Greetings from Singapore, one of the reasons why Singapore is expensive is largely due to the big ticket items such as housing, owning a vehicle and etc. Daily expenses are still fairly affordable but we are feeling the pressure at the rate of the rising costs. So it all adds up to the ranks of most expensive countries to live in.
Informative video! I'll share my insights too. If you're on a budget, you can stay in 3-star or 4-star hotels (ibis budget and ibis styles are the decent options dont go to Hotel 81) and can probably spend around 400sgd for 4-5 nights. Accommodation is really pricey in SG (same with HK) so this will be your biggest spend. Food will be cheap just go to hawker centers and spend around 25sgd for food a day. You're only problem is the way to go around. Either you can use taxis or grab cars but if you have the energy and dont mind the heat you can walk to the MRT station for the MRT which can cost you less 4sgd per day. The other biggest budget spender you can have is if youre planning to visit some attractions, museums, and universal studios. Supertree in Gardens by the Bay is free. Other than that you can spend the 4-5 days with just 400-500sgd pocket money for yourself.
Thanks for sharing about Singapore! I love to watch videos of everyone taking a trip to Singapore. As a local, it serves as a reminder of how special and beautiful my country is. Living here can sometimes make you forget how unique it is. By the way, at 1:30 mark, I think your conversion rate is reversed. It should be $1 USD = $1.35 SGD. Cheers!
haha now you did not make a mistake again and thats good you just had a silly mistake with the opposite answer its okay just do not make the same mistake again people will get confused@@YellowProductions
It depends on the benchmark that you are using. Many people compare Singapore with its neighboring countries, so it feels very expensive mainly due to its strong currency. But if you compare it to comparable cities in the West, it ain't too bad.
I absolutely loved singapore, I stayed about 13 days. I stayed in a 4 star hotel with a friend (split cost in half), and we weren't exactly penny pinching. We spent about 2k each (including the hotel and the flight, which was from Madrid). It gave us enough to go to Universal, go shopping in orchard, go to all 4 zoos and eat at a proper resterauant basically everyday. Hawker centers and food courts made up for the rest of meals. We don't exactly drink so I think we saved a lot that.
Growing up in Manhattan, NYC, Today's Singapore reminded of my early childhood. Clean, safe and well maintained mass transpo, crime free streets and fantastic food offerings whether at a food court in Bishan or Toa Porah or even the McDo I went to in Chinatown the 1st time for 5 days on a Thai visa run in the late teens. This place is as close to Utopia on Earth and to share it with my woman in 2018 bounded our relationship even tighter. It was absolutely brutal when I saw her off to her home at Changi Airport. Damn near cried going back to the hotel near Little India.
Take the MRT instead of taxis to save cost. Also, you dont need to get the card, if you have your credit card in your smart phone wallet or even smart watch, you can just use those.
He could have saved around $120 sgd by using more public transportation. There's a direct bus that leaves for the zoo pretty much hourly from Suntec (a block from his hotel) that runs $14 sgd roundtrip. Taking the MRT/Sentosa monorail to Sentosa would have cost around $5 sgd, and the trip to from Sentosa to The Jewel, then back to the Esplanade MRT station, next to his hotel would have cost a total of $4 sgd. I don't say all of this to criticize, but just to point out while a taxi or a Grab may be somewhat faster or more convenient using public transportation can save you a significant amount of money. The buses and MRT's in Singapore are clean, safe and reliable so if you're planning to visit I would be sure to utilize them as often as possible.
This is good information. Is there an app you recommend for tourists to take public transportation in Singapore? Also which card do you need for the bus? Any tips would be appreciated.
@@morenitaD_real There are also several apps you can use to navigate the MRT, but it's been several years since my last visit so I can't really recommend one since I haven't used them.
Use google map when planning a route using bus/MRT. As for public transport card, easiest way to use is credit card. No need deposit or anything, hassle free.@@morenitaD_real
Very good informative! Thanks for here focusing on showing Singapore adding verbal info, not all those tourist selfies so common nowadays. Keep up the good work! (Yes Singapore is worth a visit, still maybe not my favourite. KL, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Hanoi more intersting in my opinion. Actually no need to use the taxis here as much as you do, but maybe easier when you don t know the place.. Maybe Singapore a bit to "pefect"? Still a good place when you live here and don t have to think so much about the cost.)
With all the attractions you did plus all the food and transportation, that wasn't too bad in terms of price. I'm usually not one who will go to a lot of the fancy restaurants either. I can find great food at places which are more mid-range. It's cool that there are a lot of cool stuff to see which are free such as seeing the Merlion or walking around the airport!
