Singapore seems to cater mainly for those tourists who have plenty of money to spend. Backpackers and others on a shoestring budget usually end up spending only a minimum amount of time in this city on their way to cheaper places in South-East Asia. While Singapore is definitely not a cheap destination, it is still possible to cut costs if you end up in Singapore on a backpacker budget.
One thing that is not cheap in Singapore is accommodation, and there is no way around it. The area of Little India has several low-budget options and backpacker guesthouses, although they are more expensive than in many other South-East Asian cities. However, when it comes to eating and sightseeing, it is possible to avoid spending your week's traveling budget in a day.
Eating Cheaply In Singapore
Singaporeans love to eat, and they love to shop, and everything in this city seems to be designed for these two activities. Shopping here is cheaper than in the West but more expensive than in many other Asian cities. Fortunately, eating out does not cost much in Singapore, because when it comes to food, Singaporeans like to get value for their money.
The best places for eating cheaply are hawker centres and food courts, which can be found everywhere in Singapore. A meal in a hawker centre or a food court costs just a few Singapore dollars, and while a coffee at a hawker centre costs 70-90 cents, it can cost S$5 in an international coffee chain's outlet next door! Food in hawker centres is delicious and affordable and there is no need to worry about hygiene: it is perfectly safe to eat.
Things To Do In Singapore For Free
Entrance to the Botanic Gardens is free, and it is a nice place to walk around especially in the mornings and evenings, when Singapore's tropical weather cools down a little. Early in the morning locals practice t'ai chi on the lawn, and there are often free concerts at weekends.
Chinatown is a great area to wander around and look at some cheap souvenirs. Little India is, despite of its name, not like real India at all, but it is a good place to sample affordable Indian food.
Many Buddhist temples in Singapore are open to visitors and do not charge for entry. The Lian Shan Shuang Lin temple (nearest MRT Toa Payoh) and the Kong Meng San Phor Kark See, also known as Bright Hill Temple (nearest MRT Bishan) are definitely worth visiting.
Travelling Around Singapore Cheaply
Singapore's public transport is efficient, safe and affordable. The best way to get around Singapore is to buy an EZ-link card that can be used in the MRT (Singapore's metro) as well as buses. Journeys paid with the card are cheaper than buying individual tickets for each journey. MRT trains as well as Singapore's buses are air-conditioned, and most of the time Singapore is just too hot to walk around.
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