What things cost in Singapore, and what's free
Hotels are the big cost in Singapore, while food and many of the best sights are cheap or free. These answers put a number on a hawker plate and a hotel room, explain the ++ on a menu, tipping, the GST refund and paying by card, and list what costs nothing and where tourists pay more than residents.
Reviewed September 2026
Is Singapore expensive for visitors?
Hotels are the expensive part, with rooms averaging about S$274 a night at licensed hotels, while a plate of chicken rice averages about S$4. We'd spend on a good bed and eat at hawker centres, with Maxwell Food Centre an easy first lunch. Many of the best sights, from the Botanic Gardens to the Spectra light show, cost nothing.
Sources: Singapore Tourism Board, SingStat, NParks, Marina Bay SandsChecked September 2026
What are the best free things to do in Singapore?
The Singapore Botanic Gardens, the Supertree Grove and the Spectra light show at Marina Bay are all free, and together they fill a day and an evening. Only the National Orchid Garden inside the Botanic Gardens charges, and Spectra runs at 8pm and 9pm, with a 10pm show on Fridays and Saturdays. Start in the morning at the Gardens, then finish at Supertree Grove or Spectra.
Sources: NParks, Gardens by the Bay, Marina Bay SandsChecked September 2026
Is Gardens by the Bay free to enter?
The outdoor gardens, including the Supertree Grove, are free to walk around outside ticketed events, and the Garden Rhapsody light show there is free too. The Flower Dome and Cloud Forest are ticketed, and an adult visitor pays about S$46 for the two together against S$34 for Singapore residents. The OCBC Skyway and Supertree Observatory are separate tickets.
Sources: Gardens by the BayChecked September 2026
See alsoGardens by the Bay (Outdoor Gardens)Flower Dome + Cloud Forest
How much does a hawker meal cost in Singapore?
On average, chicken rice costs about S$4.20 a plate, fishball noodles about S$4.40 a bowl and a cup of coffee or tea with condensed milk about S$1.40. Famous stalls in the middle of town usually charge a little more. For your first plate, Maxwell Food Centre has chicken rice, and the hawker guide explains how to order.
Sources: SingStatChecked September 2026
Do you have to tip in Singapore?
Tipping isn't customary in Singapore, though a tip for good service is encouraged. Many restaurants and hotels add a service charge to the bill, typically 10%, so check the bill before you add anything on top. A menu price marked ++ means that charge and GST come extra.
Sources: Visit Singapore, IRASChecked September 2026
Related questions
What does ++ mean on a menu in Singapore?
A price marked ++ excludes the service charge, typically 10%, and GST, which is 9%, so both are added to the bill. The service charge is the restaurant's own choice rather than a government rule, and GST is worked out on the total including it, so S$20++ comes to about S$24. Some places show the full price instead, and then you pay what the menu says.
Sources: IRASChecked September 2026
Related questions
How do I claim a GST refund as a tourist?
Visitors aged 16 or over can claim back GST on goods worth at least S$100, GST included, from shops that take part in the scheme. Show your passport when you buy and leave within two months. Then scan it at an eTRS kiosk at Changi or Seletar airport, before check-in for checked bags or in the transit lounge for what you carry. Hotel stays and other services don't qualify.
Sources: Singapore Customs, IRASChecked September 2026
Related questions
Can I pay by card in Singapore or do I need cash?
Cards and phone wallets work at most shops and restaurants, and you can tap a contactless bank card on buses and trains. Many hawker stalls take QR payment, but only through apps that belong to the SGQR scheme, and some stalls prefer cash, so keep a few notes for lunch. Buses take cash too, at a higher fare and with no change, and cards issued abroad carry an admin fee on transit.
Sources: Visit Singapore, LTA, IMDA, NEA, MASChecked September 2026
Are museums in Singapore free for tourists?
No, free entry to the national museums is for Singapore citizens and permanent residents, while tourists and foreign residents buy a ticket. Children aged 6 and under go in free at the National Museum of Singapore. Some special exhibitions charge extra, so check the museum's own page for the day you plan to go.
Sources: National Heritage Board, National Museum of SingaporeChecked September 2026
See alsoAsian Civilisations Museum
Related questions
Do tourists pay more than residents in Singapore?
Yes, many attractions charge non-residents more, such as S$15 against S$5 for an adult at the National Orchid Garden. Gardens by the Bay asks non-residents about S$46 for the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest against S$34 for residents, and the national museums are free for citizens and permanent residents only. Resident rates cover anyone living in Singapore, and you may be asked for proof.
Sources: NParks, Gardens by the Bay, National Heritage BoardChecked September 2026
See alsoNational Orchid GardenFlower Dome + Cloud ForestNational Museum of Singapore
When is the cheapest time to visit Singapore?
Hotel rooms are usually cheapest in June and dearest in September or October, going by monthly average room rates at licensed hotels. July is the busiest month for both hotel occupancy and visitor arrivals, so June is the one to price first. Averages hide a lot, so check your own dates on the hotel's booking page.
Sources: SingStat
Related questions
Are there free guided tours in Singapore?
Yes, NParks runs free guided walks at the Singapore Botanic Gardens and at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, mostly on Saturdays. The Sungei Buloh tour in English runs from 9.30am to 11.30am, takes 15 people at most, needs registration and is cancelled in the rain. Tours of the National Orchid Garden also charge its entry, and the Peranakan Museum has a free daily tour with admission bought separately.
Sources: NParks, Peranakan MuseumChecked September 2026
See alsoSingapore Botanic Gardens
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