Why not visit our neighbourhood such as Sembawang (hotspring) Ang Mo Kio, Bishan, Toa Payoh. Lots of nice food & more economical & friendly places. I highly recommand these no tourist spots in Singapore.
This is a very comfortable tour in Singapore! One could certainly do all of those the local way at better prices. Well done on showing your true experience and not going out of the way to save. If any of your audience is wondering, best way to shave a big chunk off your cost of living is to bring a refillable water bottle around. There are lots of water points at all tourist spots and parks. Our tap water is also completely safe to drink, even if you tap it from the toilet. #SingaporeanPride Boil water in your accommodation, fill up 1 L of it and you will be good to go for the day. Cheers, from Singapore!
I go to Singapore every two years and only take a taxi from and to the airport, the rest of the time it's MRT or bus. Funny seeing you take taxis a few times at the start and then take the MRT and bus more often towards the end. Almost like a realisation of how cheap and good it is haha. If you don't get an EZ-Link card next time you are back in Singapore, use your debit card instead. Works out to be cheaper in the end as ez link needs a minimum balance and it is the same cost on your debit card. Great video btw!!
Thanks Calum! This is my 5th time to Singapore. So we'll aware of how good the MRT is.. just happened it was more convenient and much quicker to take the taxi to my first few destinations
Great video! We love the foods when we travel as much as the sights! Your food looked amazing. Singapore looks like a great place to visit. I am embarrassed to say I was completely shocked to see that English is so prevalently used there. I've been to China twice, but no other Asian country. Thanks for unashamedly sharing your food purchases. Yellow Productions travels right!!
Singapore used to be a British colony so many people speak English there. In fact, some people call Singapore "Asia Lite", meaning it's an easy Asian country to visit because so many people speak English and there are many international restaurants/shops there as well. Plus, it's so easy to get around on the MRT.
Best is to travel in group of 4 to save some on the hotel and and transport. Sometime it will be better to take grab to save time and some walk(cheap for 4) rather than taking public transport. Food wise definitely cheaper and there are many nice local food to try in hawker center. There are definitely some nice restaurants in Singapore worth trying but can be quite expensive. Overall, i would think accomodation is expensive in Singapore(but some other countries i have visited are also not any cheaper). Transportation is convenient in Singapore but if there are 4 to travel with taxi or grab, i think is not too ex but can save on the time and some unnecessary walking. Planning is important and walking in some places to venture around is viable. E.g maybe area like chinatown, another area like orchard road or little india area, then take a cab or public transport to other area.(Singapore is small). Also why not go to a Singapore residence area to take a look, go see a market and enjoy the food there. 😊😊😊
Happy to see a sub-20 minute video from you again! I enjoy your content.....but the hour long chit chat sessions make it hard to watch each video and extract the relevant content. Looking forward to visiting Singapore sometime soon!
My nephew has been called to a religious mission in Singapore and he and his parents are a little scared. I really appreciate your Singapore videos! I'll share the info and tell them not to worry.
I stay at the YMCA and hire a bike from City Scoot for 100dollars per week. if your not a very regular rider and are not used to heat probably best to bus and train. I have never used a cab in Singapore
Lucky for you with all the points. I went in January and it cost me a bomb. Close to $10k Australian all said and done for a week. That was 4 star hotel, hawker meals, MRT and grab for transport. Expensive town.
I agree. That's why I only spend a couple days in Singapore to see my friends and then move on to one of the many (much) cheaper destinations in Southeast Asia.
@@syakila4959 Just the accom & airfare was over half that amount. Was also Chinese NY. But even said the inflation there is outrageous. $7 singa for a coffee.
Singapore 🇸🇬 is not as expensive as people think. I will be there next month and the hotel was not too expensive. It's close to the MRT so I can get about anywhere I want for about $1 Even taking the MRT from the airport. You can buy food from the Hawker centers cheap. Order it to go and take the leftovers back to the hotel. Most have a fridge and some have a microwave.
Hmmm may have to book a trip to Singapore. Wasn’t on our travel radar but Chris you always make a destination look interesting. The Traveling Foodies may have to step outside of our comfort zone.
Hi Delmy -- Tipping isn't customary in Singapore.. so generally no tips. And I paid most everything by card except for the food in the Hawker Centres which some of those stalls only took cash. I generally like to have at least 100 SGD in my pocket for walking around money in case I really need it.
