How to Travel to Singapore Solo on a Budget
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Have you ever wanted to travel to Singapore Solo on a budget, but the only thought about it scared you to death? I feel your pain, but there is no reason to be afraid of traveling SOLO, especially to Asia. Asia can be pretty affordable, and it is the safest solo travel destination.
I crossed the country as a solo female traveler to get to Singapore on a budget and this was the best experience in my life, despite long flights or sleeping on the floor at the airport. My solo trip to Singapore taught me the best life lessons and made me a stronger person.
Essential Info to Know About Singapore
Visa
If you are traveling to Singapore from abroad, you likely need a visa. Check out Visa requirements here
Weather
The Climate in Singapore is a tropical rainforest with high humidity. Temperature can get over 30 Celsius (86 Fahrenheit) hot
What is the best time to visit Singapore
The best time to visit Singapore is from February to April as it is the dry season
Currency
The Singapore dollar (SGD)
Language
Singapore has 4 official languages: English, Mandarin, Tamil, and Malay. The national language is considered Malay.
Wi-Fi
You can use free Wi-Fi with your mobile phone number at any Wireless@SG hotspot place. Additional charges may apply. Read their rules carefully
Tipping
In most places, tips are included in your bill. Standard 10% to your bill
Power plug adapter
Standard 220-240 volts. Power plugs with three square prongs can be used with no problem
Is water safe to drink
Yes, water in Singapore is safe, and you can drink it directly from the tap
Famous food
Seafood
Tax Refund
You can get back the 7% Goods and Services Tax if you spend more than $100 on your purchases during your trip.
Is Singapore safe to visit
Yes, Singapore is a very safe place to visit
In this post, you will find all useful info about things to do in Singapore, where to go in Singapore, how to save money, where to stay, and more.
Read my full article about how to travel to Singapore on a budget.
Here is my Singapore Solo Travel Itinerary: How to Travel to Singapore on a Budget
Firstly, it will give you a better idea of what to expect in Asia, and secondly, you will learn the best tips on how to travel to Singapore on a budget.
I always wanted to visit Asia, especially Singapore, but I was hesitant to go on my own. I thought it was not safe and super expensive, but after some research, I realized I was wrong.
Although it seemed scary to me to go to a different country on my own, my desire was stronger and I’ve given this present myself as my birthday gift.
And hesitating no more, I bought tickets to Singapore and Thailand.
How to Plan a Trip to Singapore
Getting a visa for the Singapore visit was an easy process since it is an electronic visa. In order to get it (as I am Russian and I needed it), I had to fill out an application online, pay $22 and send it via email. That was it!
There was no need to send any original documents for me to the Washington embassy, and I got the approval fast (for 5 days).
And the long-hour flight was expecting me ahead…
I discovered that the flights from Chicago were supposed to be super long; however, it didn’t stop me from going.
It took me 15 hours from Chicago to Singapore and because I had a few layovers (a 4-hour layover in Shanghai and about a 5 to 6-hour flight to Singapore) after that I spent in the air about 20 hours. But it was worth the experience.
The lifesaver was the travel pillow I brought with me. I never bought anything like that before as I didn’t want to carry more stuff on my trip, but my friend told me I will need one and moreover, now there were plenty of them on the market to choose from, even the inflatable ones. Which is very simple to use and doesn’t require a lot of space.
That was exactly what I needed
What airline I flew and how much I paid for tickets to Singapore
I was flying with China Eastern. Simply because they had the lowest prices:).
Despite many negative reviews, I should say that it wasn’t too bad and the tickets just cost me 600 bucks for the whole trip.
Which is super cheap!
I realized that it was much cheaper to buy separate tickets from the same airline.
Therefore, instead of round-trip tickets (as I also had domestic flights in Asia, which I bought separately), I bought a one-way ticket from Chicago to Singapore and a one-way ticket from Bangkok to Chicago as I went to Thailand after Singapore.
Did I like Singapore?
100% YES!
Singapore is a nice city with a shiny history. Just about 10 years ago, there was not much to see for tourists and now it is the coolest city which attracts people from all other the world.
I stayed at a hostel on beach street. That was the lowest price I found for 4 days, which cost me around $100. The hostel was ok, but the location was very convenient. I would highly recommend staying in that area.
I was walking a lot and occasionally had to take a taxi. They do not have Uber-like in the US, but they have Grab, which is similar.
Singapore Activities
The city amazed me. I’ve seen Gardens by the Bay and Helix Bridge and took advantage of a free walking tour which was very entertaining and informative (keep in mind you need to book it in advance through the internet as the availability is limited).
I booked it with Walkingsingaporetour which was the best Free Singapore tour. I also took a cable car ride to Sentosa Island and visited Marina Bay. That was a fantastic experience.
The night show was super nice. It looked similar to the fountain show in Las Vegas if you’ve ever been there. I also went to the Marina Bay rooftop.
(the entrance fee was about $45 which was used as a credit for the
purchase) and an Altitude rooftop bar where I was so amazed by the beautiful city view.
They charged $35 to go up to the Altitude rooftop, and it included 2 drinks. I’ve heard those are the best rooftops with a beautiful city panorama :).
Singapore is a safe city; the government cares about its people. As a result, you won’t see much homeless on the streets.
READ MORE ABOUT HOW TO TRAVEL SOLO
It’s clean and a wonderful city to explore. As a result, Singapore is an ideal location for women wanting to travel SOLO on a budget.
