Version: CN
Traveling can be super expensive, we know this. Some of us are scared to travel overseas, assuming it costs a fortune.
Sure, Singapore boasts many fun paid attractions such as the famous Universal Studios Singapore – but what if I told you that you don’t need a lot of money to have fun in Singapore?
Here’s what I spent in Singapore with only SGD$100 for 3 days (yes, including transportation)!
| Day 1 |
Day 1
Lunch @ Zam Zam Restaurant
After we landed in Singapore, we went straight to Zam Zam Restaurant to fill up our tummies with some good food. We ordered a small beef murtabak and chicken briyani.
The best part is, the portions are enough to feed 3 people! We took home the leftovers, so our dinner was practically set for the day.
The total for both added up to $15, so it costs $7.50 per person if you’re sharing with 2 people.
Cost: SGD$7.50 per pax
Singapore Botanic Gardens
This incredible UNESCO World Heritage Site is full of sights to see, and so many things to photograph. I do have to warn you, it’s HUGE. But what that means is, you get an entire day to explore the area!
You’ll immediately reach the gate to the gardens as soon as you exit the Botanic Gardens MRT. From then on, you have a whole lot to explore!
Don’t miss out on the waterfalls for a great photo op.
Cost: FREE
Ice Cream Man and Friends
We reached the Botanic Gardens at almost 3pm, and unsurprisingly, it was scorching hot. Before we strolled around the park, we decided to treat ourselves to some refreshing ice cream to power us through it.
The staff were very generous with the scooping! We shared a cup with two scoops: the coconut cream and mango passionfruit flavours.
The coconut cream was the perfect flavour to get us through the hot day, while the mango passionfruit was an invigorating flavour, leaning on the thicker side.
Cost: SGD$8.50 for double scoop = SGD$4.25 per pax
Apple Store @ The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands
Phew, now THIS was a view.
The Apple store at the Marina Bay Sands is an architectural wonder, and it’s an incredible spot to take photos. I mean, a literal Apple store overlooking the iconic Singapore river? They just keep outdoing themselves time and time again.
The (very large) Shoppes at the Marina Bay Sands mall was dotted with big name brands, but the Apple store needed an honourable mention.
Whether or not you’re an Apple fan, you should definitely include this in your itinerary.
Cost: FREE
HEYTEA @ The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands
$2 Boba in the Marina Bay Sands mall? Sounds too good to be true, but to our delight (and relief), we’re happy to say it is.
We stumbled upon this super affordable boba store, and we were quite literally shocked to see how cheap it was (in comparison to other boba stores).
I got the Pure Aqua Green Jasmine Milk Tea ($2.90), and my friend got the Brown Bobo Milk ($3.60). And to make things even better, they do boba WELL – my friend came here again for seconds.
There’s usually a queue for this store, and for really good reason.
Cost: SGD$2.90
Marina Bay Sands Hotel + Gardens By The Bay
Your trip to Singapore would be incomplete without a visit to the iconic Marina Bay Sands hotel and Gardens by the Bay.
If you were to search online, you’ll find that these places require an entrance fee. Good news: we found out you don’t need to pay to see it!
From the Bayfront MRT exit, you’ll only walk less than a minute to a see-through elevator that takes you to a bridge where you can see a phenomenal view of both, plus the Singapore Flyer.
Be sure not to miss the lightshow that happens at 7.45pm and 8.45pm nightly!
Cost: FREE
Day 1 total: SGD$14.65
Day 2
Sentosa
Did you know that there’s much to see at Sentosa? And you don’t need to break the bank to enjoy yourself there!
We simply paid a one-time fee of $4 to use the Sentosa Express located in VivoCity Mall, which was the monorail that takes us to and from the different stations within Sentosa.
Although there are a lot of paid attractions to discover, the pristine beaches were already a sight to explore on their own. There’s a free shuttle bus service that goes along the Sentosa beach stretch, with stations you can stop by to look at anything that tickles your fancy.
Bring along a beach ball and your swim trunks and play around in the water, or simply put on your best beach dress and take photos on this iconic bridge!
You can also see a gorgeous view of the Sentosa islands and the sea at the Southernmost Point of Continental Asia! After a whole day of sweating, you can cool yourself down atop the big, big treehouse.
