How much cash to bring to Singapore
Cash is still used in Singapore. Despite a significant shift to contactless and card payment methods, visitors to Singapore will still need to bring some cash with them - not all contactless payment methods can be used by visitors. So how much cash should visitors bring to Singapore?
Visitors to Singapore should carry roughly S$50 to S$100 in cash per person in their group when travelling around Singapore. This cash will cover activities where credit cards will not work well, including hawker centres and taxi rides. Cash is not required in Singapore for public transport, tourist attractions, restaurants, and tipping.
The amount of cash to bring to Singapore depends on the length of your trip, I generally recommend the following to tourists:
| Length of Trip | Amount of cash to bring (per person) |
|---|---|
| 1 day | S$50 to S$100 |
| 2 days | S$80 to S$200 |
| 3 days | S$100 to S$300 |
| 4 days | S$150 to S$400 |
| 5 days | S$200 to S$600 |
| More than 5 days | S$300 to S$1,000 |
This is based on my experience of visitors needing between S$50 and S$100 per day per person when travelling around Singapore. For longer trips you can withdraw or convert money in Singapore.
When carrying cash, try to carry a mix of S$10 and S$50 notes. Avoid S$100 notes as hawkers and taxi drivers may be unhappy about giving you change.
In this guide below I’ve gone into further detail on:
- How much cash you should carry in Singapore
- When cash is NOT required in Singapore (compared to other countries)
- How much cash is needed for an entire trip to Singapore
How much cash should you carry in Singapore
There are a few cash only purchases that visitors will make in Singapore. Primarily these are:
- Hawker centre stalls - they do not typically accept card payments due to costs; they accept QR code payments but most visitors will not have these setup
- Taxis - they add a 10% surcharge when paying by card, paying cash avoids this (check out my guide here for more detail on how to catch a taxi in Singapore)
Below is an example of these cash-based purchases I’ve made recently in Singapore:
| Purchase | Cash amount |
|---|---|
| Char Kway Teow (large serve, hawker centre) | S$8 |
| Chilli crab (hawker centre) | S$70 |
| Taxi ride | S$30 |
Based on the above I recommend tourists carry around with them S$50 to S$100 per person. Most other purchases have a credit card option available, I’ve included more detail on this below.
Dishes on the cheap side at hawker centres typically cost between S$3 and S$15 depending on the type of food and the size that you ordered. Char kway teow is typically a cheap dish, often costing less than S$4 at local hawker centres. Last time I was at Maxwell I paid S$8 for a large plate, so I’ve included that as an indication of how much cash to bring.
Chilli crab is pretty much the most expensive thing you can order at a hawker centre. The cheapest crab I’ve ever seen was S$50 per crab, however typical prices are between S$60 and S$100 per crab. Expect to share a crab between two people, and to order some additional small/cheap dishes to make it a meal.
Taxi rides are the other purchase I recommend visitors do in cash. This is to avoid the 10% surcharge added when paying by card. Taxi rides in Singapore typically cost between S$15 and S$40. If you’re planning to take a taxi out to the Mandai wildlife area, I recommend budgeting at the higher end for this.
When cash is NOT required in Singapore
Cashless payment options are reliably accepted across Singapore. My preferred cashless payment method is credit card, however QR code apps (such as AliPay and WeChat Pay) are also available.
Some examples of activities visitors do in Singapore that do not require cash are listed in the table below:
| Activity | Cash accepted? | Credit card accepted? |
| Public transport | No | Yes |
| Tourist attractions (e.g. Gardens by the Bay, Bird Paradise) | No | Yes |
| Restaurants (in-doors) | Yes | Yes |
| Hotels | Yes | Yes |
Buses in Singapore accept cash but charge more than if you pay by credit card; trains do not accept cash. Check out my guide to paying for public transport here for more detail. While you can use cash to buy and top up a prepaid EZ Link card for public transport, top-up machines also accept credit cards.
Some tourist attractions in Singapore do not accept cash. The Bird Paradise for example does not accept cash payment for entry tickets - you can buy the ticket online or at an automated kiosk at the park, but either way contactless payment (credit card, QR code, etc.) must be used. Other tourist attractions are shifting in this direction as well.
Visa and Mastercard are the most widely accepted credit cards, and the only credit cards that can be used on public transport. American Express, JCB, and Union Pay are also accepted in Singapore; Discover is not accepted. I wrote a guide to how tourists can pay for anything in Singapore, check it out here.
Cash is not required for tipping as tipping itself is not required in Singapore for the most part - I wrote a whole guide to tipping in Singapore here: reachingsingapore.com/tipping-in-singapore
How much cash is needed for my trip to Singapore
Because of the limited number of expenses that require cash, I often recommend visitors only bring in a small amount of cash with them. My typical recommendation, based on the length of trip, is outlined below:
| Length of Trip | Amount of cash to bring (per person) |
|---|---|
| 1 day | S$50 to S$100 |
| 2 days | S$80 to S$200 |
| 3 days | S$100 to S$300 |
| 4 days | S$150 to S$400 |
| 5 days | S$200 to S$600 |
| More than 5 days | S$300 to S$1,000 |
These numbers are total for your whole trip, and is based on my earlier recommendation of carrying S$50 to S$100 per person while you’re out-and-about in Singapore.
As it’s mostly food and taxis that are cash-only, my recommendation depends on how much you’re going to spend on taxis and hawker stalls. If you’re not planning on using taxis much, or you prefer to eat at air-conditioned eateries (which usually accept card), then stick to the lower end of my recommendation.
The higher end of this recommendation is useful if you plan on spending cash on other expenses (even though credit card is acceptable), such as restaurants. Do note that more and more tourist attractions are switching to ‘cashless only’ payment methods and it maybe be difficult to spend large amounts of cash.
This recommendation is only for cash to carry, and not for your entire budget. It is easy to spend twice these amounts in Singapore, and that’s before factoring in hotels. Singapore isn’t a cheap country anymore, and prices reflect that.
Further Reading
- Payment methods for visitors: reachingsingapore.com/payment-methods-singapore
- How to use transport in Singapore (including costs): Trains, buses, taxis
- Free things that are great for visitors to do in Singapore: reachingsingapore.com/
