Guide + Video: When you set priorities and adjust expectations, you can enjoy and afford Singapore
Is it possible to enjoy Singapore on a family budget, especially when visiting with kids?
Sort of.
No matter what, Singapore is a more expensive destination. Your trip will cost more, but it can still be enjoyable—and affordable.
Our family of four has visited Singapore twice, including a one-week stay and a four-night stay. Just about anytime we’re in Southeast Asia, we wind up at least with a connecting flight through Singapore’s Changi Airport (SIN). We travel on a modest family budget, but we prioritize doing what matters to us in a destination.
With the tips below, you can be intentional and strategic with your planning, helping you balance doing what you want to do in Singapore, while sticking to the budget your finances need. However, prices change, and different families have different needs, preferences, and budgets, so we don’t note hard numbers.
Plan an affordable trip with this video
Change your mindset about costs and budget
Destinations such as Norway, Iceland, New York, and Switzerland are more expensive than, say, Poland, Morocco, Bangkok, or Da Nang.
Singapore is another destination that is inherently expensive.
Even though it’s close to Malaysia and Thailand which are known for their budget-friendly options, Singapore is not a budget destination. With a wealthy economy and first-rate infrastructure, Singapore attracts wealth and luxury from all over the world. Singapore doesn’t want to be a cheap visit.
And that’s okay.
There are still ways to enjoy a nation like Singapore on a family budget, even a modest family budget like ours.
Planning and budgeting for a visit to Singapore works best when thinking about Singapore more like you would another expensive destination. Here are some mindset adjustments that can help you plan and budget effectively:
Accommodation
More expensive, and even lower quality stays will have a higher price tag. Your Singapore stay can easily be your highest cost here, and that simply is what it is.
Expect to spend more. It could even be worthwhile to justify a splurge on an iconic hotel.
In our experience, we’ve yet to find a vacation rental in Singapore that’s a better value than a hotel, even when factoring in the cost savings and convenience of a kitchen. Check Airbnb and VRBO by all means, but keep in mind that a hotel may offer the better price, and be more convenient for train stations, bus stops, and attractions.
More on where to stay in Singapore with kids
Find your perfect Singapore stay
Getting there: Combine Singapore with other Southeast Asian destinations
There’s a decent chance you’ll go through Singapore’s Changi Airport anyway. Singapore is a major global air travel hub, and we prefer tying in time in Singapore with time overall in Southeast Asia.
Since you’ll be there, add a night or three to your trip, and think of Singapore as a bonus destination. You aren’t visiting just Singapore itself, so your getting-there cost spreads itself over other destinations.
Plus, if your trip includes less costly destinations such as Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, or even Japan or Taiwan, there’s a good chance you can offset Singapore’s higher cost with less pricey options in these or other destinations.
Food and drink: Go big on lunch, save on breakfast and dinner
More expensive all around, but food stalls at hawker centers typically cost less than sit-down dining. They’re an attraction and a meal rolled into one.
Leverage convenience stores and small markets for snacks, fruit, and beverages. Trim dining costs by skipping beverages, dessert, and alcohol. Bonus: Singapore’s tap water is safe and reliable, so you can drink tap water instead of buying bottled water.
Dining out for lunch, especially at hawker centers, is the most budget friendly option for food. We usually snag some simple supplies for breakfast, such as yogurts or pastries, and often have a lighter dinner in.
But lunch?
Lunch is the most fun when you dine out, and it’s usually the best balance of experience and budget.
Getting around: Walkability and affordable public transportation
Many areas are walkable (just bring sun protection and umbrellas). Public transportation is affordable, safe, and easy to access.
Fewer nights stayed = lower cost
Each full day is another day of meals, attractions, and, above all, accommodation. The easiest way to afford Singapore on a budget is to minimize the number of nights you stay.
When visiting Singapore, we suggest two nights minimum. Here are ways to think about it:
1 night in Singapore
Singapore is about the same size as the Los Angeles metro area, only much easier to get around since you can walk, ride the bus, or take the train pretty much anywhere you’d want to go. If you stay one night, try to get as much out of the day you arrive and the day you leave as possible, though.
One night in Singapore means being really strategic. This is where you want to know your top 3 priorities, and make sure you check them out.
When you have only one night in Singapore, especially if you’ll probably never go there again, this is when you prioritize to the max, so you can leave knowing you did what mattered to you most.
This can also be an opportunity either to save on your accommodation, since it’s only one night—or to go big on where you stay. Again, because it’s only one night!
2-3 nights in Singapore
This can often be a sweet spot for balancing activities and budget. You’re in Singapore long enough to do your key priorities, check out a few other attractions, and get a decent feel for this incredible island nation.
4+ nights in Singapore
With four or more nights in Singapore, you aren’t just here for a quick taste. You have some in-depth activities in mind, such as a day at Universal Studios, or perhaps a half-day or all-day class or tour.
Excellent.
You can also spread your savings and your splurges. For example, you might go lean on breakfast and dinner, but have lunch at a different hawker market stall each day. It’s also worth seeing if your accommodation offers any price breaks for multiple nights.
Prioritize the paid attractions that matter most to you and skip the rest
Singapore attractions such as Cloud Forest and Flower Dome can have a spendy admission, but if those are the attractions you consider a top priority, then it’s worth it. Fortunately, Singapore has an excellent mix of attractions and admissions. You can easily prioritize the paid attractions that matter to you and skip the rest.
Singapore is home to excellent classes and tours as well, and paying for one of these can deepen your experience.
Check out Singapore experiences
Singapore has more free activities than you might think. Take advantage.
Speaking of attractions, many parts of Singapore are free. For example, many of the island’s park and green space areas, such as the Singapore Botanic Gardens and Gardens by the Bay, are free to enter and enjoy.
Especially when traveling with kids, you can easily tie in parks with other activities and attractions for your sightseeing day.
One of the country’s best attractions? The twice-nightly sound and light show at the Supertree Grove is free, and it’s an iconic sight to take in.
Wandering around Sentosa Island (including the fascinating, immersive SensoryScape area), Little India, and Chinatown is also free to explore.
Enjoying Singapore on a budget is possible through planning and prioritizing
You can enjoy Singapore on a budget. The cost will still be higher, and that’s important to understand up front. Singapore on a family budget is not the same thing as Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, or Malaysia on a budget. Singapore is more expensive, period.
Even if visiting Singapore won’t be on as small a budget as you might prefer, you can mitigate travel costs in some areas, so you can better deal with higher costs on things like accommodation.
If you manage the number of nights you stay, balance higher costs with free or budget attractions, and strategize how you have meals, you can visit this awesome place, have it be worthwhile, and know that every bit you spent went toward great memories.
Watch our Singapore on a budget video
