Traveling Singapore for CHEAP- Our 4 day budget Singapore itinerary

“Singapore” and ” budget” probably don’t often string together in your mind, but I’m here to say it is possible to visit this unique SE Asian country without spending too much. Singapore is iconic for a reason- it’s known for it’s unique and progressive architecture, blend of nature and modernity, cleanliness, and efficiency. Plus Singapore cuisine is known for a spicy blend of Chinese, Malay, and Indian cultures which make it an excellent foodie ( and vegetarian friendly) destination. So keep scrolling for our 4 day budget Singapore itinerary that won’t exploit your Singapore budget.

Entering the Jewel at Changi airport in Singapore ( the sign reads " jewel" against a glass building) as part of a 4 day budget singapore itinerary
The Iconic waterfall rushing down amongst green lush trees in the Changi airport in Singapore as part of the 4 day budget singapore itinerary

Arriving to Singapore- Logistics

Singapore is a major international hub and chances are, if you too are a travel lover, you’ll know how iconic the Singapore airport is. Singapore’s airport, known officially as Changi Airport, is known globally for it’s aesthetics, amenities, food, and entertainment options. It really is a destination on it’s own right and thus deserves a bit of separate attention and time when planning out how to spend 4 days in Singapore.

Plus, Priority Pass holders ( our favorite airport lounge network) allows visitors to access a lounge upon ARRIVAL which is a luxury in it of itself. Regardless if you’re coming in from a neighboring country on a short 1 hour flight or flying across the world ( as Singapore boasts some of the longest airline routes in the world!), freshly ( made to order) food, drinks, AND shower access is more then appreciated.

Visa Requirement for US Citizens at Changi Airport

Currently U.S. citizens don’t need a visa to visit Singapore for less then a 90 day stay. As usual for international travel, it’s best to make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months after your date of travel. Singapore’s efficiency and modernity starts right at your airport arrival experience. Customs is automated with a scanned passport and, at least in our experience, there were zero lines.

Singapore Currency

Singapore’s currency is called the Singapore Dollar ( SGD). The majority of restaurants, activities, transportation, etc. will all take credit card, but it’s definitely helpful to have some small cash on hand. We found that cash was helpful to have in some of the malls at cafes, markets, and a few restaurants close to our hotel in Little India. We suggest taking out about 20-25% total of your Singapore budget in cash!

How to get from Changi to the City

The cheapest and most efficient way to get to the city center from Changi is to take the train. The airport is directly connected to Singapore’s efficient ( and easy to navigate) MRT ( Mass Rapid Transit) system. To get from the airport to the city center will take you about 30 minutes. You’ll be able to pay for a single ride ticket ( which is what we ended up doing since we prefer to walk as much as possible) or invest in the Singapore Tourist Pass. A single ticket will cost about 2.5 SGD ( less then $2 USD).

Changi Airport-Amenities and Aesthetics

Arriving at Changi airport is an experience. In fact, we’ve met tons of travelers that just spend their time in Singapore at the airport. While there is obviously so much more to see beyond the airport, Changi on it’s own is a microcosm in some ways of what Singapore has to offer.

At the airport, you’ll find novel amenities like a 24-hour movie theater and a butterfly garden-both accessible for FREE. Changi is also home to the world’s largest indoor waterfall- and it’s all in an airport!

So after you do have your fill at the airport, it’s time to make it to the city center and time to start sorting out what do for your 4 day budget Singapore Itinerary.

coconuts on display as part of the signapore budget travel itinerary from Little India
Men shopping in Little India which is recommended on the singapore budget travel itinerary

4 Day Budget Singapore Itinerary

Since everyone likes to pace their trips to fit their needs, we’ll suggest a bucket of activities that you can sort out how you best like to group them so you can figure out best how to spend 4 days in Singapore. These days, we tend to air on the traveling slower side with 1-2 attractions a day. Especially considering the iconic Singapore heat- we’d recommend a similar pacing for your Singapore itinerary, but we know there are many folks who are happiest pushing through 5-10 attractions a day- you do you!

