Your budget-friendly guide to Singapore
Think it’s impossible to survive on a budget in one of the most expensive nations on the planet? Think again.
Image: Shutterstock
By John Foo
Recently, an American expatriate couple – one with a combined monthly income of $29,000 – told local daily The Straits Times life in Singapore is expensive.
Mr Cyril Letzelter, 48, a corporate pilot, told the paper: “Housing is crazy expensive here. We’re paying $4,400 in rent. For that amount, we can get two cars and a very big house in the US.”
Grocery shopping is also “shockingly” expensive, added his wife Jennifer Letzelter, 35, an engineer.
The family, it seems, forks out $2,400 a month on groceries. Granted, the family spends a lot more on imported foodstuff because they haven’t adjusted to local cuisine.
However, the Letzelters’ story seems to support The Economist Intelligence Unit’s recent report, which ranked Singapore as the most expensive city to live in.
According to the Worldwide Cost of Living survey released on 10 March, Singapore remains the most expensive place in the world to buy and run a car, due to the Certificate of Entitlement (COE) system.
It is also “consistently expensive” in other categories: The average price for a 750ml bottle of table wine is US$22.39 (about S$30.90) in Singapore, higher than what you’d pay in either Hong Kong or New York.
So, it is really possible to live or survive in the Lion City on a budget? Yes, especially if you know where to look.
Singapore’s street food prices are easy on the wallet. Photo: Yahoo Newsroom
Eat like a local
Yes, food in Singapore can be expensive. The Republic has a reputation for being a food paradise, filled with fine-dining restaurants and a plethora of eateries owned by celebrity chefs.
But local food can be just as good and much cheaper as Singapore’s vibrant culture of street food comes at prices that are very easy on the wallet.
Little India, for example, is one of Singapore’s well-known districts and a treasure trove of cheap eats.
One often overlooked dish here is the humble chapati, also known as the Indian flatbread eaten with either lamb or mutton curry. The best place to have it here is at Azmi Restaurant, located at the junction of Norris Road in Little India.
The servers maybe be a little surly but the food is top notch and cheap. How cheap you ask? Each flatbread costs under $1, while portions of chicken, mutton or lamb curries go for less than $5 each.
Another district to head to for good yet cheap food is Kampong Glam. Both tourist and locals flock to the area, drawn to the heritage sites and good eats.
While most of the cafes in the area are decently priced, we recommend you head straight for the local food. You will fall in love with the affordable delights available in the area, from local delicacies such as nasi padang (steamed rice served with various dishes) to Middle Eastern cuisine.
A trip to Chinatown is another must. Try char kway teow (stir-fried noodles) at Chinatown Food Street, a row of hawker stalls along Smith Street. Nearby Chinatown Complex - which houses a wet market and food court - is a mecca for tasty nosh.
Mr Fish (#02-073), for example, sells reasonably priced Cantonese-style fish head soup. But a word of caution: Be prepared to wait, as this is also one of the most popular joints in the area!
Colourful properties in the Joo Chiat neighbourhood. Photo: Yahoo7 Travel
See the sights
For a taste of Singapore’s cultural diversity, explore on foot and get lost in the colourful districts of Chinatown, Joo Chiat and Katong.
Many of Singapore’s world-class attractions don’t cost a dime either.
Take the Singapore Botanic Gardens, for example. It is Singapore’s oldest garden, the country’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site and the perfect place for a stroll or a picnic. Best of all, entry is free.
Why not visit a museum for some culture and history?
The National Museum of Singapore is the place to go to if you’re into that sort of thing. But here’s a tip for those on a budget: If you flash a student card, admission is $5 (instead of $10).
The Singapore Art Museum is another roption, especially if you are into art from around the region. Admission to this museum is free every Friday between 6pm to 9pm.
Located next to the Marina Reservoir, Gardens by the Bay is easily one of Singapore’s most iconic sights.
The mesmerising waterfront views across three gardens, spanning over 101 hectares of reclaimed land, are a sight to behold.
Entry to its conservatories carries a fee but those on a budget can still bask in the splendour of the surroundings. We recommend that you walk around the park and take in the sights of the stunning Supertrees – which comes with no charge at all.