Sentosa on its own is more of a whole day endeavour, but we had other plans afterwards.
Cost: SGD$4 for Sentosa Express
Lunch @ So Pho
By this time we were starving. We’d had a piece of Kaya bread to power us through the morning, but it was time to have lunch.
We then decided to eat at So Pho, a halal Vietnamese restaurant. They had a set meal promo, with an appetizer, 2 main dishes and 2 drinks. Talk about a steal!
Plus, it was GOOD. Or maybe it was good because we were hungry.
Cost: SGD36.10 / 2 = SGD$18.05 (including tax)
Uncle Chieng Ice Cream @ Orchard Road
We couldn’t miss out on the iconic ice cream roti at Orchard Road.
Located in front of the legendary Takashimaya, we were lucky to find the ice cream man here since they don’t have a fixed opening time.
I chose the Cookies and Cream flavour.
To be quite honest, we didn’t understand the hype, but eh. Why not give it a try, right?
Cost: SGD$1.50
JEWEL @ Changi Airport
For the longest time, I was under the impression that the JEWEL was the iconic indoor waterfall. But I was mistaken – it’s a whole mall!
There’s so much to see in the JEWEL, but we were focused on seeing the indoor waterfall, which is called the HSBC Rain Vortex.
What makes it so beautiful is their light and sound shows at 8pm and 9pm. We had the privilege of catching the show at 9pm, and it was a view I’ll never forget.
Cost: FREE
Day 2 total: SGD$23.55
Day 3
Breakfast @ Zam Zam Restaurant
Yes, we’re back here. But this time, it’s to try the infamous Deer Murtabak!
The deer murtabak is more on the pricier side, of course, but we had the small and it was still pretty huge for two people.
Cost: SGD$12 / 2 = SGD$6 per pax
Miracle Coffee
Remember HEYTEA and how my friend loved it so much she went for seconds? Since I’d tried it already, I wanted to try something new, and I discovered a quaint pop-up cafe called Miracle Coffee at the outdoor rain oculus of the ArtScience Museum.
I saw clouds and the words ‘Singapore-exclusive’, and that was enough to pull me in.
Plus, what made it even more enticing to me was that this pop-up is made by award-winning pop superstar JJ Lin!
I had some extra cash to spend, so I decided to go for the Kaya Cloud, which was their, you guessed it, Singapore exclusive. I simply couldn’t miss out!
“Kaya Cloud is an Americano-style coffee topped with velvety fresh cream cap flavoured with kaya, complete with shaved gula melaka for an elevated aromatic experience.” How would you not grab a cup?
This coffee did cost a hefty sum, but BOY, was it delicious.
Cost: SGD$9
Haji Lane
Haji Lane is a wonder for people who love taking photos. As you would expect, it’s a lane dotted with pretty cafes and eccentric-looking shops.
There’s also a lot of street art to see if that tickles your fancy.
Indulge your senses in all the wonderful colours of Haji Lane!
Cost: FREE
All Things Delicious
Okay, this was a treat so it’s more on the pricier side. I couldn’t leave Singapore without visiting at least one cafe, and we decided to treat ourselves to a little something sweet with our extra Singapore dollars.
We had the Soy-Glazed Salmon Rice Bowl ($19.90) and the 1001 Arabian Nights Mille Feuille ($14.90).
The mille feuille was interesting to say the least. But my rule of thumb when traveling to a foreign country is to try something I wouldn’t find in Malaysia. I mean, “Crisp, puff pastry layers with cardamon creme & apricot-honey compote infused with saffron”? Where else can you find this, let alone indulge in it?
Not only was it tantalizing to the taste buds; it was also a sight for sore eyes.
Cost: SGD$41.20 / 2 = SGD$20.60 (including tax)
Day 3 total: SGD$35.60
Transportation cost for 3 days = SGD$16.14
Grand total for 3 days = SGD$89.94
There’s much to explore in Singapore, even if you’re on a budget! To make matters better, transportation is a breeze in Singapore, and it’s extremely walkable – perfect for travellers looking to travel for cheap.
I hope this article can act as a guide to your next budget travel in Singapore!
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