You don’t need to purchase a ez-link card to take public transport- which is a big misconception among tourists. You can just simply tap your NFC credit / debit card
What was the temperatures when you went? I never would have guessed that Singapore was kind of affordable. How did you find navigating around? Do they speak English?
I had this dual feeling regarding prices... many things are very cheap, like MRT, taxi(kind of), hawkers, I have spent a lot of time to find out good hawkers, but I have ended up in restaurants, that was expensive, having a beer is expensive, specially in nice bars, Hotel was crazy expensive, I did a lot of hikes there (free :-) )... - many times i was a Sir, other times Uncle, people are very nice and friendly. anyway I enjoied visiting S'pore
While it is possible to backpack in Singapore (we do have cheap or at least reasonable/affordable budget accommodations), and if you have adventurous tastebuds and a stomach that is able to take some spiciness in your food (and so able to enjoy our hawker fare), you can have a budget adventure/experience in Singapore. Certainly, there are lots of free experiences - some were mentioned in this video - The Merlion Park, the Spectra Light Show at Marina Bay, Jewel, Gardens by the Bay, and Garden Rhapsody (light show) at the Gardens by the bay nightly. Venturing off from the flashy tourists attractions, there is also Henderson Wave/Southern Ridges Walk, the Botanic Gardens, Tree Top Walk/MacRitchie Reservoir, Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Sembawang Hots Spring Park, and various parks such as Sembawang Park, Ang Mo Kio-Bishan Park, Bukit Batok Park, etc. But these offer natural attractions. (Read as HOT and Humid, no air-conditioning, so not attractive to the casual tourist.) So if a casual backpacker or budget traveller sticks to these free attractions, they can stick to their budget. However, IMHO, I think some attractions are worth paying for. These include Cloud Forest Dome at Gardens by the Bay, and Canopy Park at Jewel. For the Jewel, there are a lot of ticketed attractions, some of which may not be attractive (e.g. if one is acrophobic), so see what appeals to you and don't let the ticket prices hold you back, too much. In this video Chris took quite a few taxis. This is to save time. And that is a fundamental truth about life - you can save money (at the cost of time), or you can save time (but it will cost you money). Chris wanted to maximise his time here, and didn't want to waste it on public transit. Your priorities may differ.
Thanks for the extra tips! And all great points! Yes. On previous trips I entirely rode the MRT, but I wanted more time to make more video content and not spend it sitting on the MRT so it was worth the taxi/grab rides
As a SIngaporean, my heart constantly breaking when u keep taking the taxi at the beginning. Hahahaha. Buses n Trains are $1.50 more or less per trip. Great video though!! =)))
When you live on either of the costs in the US, you already live in an insanely expensive area. The positive side of that is no sticker shock anywhere 😅
I think you could of saved more money without the taxis as the public transport there is really cheap and efficient .you don't need to buy the card, you can just tap your credit card
ATMs are readily available in SIngapore. When I lived there for a few months, I went to one of the many ATMs to take out $200 each time. It was nice to see my American bank account was only debited $150 each time.
@@BillGreenAZ thanks Bill. The reason I ask is that I’ve been scammed using the ATM’s before a lot of money was stolen and my bank would only repay what I could prove wasn’t me! Hence I’m very apprehensive to use them again
@@YellowProductions thanks Chris. The reason I ask is that I’ve been scammed using the ATM’s before a lot of money was stolen and my bank would only repay what I could prove wasn’t me! Hence I’m very apprehensive to use them again
@@traceymollet5063 I've used ATMs all over Asia and Europe and haven't had a problem. Sorry to hear you have. I use a Charles Schwab checking account ATM card. They reimburse any foreign fees.
I'm going there in a few months with my gf. Have to double those prices plus add her shopping costs. Yikes! I should add that I don't use taxis unless absolutely necessary.
1:36 - the conversion is inversed though. LOL. Its US$1 = S$1.30, its around 1.35 right now as we speak, it moves in a stable range every season...around 1.3x. 5:27 - you didn't have to buy the card. You can use any Visa/Master Paywave credit or debit card and tap away. No registrations, nothing... You can do so via your phone/watch as well.
Free flights and a free luxury hotel are the greatest flex for allowing yourself to enjoy Singapore (or any other place) without limiting yourself or having that stress of the flight/hotel cost while on your trip. My family always looks for cheaper eats in places we go to bc we feel they have the most authentic experience and atmosphere, so we always save money that way, considering we always have several people coming, and the cost of everything obviously increases in total. We're actually going to Paris, our next destination in July! Visited Turkey earlier in June so it's been a busy summer so far. But luckily, we were able to use United points at least partially some of the costs
Probably by far the biggest cost is accommodation in Singapore. The foreigner pricing (usually only found in developing countries) for attractions is disturbing in Singapore. Otherwise you’ll have a great time.