Read further to get more tips on the Singapore budget travel
Chinatown is super nice. There are a lot of cute and interesting places to visit.
I even ate cheap Michelin food, which cost me around $6. I can’t say it was the best food in my life, but it was worth checking out.
The place is called Hawker Chan (advice: choose soy sauce noodles instead of rice. TASTES BETTER :)).
What to Expect in Singapore
The weather in February was nice and hot. Expect to come back to the hostel some days and take a shower during the day as it can be super humid.
Navigation city’s system is very easy. Everybody speaks English. And if you ever lost, there is never a problem asking for help. If you want to go shopping, check out Orchard Road and Chinatown (they have a good choice of souvenirs).
Pro-tip: There won’t be a lot of souvenirs at the airport, so it is better to buy them in the city. In Chinatown, they only accept cash for such things, so make sure to carry some with you.
Things You Must Do and See in Singapore in 4 Days
- Marina Bay Sands Skip-the-Ticket-Line
Enjoy 360-degree views of Singapore from the Observation Deck on the 57th floor of Marina Bay Sands
- Sentosa Island Cable Car Ride
Get your Sky Pass for a cable car ride to Sentosa Island here - Gardens by the Bay
Find your Gardens by the Bay Admission E-Ticket here - Merlion
Reserve your tickets to Merlion tours and attractions here - Shopping: Orchard Road
Get lost among different stalls of clothes, souvenirs, and more - Clarke Quay
Wander around the fancy area of Clarke Quay - Singapore Zoo
Spend your morning exploring an award-winning Singapore Zoo. Hotel pickup included.
- Birds park
Enjoy watching the beautiful birds in the park - Art Science Museum
Get your entry ticket to the Singapore Art Science Museum here - Take an Open-Top Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour
See the beauty of Singapore on a hop-on-hop-off bus by Big Bus - Suntec City
Another huge retail hub to visit in Singapore
Here are my Bonus 7 Tips: How to Save Money in Singapore.
1. Substitute eating at expensive restaurants by eating food at Hawker centers
It is basically the food court with lots of tables outside or inside, with different kinds of local food at an affordable price. Look for the colored posters, from A (the best quality food) to D (a risk quality food), displayed at each stall. Check out this list of the 5 best food courts in Singapore.
2. Use public transportation instead of a taxi
* MRT (subway) – Single-trip tickets cost from $1.40 to $2.50. If you are going to use transport more than once, buy EZ-Link cards which can be purchased from 7-Eleven for $10, or the customer service counters at MRT stations for $12 ($5 non-refundable deposit included). You just need to load a card with money and you can use it on the bus or metro.
* Buses – tickets can be purchased inside the bus (exact cash only) or at the station. Also, if you have your EZ-Link card, you just need to tap it in. Bus fares are between 1-2 dollars per person depending on the distances traveled.
3. Tipping is not required
Some places include the “net” fee in the check at the end automatically (it can be from 7 to 10%). Look for ++ characters in the check.
4. Avoid being fined in Singapore
- Throw your litter into the bin
- Spitting on the street is a bad idea
- Smoke Only in specific Smoking Areas
- Avoid Eating In Public Trains and Buses
- Chewing a piece of gum is prohibited
- Don’t take durian into public transportation
- Cross the street only in designated areas
- Never urinate in elevators and always flush the toilet
- Stay away from drugs and vandalism
5. Always carry the empty bottle for water and fill it out with tap water. It is safe and will save you a lot of money.
6. Stay in hostels instead of hotels and in a convenient location close to sightseeing, so you can walk most of the time instead of paying for transport.
7. Take advantage of FREE stuff in Singapore
FREE walking tours, Free entrances to main sights, FREE concerts, and more. Just do your thorough research before you pay for anything.
Singapore Trip Cost Per Day
- Let’s assume you eat breakfast at your accommodation place. As a result, you save money on your first meal :). Hence, you will have to pay for lunch and dinner only. The meal price in Singapore depends on where you eat.
The cheapest meal you can get at a good Chinatown restaurant is from $6 -15. Sushi in the city can be pretty expensive (about $20-30). In case you need to eat breakfast somewhere else, it can cost you about $10 minimum.
- The public transportation will cost you from $2 to 4 for each trip. The price depends on the miles you travel. I didn’t take public transportation often because I walked a lot. A few times I used a bus and a Grab. Grab will be around $8-10. Again, depends on where you travel to.
- The taxi to the airport approximately will cost you $30-40. If you have enough time, it is cheaper to use a bus or train which goes to the city.
- Attraction costs: major sightseeing in Singapore are FREE. Things to do such as cable car ride ($30), and look for discounted sites with cheaper prices. If you plan to go to rooftops, consider spending $35-50 per place.
To sum it up: plan to spend about $50-60 a day if you don’t do any activities except exploring and about $120 a day for doing some activities. So, how much you are going to spend per day is totally up to you. I traveled on a budget and didn’t spend a lot per single day.
Final thoughts
In conclusion, I can say for sure that my Singapore itinerary was very exciting and I would love to come back one day as there is so much else to see and discover. Singapore for tourists is the best destination as it is a lovely, incredible, welcoming city with so many things to see and do for everybody at any time of the year.
I fell in love with Singapore, its culture, and its people and enjoyed my whole time there.
I hope that now you got a better idea of how to travel to Singapore on a budget and that all this info was useful for you. This is a good Singapore itinerary for 3-4 days. I hope your Singapore vacation will be as amazing as mine. Thank you for reading my post and feel free to share your experience of a solo female traveling to Singapore.
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