How to Spend 4 Days in Singapore

Our Singapore budget travel suggestions focus’s on affordable activities and may exclude some ” iconic” experiences which, though sometimes are worth the splurge, aren’t nearly as budget friendly.

  1. Chinatown: One of Singapore’s most iconic and vibrant neighborhood’s, it’s easy to spend hours exploring through the ins and outs of Chinatown. You’ll find lots of shops, food stalls, and plenty of people to people watch. If you’re looking for a great spot to eat, head to Chinatown Food Street, which is an outdoor hawker center (food court style) venue where most traditional meals will cost less then $4 USD-definitely a Singapore budget gem!
  2. Merlion Park: This is home to Singapore’s iconic Merlion ( mermaid/lion) statue that spouts water. It’s free to walk around and experience Singapore’s modern, iconic harbor with Marina Bay Sands in the background making it a necessary photo spot and a ” must” for your 4 day Singapore itinerary.
  3. Marina Bay Sands Light Show: You’ll definitely visit Marina Bay Sands several times on your trip, but one of our favorite ways to experience this Singapore landmark is at night. Along the waterfront promenade there is a free nightly light and music show that runs for around 15 minutes at 8 pm and 9m daily ( and additionally at 10 pm on Friday and Saturday).
  4. Gardens by the Bay: We were really impressed by how large and beautiful this area is and how much of it you can explore for free. While you do need to pay an entrance fee for the iconic Flower Dome and Super Grove ( you can get a joint admissions pass here if you’re interested in splurging), you can visit the gardens for free.
  5. Singapore Botanic Gardens: After enjoying the modern man-made light trees that steal the show at Gardens by the Bay, it’s time to explore some more natural flowers. Make your way to the Botanic Gardens which are FREE to enter. If you want, you can pay 5SGD ($3.50 USD) to enter the Orchid Garden which is inside the Botanic Garden, but there are plenty of free entries to explore if you don’t want to pay ( we decided not to).
  6. Explore a Museum: Our top two choices are the National Museum of Singapore ( 15 SGD or $10USD) or the Asian Civilizations Museum ( 10 SGD OR $7 USD). These museums offer a better understanding of Singapore’s unique cultural heritage and provide a better understanding how Singapore developed into the modern icon it’s known for today which will help provide an important cultural understanding for your Singapore budget trip!
  7. Head to Little India: This is one of our favorite parts of Singapore and where we decided to stay. It’s known for it’s budget friendly accommodations and food options and offers a vibrant neighborhood famous for it’s busy markets, colorful temples and energy. The ornate building of the Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple is one of the oldest and iconic Hindu temples in Singapore and can be found here.

With these suggestions it’s easy to keep a relatively lost cost for your Singapore budget travel. Personally, we felt like we got a solid experience of what Singapore is like without splurging on some of the main ” tourist attractions” like the Singapore Flyer ( a giant Ferris Wheel that will offer beautiful views of the city, but set you back about $25 USD to ride) or a trip to Sentosa Island, which is free to enter, but boasts some pricey attractions.

Budget Hotel in Singapore’s Little India

As mentioned, if you’re looking to keep your costs low for your Singapore budget travel then we recommend staying in Little India. In Little India, it’s possible to find budget hotels/ hostel for $30-$50 USD/night and you’ll be surrounded by endless streets of affordable ( and delicious) for food that’s accessible for under $3 USD. Little India will spoil you with options to keep to a low Singapore budget!

This price point per meal is far from the flashy, high-end dining scene that can also be found in Singapore ( in the Central Business Distract, Sentosa Island, or Marina Bay Sands).

How we Stayed in Singapore for FREE

One of the main reasons we ultimately decided to come to Singapore as part of our SE Asia trip is that I found a great flight deal and a great hotel deal. We flew AirAsia ( the best budget airlines in Singapore) from Langkawi Malaysia to Singapore for $27 USD. Once we scored the flight deal, I started combing through my credit card points and found that IHG had the best budget value hotels for Singapore.

With this card, you’re able to score the 4th night FREE with points so for a whopping total of 85,000 points total ( just 21,000 points a night) we spent 4 nights in Singapore for $0 USD at the Holiday Inn in Little India’s Singapore complete with a rooftop pool.