The so-called foreign pricing is because those numbers have been worked out to be the reasonable commercial rate. The local rate is subsidized as the zoo etc. are all indirectly state-owned and practically not-for-profit. It isn't discrimination, you're just paying the fair rate...
if things go well, I might visit Singapore for about 3 days on October! trip will be sponsored (I.e won't be paying for flight or hotels) so this video is perfect for me, to see how much I'd should expect to pay out of my own pocket 😆thank you so much for all the info!
@@YellowProductions While the MRT in Singapore can be a great value, knowing which stops/transfers to take can be quite a bit of a chore for someone not familiar with the island. Sometimes the extra cost of taking a taxi is worth the convenience of just getting from Point A to Point B.
I don’t know why, but I was so tickled by the pensive, thinking man Chris photos that appeared randomly on the screen.😜 I’m getting real close to pulling the trigger on an Asian adventure for my birthday next year(early September). You captured some wonderful food shots in this vlog Chris. That Tien Tien(sp?) chicken rice looks yummy!💛🙌🏾
✅ You might enjoy watching more videos from my Singapore travel series: ua-cam.com/play/PLOVadUHX1B-Jiwvbml0fiZpsdQGH8oIqm.html
Greetings from Singapore, one of the reasons why Singapore is expensive is largely due to the big ticket items such as housing, owning a vehicle and etc.
Daily expenses are still fairly affordable but we are feeling the pressure at the rate of the rising costs. So it all adds up to the ranks of most expensive countries to live in.
Informative video! I'll share my insights too. If you're on a budget, you can stay in 3-star or 4-star hotels (ibis budget and ibis styles are the decent options dont go to Hotel 81) and can probably spend around 400sgd for 4-5 nights. Accommodation is really pricey in SG (same with HK) so this will be your biggest spend. Food will be cheap just go to hawker centers and spend around 25sgd for food a day. You're only problem is the way to go around. Either you can use taxis or grab cars but if you have the energy and dont mind the heat you can walk to the MRT station for the MRT which can cost you less 4sgd per day. The other biggest budget spender you can have is if youre planning to visit some attractions, museums, and universal studios. Supertree in Gardens by the Bay is free. Other than that you can spend the 4-5 days with just 400-500sgd pocket money for yourself.
Thanks for the tips Angelo!
Thanks for sharing about Singapore! I love to watch videos of everyone taking a trip to Singapore. As a local, it serves as a reminder of how special and beautiful my country is. Living here can sometimes make you forget how unique it is. By the way, at 1:30 mark, I think your conversion rate is reversed. It should be $1 USD = $1.35 SGD. Cheers!
Yeah. I made that mistake in another video too! I must have had my head on backwards that day! 😀
haha now you did not make a mistake again and thats good
you just had a silly mistake with the opposite answer
its okay just do not make the same mistake again people will get confused@@YellowProductions
It depends on the benchmark that you are using. Many people compare Singapore with its neighboring countries, so it feels very expensive mainly due to its strong currency. But if you compare it to comparable cities in the West, it ain't too bad.
I absolutely loved singapore, I stayed about 13 days. I stayed in a 4 star hotel with a friend (split cost in half), and we weren't exactly penny pinching. We spent about 2k each (including the hotel and the flight, which was from Madrid).
It gave us enough to go to Universal, go shopping in orchard, go to all 4 zoos and eat at a proper resterauant basically everyday. Hawker centers and food courts made up for the rest of meals. We don't exactly drink so I think we saved a lot that.
Ooh. 13 days! Nice!
Growing up in Manhattan, NYC, Today's Singapore reminded of my early childhood. Clean, safe and well maintained mass transpo, crime free streets and fantastic food offerings whether at a food court in Bishan or Toa Porah or even the McDo I went to in Chinatown the 1st time for 5 days on a Thai visa run in the late teens.
This place is as close to Utopia on Earth and to share it with my woman in 2018 bounded our relationship even tighter. It was absolutely brutal when I saw her off to her home at Changi Airport. Damn near cried going back to the hotel near Little India.
