed per night. That’s $32-40 US for a bed!
For less than half what you pay in Singapore for a mere bed, in most neighboring countries you will get your very own room, sometimes with en suite bathroom, sometimes with shared bathrooms. Here’s my photo gallery of various budget accommodation around Asia that I’ve personally stayed at.
Another way to look at it is this: For what you’d pay in Singapore for a dorm bed, in other SE Asian countries you’d get a 2-3 star hotel room, tiled, with a/c, en suite bathroom with hot showers, tv, and room service. In other words, you’d be upgraded from a budget traveler to a mid-range traveler.
Also note that Singapore dorm bed rates are about equivalent prices in UK, Europe, and USA. Singapore has western prices for drom beds! Singapore is a tiny country, and living space is at a premium! Accommodation is the one cost that goes up every time I visit the country, whereas most other prices in Sing. have remained pretty stable over the years.
Train and bus tickets between Malaysia and Singapore:
Do your best to buy your tickets in Malaysia rather than in Singapore. You’ll save quite a lot of money.
Here’s a recent travel tips post I wrote about overland travel between Singapore and Malaysia.
How to visit Singapore on a tight budget:
Join me next week when I publish my extensive travel tips on how to visit Singapore on a budget. Although Singapore is quite expensive, especially compared to other SE Asian countries, budget travelers can still visit comfortably by following several cost-cutting tips that I’ve learned over the years.
QUESTIONS:
Have you visited Singapore recently? What prices did you pay for food, drinks, rooms, and services?
Do you have any more Singapore costs to add to this list?
——————————————————————————————————————————————————–
Hi! I'm an American nomadic world traveler who's been traveling solo since 1998. I’m passionate about traveling the world nomadically and then sharing it all with you. I hope to inspire you to travel the world, to entertain you with tales from the road, and to help you reach your travel dreams. Welcome! 
10 comments
1 ping
Giulia says:
2012/06/01 at 9:30 pm (UTC 8 )
I wish I knew some of this info before I went! :)
Singapore looks really expensive but it’s good to know that there’s a way to live it on the cheap.
Lash WorldTour says:
2012/06/01 at 9:32 pm (UTC 8 )
Hi Guila,
Yeah, too bad about that. BE sure to check out my post next week when I really get into specific details and tips on how to do Singapore on a budget!
Thanks for stopping by! cheers, Lash
Izy Berry says:
2012/06/01 at 9:52 pm (UTC 8 )
I love Singapore! It’s such a great city, it is definitely way more than surrounding South East Asia, but I think when you travel there you should have that in mind. It’s like any other first world country, but cheaper than places like Sydney or London – at least in terms of food.
The skyline is beautiful, and at night it’s got it’s own magic. It’s not the best place for a budget traveler, but if you stick around Little India you can find lots of bargains for food :)
Lash WorldTour says:
2012/06/02 at 2:29 pm (UTC 8 )
Hi Izy,
Yeahhhhh, another person who loves Singapore! Nice to know you!
cheers, Lash
Talon says:
2012/06/02 at 6:24 am (UTC 8 )
YIKES! So expensive!
Lash WorldTour says:
2012/06/02 at 2:28 pm (UTC 8 )
Hi Talon,
yeah, accommodation prices in Sing are ridiculous.. really like US or European prices.. So, better to get free accommodation there one way or other… tips coming next week. cheers, Lash
Elaine says:
2012/06/03 at 4:14 am (UTC 8 )
I was just there in Feb. to celebrate Valentine’s day in my favorite city with my 2 little ones while hubby was away. And I was shocked to see how prices has gone up soooo much in the past 10 years. I still remembered tea terik was S$0.80 and it’s now S$1.2. A Roti Prata are like S$2 in Gallang!!! Most dishes at the food court like Chicken Rice, Laksa, Soup noodles are like S$2.5 – $4. We had to take a taxi one time around 6 pm from Orchard Road to the East Coast and was shocked by the S$5 rush hour taxi surcharge that was only there for a limited of time but now it’s from 6 pm-6 am. Also most hotels charges you S$10 for the password for using their WiFi. Even budget hotel like Hotel 81 would only give you free internet if you book the room online. And I still remembered their room used to be like S$45-60/room/night but now it’s like S$55-70/room/night. Really glad I learn about hostels before the trip though. I am pleasantly surprised to find Singapore has that many hostels but it was a tough task to find a hostel that will take kid under 6. After searching for 2 days, I finally found a few that would take kids, free WiFi with breakfast and all female dorms for S$20 per bed. I can’t wait to read the extensive travel tips you will post next week!!! I am planning a Southeast Asia trip and would love to any tips for visiting Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia and Philipines. Thanks!
Lash WorldTour says:
2012/06/03 at 1:27 pm (UTC 8 )
Hi Elaine,
THanks for stopping by. I’m always happy to find other people who love Singapore. So many westerners don’t like it. Eh?
sounds like you found exactly the same prices I did. I usually have to spend $S 4-5/ meal in food courts. occassionally $S3-3.50. Though some Indian meals are $S2, including tea tarik. I try that for breakfast.
Glad next week’s travel tips on cost cutting in Sing. will be useful to you!
Meanwhile, I have my posts about free things to do all over SE ASia in my ’10 Free Things to do in…” Sereis- all major cities in SE ASia are there. I’ve also writtend a lot on Malaysia, Bali, and Singapore. Feel free to look through all my posts, by country and/or the 10 Free series.
You can also write me specific Qs.
Nice having you here. cheers, Lash
Dannia says:
2013/04/21 at 4:59 pm (UTC 8 )
what is the estimated all in all budget for the whole trip in singapore for 7days?., Can you help me please?., Estimation would include (cheapest hotel, food, and miscellaneous). Thank you so much :)
Lash WorldTour says:
2013/04/23 at 6:06 pm (UTC 8 )
Hi Dannia,
Well, that’s an impossible question for me to answer for you. Everyone varies so much on how much/how often they need to eat, what activities they plan to do, how many times they’ll be using public transport, where they’re going to stay, etc etc.
I’ve listed the costs of just about everything in Singapore. I recommend that you figure out exactly how much it will cost YOU to visit Singapore for a week, based on the costs of each item and what you intend to do there. That’s how I do it when I’m off to visit a new country or city. Good Luck!
And enjoy Singapore!
cheers, Lash
SINGAPORE TIPS: 14 MONEY SAVING TIPS FOR BUDGET TRAVELERS - LashWorldTour says:
2012/06/07 at 5:39 pm (UTC 8 )
[...] 14 MONEY SAVING TIPS FOR BUDGET TRAVELERSTo repeat myself from last week’s Singapore tips: Costs of Visiting Singapore on a Budget:Although Singapore is my favorite city in the world, I have to admit to its one downside: it’s [...]