A tall glass skyscrapper is the facade of the Holiday Inn in Little India which is a recommended hotel for where to stay during a Singapore Budget travel trip
A rooftop pool in front of a glass building is suggested as part of the Singapore budget itinerary

Budget Hotels in Singapore

Hotel 81 Palace maintains a 8.5/10 ” star” rating on Agoda with over 2,000 reviews so it is definitely a well liked spot. It’s 600 meters to public transportation and centrally located.

Haising Hotel is located in Little India and is rated highly by guests for location, service and value for money.

If you’re looking to keep your price point under $60USD, you’ll find mostly capsule ( small room/just bed) style options, so it’s best to book your accommodation early in advance to have as many options as possible!

What else to know before arriving to Singapore?

Is Singapore expensive to visit?

The quickest answer is that visiting Singapore can easily air on the side of expensive instead of budget friendly. If you stay in a budget friendly area (like Little India) and eat local food ( with most options for under $3 USD) and visit the budget-friendly attractions ( or free options) we suggest, then it’s really easy to plan Singapore budget travel. It’s also easy to spend $30 USD per person on a single meal like in a major U. S. city or Western European city and drop $25 USD on a single entrance fee for an attraction- so choose how and what you want to spend your cash on based on your priorities!

Which month is best to visit Singapore?

Singapore’s temperature and climate is relatively similar year round. The driest period is from February to April. The hottest months are often May and June. The rainy season falls between November and January. We went to Singapore in the beginning of July and it was hot and humid ( as expected) with rain 1 day for part of the day.

Is 4 days too long in Singapore?

We think with our 4 day Singapore itinerary you’ll be able to explore a few different districts within Singapore without being too rushed. At the same time, we recognize there is so much more to the country that we didn’t get to explore that more time would’ve helped with too. Overall, the 4 days felt appropriate for what we hoped to see and experience!

Singapore Budget Travel Cost Breakdown:

If you stay n the Little India neighborhood like we recommend, then you can budget around $40 USD a night for accommodation, $3 USD per meal, $10 USD for all transportation, and a comfortable $30 USD ( total) for miscellaneous expenses like 1 museum entrance, snacks, and some souvenirs. Outside of flights, set aside $200-$300 USD for your 4 day Singapore itinerary ( budget edition!).

Final Thoughts on Singapore

While Singapore has a well-deserved reputation for being expensive, we hope you find our 4 day budget Singapore itinerary helpful ( and inspiring) to travel Singapore on a budget! We really enjoyed our time most in the Little India part of Singapore ( especially the food!) and are thankful that is where we chose as our base. The Marina Bay is iconic and modern in its own right- it’s worth a visit, but it definitely is ” too clean” for my liking and lacks a bit of charm!

Overall, I think Singapore is definitely a great addition to a SE Asia itinerary ( we visited while going to Japan, Malaysia , Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia) and pairs best with a neighboring country for a bit of contrast. And, one final appreciation for the Changi airport- it really is as wonderful as the internet hypes it up to be. It’s so beautifully designed and definitely worth time exploring. Well done, Singapore!

How to spend 4 days in Singapore
The iconic man-made trees as part of Gardens by the Bay which is included in our 4 day singapore itinerary suggestions.
The iconic white merlion statue ( with the face of a lion and a tail of a mermaid) is spitting water in an arch with the glass sky scrappers of Marina Bay in the background. Visiting the merlion is suggested as part of our Singapore budget travel suggestions

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Welcome! We're Vic and Pat- 30 somethings that have accumulated 10+ years of international travel experience who finally have the guts to share their experiences. We focus on budget couple travel in unique locations that aren't necessarily on a "bucketlist." We don't believe in taking time for granted and we do believe in living our life on the move. Sometimes we have long weekends, sometimes we have a 2 week holiday, sometimes we travel and work remotely for 2+ months at a time. Regardless of what chapter of life we're in, we want to show you how to stretch your budget, maximize travel hacks, and create memorable experiences.