Take the MRT instead of taxis to save cost. Also, you dont need to get the card, if you have your credit card in your smart phone wallet or even smart watch, you can just use those.
thanks this help me alot
Love the videos, minor correction. $1 USD is ≈1.30 SGD
Conveniently for Canadians, this also means $1 SGD ≈ $1 CAD
Why do people always take it as accurate info when currency fluctuations exist? 🤷🏽♂️
Tmr will be 1.33 etc etc. 😅😅😅😅
@@impopquiz Nah I get that, but in the video he said it backwards.
Ah.. my bad. Must be my dyslexia setting in!
@@impopquizUSD1=SGD1.3
Is very very different than SGD1=USD1.3
This is not an inaccuracy, but an error altogether that needs to be pointed out.
He could have saved around $120 sgd by using more public transportation. There's a direct bus that leaves for the zoo pretty much hourly from Suntec (a block from his hotel) that runs $14 sgd roundtrip. Taking the MRT/Sentosa monorail to Sentosa would have cost around $5 sgd, and the trip to from Sentosa to The Jewel, then back to the Esplanade MRT station, next to his hotel would have cost a total of $4 sgd. I don't say all of this to criticize, but just to point out while a taxi or a Grab may be somewhat faster or more convenient using public transportation can save you a significant amount of money. The buses and MRT's in Singapore are clean, safe and reliable so if you're planning to visit I would be sure to utilize them as often as possible.
Thanks for the zoo bus tip 😀
to be honest, the public transportation can be a faster direct way of travel as compared to hitching a ride on a taxi/grab.
This is good information. Is there an app you recommend for tourists to take public transportation in Singapore? Also which card do you need for the bus? Any tips would be appreciated.
@@morenitaD_real There are also several apps you can use to navigate the MRT, but it's been several years since my last visit so I can't really recommend one since I haven't used them.
Use google map when planning a route using bus/MRT. As for public transport card, easiest way to use is credit card. No need deposit or anything, hassle free.@@morenitaD_real
Very good informative! Thanks for here focusing on showing Singapore adding verbal info, not all those tourist selfies so common nowadays. Keep up the good work!
(Yes Singapore is worth a visit, still maybe not my favourite. KL, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Hanoi more intersting in my opinion. Actually no need to use the taxis here as much as you do, but maybe easier when you don t know the place.. Maybe Singapore a bit to "pefect"? Still a good place when you live here and don t have to think so much about the cost.)
Thanks Bo! My need for taxis was I had limited time and wanted to capture lots more for videos. So it was worth the price
im going to stay for 5 nights
just arrived at the hotel
excited for the trip although it will most likely be expensive
just wanna have a fun trip here
With all the attractions you did plus all the food and transportation, that wasn't too bad in terms of price. I'm usually not one who will go to a lot of the fancy restaurants either. I can find great food at places which are more mid-range. It's cool that there are a lot of cool stuff to see which are free such as seeing the Merlion or walking around the airport!
Yeah. I think it was a pretty reasonable 5 day cost!
Why not visit our neighbourhood such as Sembawang (hotspring) Ang Mo Kio, Bishan, Toa Payoh. Lots of nice food & more economical & friendly places. I highly recommand these no tourist spots in Singapore.
This is a very comfortable tour in Singapore! One could certainly do all of those the local way at better prices. Well done on showing your true experience and not going out of the way to save.
If any of your audience is wondering, best way to shave a big chunk off your cost of living is to bring a refillable water bottle around. There are lots of water points at all tourist spots and parks.
Our tap water is also completely safe to drink, even if you tap it from the toilet. #SingaporeanPride
Boil water in your accommodation, fill up 1 L of it and you will be good to go for the day.
Cheers, from Singapore!
Thanks so much! And I appreciate the water bottle tip!
Great video! I just got back from visiting Singapore. Had a great time!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I go to Singapore every two years and only take a taxi from and to the airport, the rest of the time it's MRT or bus. Funny seeing you take taxis a few times at the start and then take the MRT and bus more often towards the end. Almost like a realisation of how cheap and good it is haha. If you don't get an EZ-Link card next time you are back in Singapore, use your debit card instead. Works out to be cheaper in the end as ez link needs a minimum balance and it is the same cost on your debit card. Great video btw!!
Thanks Calum! This is my 5th time to Singapore. So we'll aware of how good the MRT is.. just happened it was more convenient and much quicker to take the taxi to my first few destinations
Great video! We love the foods when we travel as much as the sights! Your food looked amazing. Singapore looks like a great place to visit. I am embarrassed to say I was completely shocked to see that English is so prevalently used there. I've been to China twice, but no other Asian country. Thanks for unashamedly sharing your food purchases. Yellow Productions travels right!!
Thanks Elizabeth!
Singapore used to be a British colony so many people speak English there. In fact, some people call Singapore "Asia Lite", meaning it's an easy Asian country to visit because so many people speak English and there are many international restaurants/shops there as well. Plus, it's so easy to get around on the MRT.
Best is to travel in group of 4 to save some on the hotel and and transport. Sometime it will be better to take grab to save time and some walk(cheap for 4) rather than taking public transport. Food wise definitely cheaper and there are many nice local food to try in hawker center. There are definitely some nice restaurants in Singapore worth trying but can be quite expensive. Overall, i would think accomodation is expensive in Singapore(but some other countries i have visited are also not any cheaper). Transportation is convenient in Singapore but if there are 4 to travel with taxi or grab, i think is not too ex but can save on the time and some unnecessary walking. Planning is important and walking in some places to venture around is viable. E.g maybe area like chinatown, another area like orchard road or little india area, then take a cab or public transport to other area.(Singapore is small). Also why not go to a Singapore residence area to take a look, go see a market and enjoy the food there. 😊😊😊
Informative info on daily expenses. Thanks for sharing.
Happy to see a sub-20 minute video from you again! I enjoy your content.....but the hour long chit chat sessions make it hard to watch each video and extract the relevant content. Looking forward to visiting Singapore sometime soon!
Hi Jason, it's all good. The live streams aren't for everyone :). But glad you enjoyed this one. I've been doing more shorts too.. under 1 minute 😀
My nephew has been called to a religious mission in Singapore and he and his parents are a little scared. I really appreciate your Singapore videos! I'll share the info and tell them not to worry.
Definitely. Singapore is super safe.. and with tasty cheap food!
I stay at the YMCA and hire a bike from City Scoot for 100dollars per week. if your not a very regular rider and are not used to heat probably best to bus and train. I have never used a cab in Singapore
Thank you for such an informative video...Appreciate it!
Glad it was helpful!
Lucky for you with all the points. I went in January and it cost me a bomb. Close to $10k Australian all said and done for a week. That was 4 star hotel, hawker meals, MRT and grab for transport. Expensive town.
I agree. That's why I only spend a couple days in Singapore to see my friends and then move on to one of the many (much) cheaper destinations in Southeast Asia.
Wow $10k a week?? How..?
@@syakila4959 Just the accom & airfare was over half that amount. Was also Chinese NY. But even said the inflation there is outrageous. $7 singa for a coffee.
Singapore 🇸🇬 is not as expensive as people think. I will be there next month and the hotel was not too expensive. It's close to the MRT so I can get about anywhere I want for about $1 Even taking the MRT from the airport. You can buy food from the Hawker centers cheap. Order it to go and take the leftovers back to the hotel. Most have a fridge and some have a microwave.
Hmmm may have to book a trip to Singapore. Wasn’t on our travel radar but Chris you always make a destination look interesting. The Traveling Foodies may have to step outside of our comfort zone.
As foodies I think you'd like it! 😀
Thanks for sharing 5 days cost for walking around and meals for almost US 425 9:29
Nice video Chris!! do you tip in Singapore? also how much cash should you take? Thanks so much
Hi Delmy -- Tipping isn't customary in Singapore.. so generally no tips. And I paid most everything by card except for the food in the Hawker Centres which some of those stalls only took cash. I generally like to have at least 100 SGD in my pocket for walking around money in case I really need it.
Thanks for this useful video! At around 1:33 I think you meant 1 USD = 1.3 SGD
Yeah. That's what I meant 😀
loved this thank you. i loved all your food choices ❤
So glad!
Thank you very much for your video share, much appreciated ✨️
I was surprised at the Hawker Chan's dinner of SGD23 lol
I am looking into ways to get me , wife and kids overseas for a trip. I am ready
The world is ready to receive you! 😀
Omgoodness, love the photo!
Hah 😀
You don’t need to purchase a ez-link card to take public transport- which is a big misconception among tourists. You can just simply tap your NFC credit / debit card
Yeah. It costs more when using international credit cards though
Wow actually quite affordable!
If you use public transport it’s a lot cheaper 😊
What was the temperatures when you went? I never would have guessed that Singapore was kind of affordable. How did you find navigating around? Do they speak English?
It was about 85F.. yes they speak English. Navigating is easy. You can watch my 5 day vlog here: ua-cam.com/video/HWdA_6xA-9c/v-deo.html
I had this dual feeling regarding prices... many things are very cheap, like MRT, taxi(kind of), hawkers, I have spent a lot of time to find out good hawkers, but I have ended up in restaurants, that was expensive, having a beer is expensive, specially in nice bars, Hotel was crazy expensive, I did a lot of hikes there (free :-) )... - many times i was a Sir, other times Uncle, people are very nice and friendly. anyway I enjoied visiting S'pore
Indeed. It is a very cheap and very expensive city all at the same time 😀
taxi is always expensive in every country.
save money: MRT and bus
Averagely usd90 for 5 days is quite cheap. But you'll save a lot more if you use public transports iso grab/cab.
Good vid. How’d you go about paying? Bank card or exchanging cash?
Credit card for 90% of my purchases. But I also had to have cash for some of the Hawker stalls
While it is possible to backpack in Singapore (we do have cheap or at least reasonable/affordable budget accommodations), and if you have adventurous tastebuds and a stomach that is able to take some spiciness in your food (and so able to enjoy our hawker fare), you can have a budget adventure/experience in Singapore.
Certainly, there are lots of free experiences - some were mentioned in this video - The Merlion Park, the Spectra Light Show at Marina Bay, Jewel, Gardens by the Bay, and Garden Rhapsody (light show) at the Gardens by the bay nightly.
Venturing off from the flashy tourists attractions, there is also Henderson Wave/Southern Ridges Walk, the Botanic Gardens, Tree Top Walk/MacRitchie Reservoir, Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Sembawang Hots Spring Park, and various parks such as Sembawang Park, Ang Mo Kio-Bishan Park, Bukit Batok Park, etc. But these offer natural attractions. (Read as HOT and Humid, no air-conditioning, so not attractive to the casual tourist.)
So if a casual backpacker or budget traveller sticks to these free attractions, they can stick to their budget.
However, IMHO, I think some attractions are worth paying for. These include Cloud Forest Dome at Gardens by the Bay, and Canopy Park at Jewel. For the Jewel, there are a lot of ticketed attractions, some of which may not be attractive (e.g. if one is acrophobic), so see what appeals to you and don't let the ticket prices hold you back, too much.
In this video Chris took quite a few taxis. This is to save time. And that is a fundamental truth about life - you can save money (at the cost of time), or you can save time (but it will cost you money). Chris wanted to maximise his time here, and didn't want to waste it on public transit. Your priorities may differ.
Thanks for the extra tips! And all great points! Yes. On previous trips I entirely rode the MRT, but I wanted more time to make more video content and not spend it sitting on the MRT so it was worth the taxi/grab rides
As a SIngaporean, my heart constantly breaking when u keep taking the taxi at the beginning. Hahahaha. Buses n Trains are $1.50 more or less per trip. Great video though!! =)))
I needed to save the time so I could include more locations in the video 😀
Does Taxis or Grab accept credit card as payment? Or just cash?
Ferry and cable car missing
When you live on either of the costs in the US, you already live in an insanely expensive area. The positive side of that is no sticker shock anywhere 😅
I think you could of saved more money without the taxis as the public transport there is really cheap and efficient .you don't need to buy the card, you can just tap your credit card
Yeah. But time was of the essence for me so I could shoot more video
Chris, a general question…
Do you use cash in Asia of a credit/travel card?
In Singapore I almost entirely used credit cards except at some of the Hawker stalls that only took cash.
ATMs are readily available in SIngapore. When I lived there for a few months, I went to one of the many ATMs to take out $200 each time. It was nice to see my American bank account was only debited $150 each time.
@@BillGreenAZ thanks Bill. The reason I ask is that I’ve been scammed using the ATM’s before a lot of money was stolen and my bank would only repay what I could prove wasn’t me! Hence I’m very apprehensive to use them again
@@YellowProductions thanks Chris. The reason I ask is that I’ve been scammed using the ATM’s before a lot of money was stolen and my bank would only repay what I could prove wasn’t me! Hence I’m very apprehensive to use them again
@@traceymollet5063 I've used ATMs all over Asia and Europe and haven't had a problem. Sorry to hear you have.
I use a Charles Schwab checking account ATM card. They reimburse any foreign fees.
I'm going there in a few months with my gf. Have to double those prices plus add her shopping costs. Yikes! I should add that I don't use taxis unless absolutely necessary.
you almost need to pay 600 SGD but good thing you have marriot points
A ton was spent on taxi rides. That could have been so many MRT/bus trips.
Yeah.. and less time to make videos 😀
THANKS FOR THE INFO
bro... 1 usd is 1.30 sgd... wrong way around
food is reasonable but if you are living in singapore like cars and housing per square feet its $2000 which why foreigner dont think its expensive
Hi, Chris just come back from Hawaii Honolulu following your videos👍but now it's expensive unnecessary 🙄
Welcome back!
1:36 - the conversion is inversed though. LOL. Its US$1 = S$1.30, its around 1.35 right now as we speak, it moves in a stable range every season...around 1.3x.
5:27 - you didn't have to buy the card. You can use any Visa/Master Paywave credit or debit card and tap away. No registrations, nothing... You can do so via your phone/watch as well.
Tian Tian chicken rice is really average, should try Boon Tong Kee Chicken rice, no. 1 in sg.
I'll do that next time!
Free flights and a free luxury hotel are the greatest flex for allowing yourself to enjoy Singapore (or any other place) without limiting yourself or having that stress of the flight/hotel cost while on your trip. My family always looks for cheaper eats in places we go to bc we feel they have the most authentic experience and atmosphere, so we always save money that way, considering we always have several people coming, and the cost of everything obviously increases in total. We're actually going to Paris, our next destination in July! Visited Turkey earlier in June so it's been a busy summer so far. But luckily, we were able to use United points at least partially some of the costs
Nice! Enjoy Paris!
Probably by far the biggest cost is accommodation in Singapore. The foreigner pricing (usually only found in developing countries) for attractions is disturbing in Singapore. Otherwise you’ll have a great time.
The so-called foreign pricing is because those numbers have been worked out to be the reasonable commercial rate. The local rate is subsidized as the zoo etc. are all indirectly state-owned and practically not-for-profit. It isn't discrimination, you're just paying the fair rate...
❤ great
if things go well, I might visit Singapore for about 3 days on October!
trip will be sponsored (I.e won't be paying for flight or hotels)
so this video is perfect for me, to see how much I'd should expect to pay out of my own pocket 😆thank you so much for all the info!
Awesome! I hope you enjoy Singapore!
Average 100 sgd per day on food, transportation and tickets is not too expensive .
What is the best part of Singapore?
The food 😀
Like your video❤🎉
Thanks weshz!
One singapore dollar is worth $1.30 US? You got it backward.
I sure did 😀
If the pandas crew are more willing to take MRT and not Grab, Chris would have saved like $150
Yeah. Except Chris wanted to have more time to make more videos.. so Chris spent more money so he had more video shooting time :)
@@YellowProductions While the MRT in Singapore can be a great value, knowing which stops/transfers to take can be quite a bit of a chore for someone not familiar with the island. Sometimes the extra cost of taking a taxi is worth the convenience of just getting from Point A to Point B.
@@BillGreenAZTrue. I use an MRT app but still get confused sometimes.
Tip of life
I don’t know why, but I was so tickled by the pensive, thinking man Chris photos that appeared randomly on the screen.😜
I’m getting real close to pulling the trigger on an Asian adventure for my birthday next year(early September). You captured some wonderful food shots in this vlog Chris. That Tien Tien(sp?) chicken rice looks yummy!💛🙌🏾
Thanks Joyce! And yes. The Chicken Rice was delicious!
It's Tian Tian Chicken Rice in Maxwell Food Centre in Chinatown
Its Singapore dollar not Singaporean dollar. Just like you said US dollar not American dollsr. Anyway, welcome to Singapore
Thanks for the correction
Any halal restaurants there
24k PHP for 5 days plus accomodation
I thought that was Red Bull Team Principle, Christian Horner in the thumbnail 😅
I think you eat too many desserts 🍨 😮
Never! 😉
1:29 you nearly gave me a heart attack, you meant to say USD$1 = Singapore Dollar $1.30
That is indeed what I meant to say 😀
$100 a day is not too bad, but that’s with limiting yourself a bit.
If you come of the US, Singapore is not that expensive.
You would have save much more had you taken public transport all the time.
Me : Spending 30$ for 3 days (I eat only rice, live in the worst room and pay 0 visit)
❤
It seems like you spent a small fortune on taxis, I'm glad you took the train and bus later on ... LOL.
Somebody needs to support the taxi drivers! 😀
You got your exchange rate reversed. US$1 = S$1.30
Thanks for the correction
$150 per night for hotel is good enough
👎👎👎 SORRY.!!! IM NOT IMPRESS OF SINGAPORE.
Expensive and worthless
Using public transport is so much cheaper.