Backpacker or on a budget? No money? No worries. Singapore’s not as expensive as you think. We’ve got some tips on what to see and do if you’re a few dollars short of a room at the Raffles 

Singapore isn’t known for being a city to head to if you’re on a budget or backpacking. It’s usually the travellers’ stopover before heading to, or coming back from, nearby countries (ie, somewhere cheaper, like Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia). But our little island can be as thrift-friendly as its South-East Asian neighbours – you just have to know where to look for local flavour at a fraction of the price. First, take a look at ‘The best things in life are free’, packed with the best the city has to offer for absolutely free. Still want more for less, you cheapskate? Then read on. 

So, where to stay? We’ll admit, the budget hotels and backpacker joints are more limited than the swankier hotel options, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have a choice. Our vote goes to Hangout @ Mount Emily. What Hangout lacks in amenities, it makes up for in location – the spot, which straddles the line between hotel and hostel, is just behind Orchard Road. If that doesn’t float your boat, try the friendly Inn Crowd Hostel or Prince of Wales, both in Little India. Then there is the good ol’ YMCA on Orchard Road; the latter is situated on prime real-estate territory for a very small price. If you want a tiny taste of the high life, we suggest you take a trip to one of the bars located in the fancy hotels. Try the Long Bar at Raffles for the famous Singapore Sling, the Post Bar at the Fullerton or the New Asia Bar at the Swissôtel; you’ll be close enough to smell the money without having to spend too much of it (although do just stay for one, we never said it was cheap).

Once you’ve found yourself a room, pick up an EZ-Link card from an MRT station or a Transit Link ticket office to ensure you’re getting around the cheapest way possible. They’re $15, including $5 for the card, $3 deposit and $7 stored value. They’re simple to use on buses and the MRT, and can even be used to pay for your burger in McDonald’s; though with so many cheap, local food options, it’d be a shame even to set foot inside Macky D’s. 

Now that you have a ticket to anywhere on the island, where should go you? Something you might notice about Singaporeans is that they love to shop. Clearly this isn’t ideal for budget travellers, but if you want to splash a bit of cash, save Orchard Road for window shopping (although the Heeren has some great value vintage shops on the higher levels) and head to the Sungei Road Thieves’ Market, where you can pick up a bargain from $1 upwards. Check out our '100 best buys' guide, in which we took $111.50 to the market and picked up some unique (if not totally odd) gifts, like a tiger paw. Once you’ve sweated it out, take a night-time stroll through the equally humid Chinatown night market, pictured right, to pick up some bargain souvenirs, ideal presents for family and friends back home (and if you’re there before 9pm, make a trip to the nearby Buddha Tooth Relic Temple & Museum (free entry) for a quick dose of religion and culture. 

Another of our nation’s favourite pastimes is movies. Yes, we love to go to the cinema. But if you can’t fork out for the luxurious GV Gold Class tickets (where you get food brought to you by waiters, of all things), try Pitch Black on Haji Lane (pictured below). Here, movies are shown upstairs, and all you need do is spend five bucks downstairs in the café to gain entry to one of the screenings. 

If you prefer to get out and about, take a trip to the beaches on Sentosa to watch the crème de la crème schmoozing at Café del Mar or join a game of volleyball. If you were thinking of something a little more off the beaten path, then Singapore has some great islands to explore. Learn about Kusu in our ’Turtle relaxation’ story and make a day trip for a mere $15. Even cheaper than that is the lovely Pulau Ubin, a ten-minute boat ride from Singapore but a world away in atmosphere. Rent a bike for about $8 and cycle through the mangroves, past the rustic wooden houses, to work up a hunger for one of the homey restaurants near the jetty. If you’re lucky enough to be around on a public holiday, head to the Istana, which is only open to the public on these days. Shut away for the majority of the year, the presidential gardens on Orchard Road are definitely worth a wander and a picnic; they easily rival the Botanic Gardens (another excellent free attraction) in the beauty stakes. 

When it comes to eating good food in Singapore, money makes little difference. With the eclectic mix of good-value restaurants, you can have a top-notch meal without breaking the bank. Start with our ‘Stay local, eat global’ article which lists the best meals for under $10. If none of these tickle your fancy, then head straight to a hawker centre, which should be an unmissable part on anyone’s itinerary – with or without money. Stand-out choices are Newton Food Centre and Lau Pa Sat, but don’t just hit the obvious; branch out to Amoy Street Food Centre or Maxwell Food Centre to try some of the tastiest food, be it Malay, Chinese, Indian or Western, all of which average between $3 and $6. For more hawker-stall options, check out our ‘Next in line’ article to see some of the long-standing stalls that run in the family. Also take note that at local coffee shops a kopi will set you back as little as $0.80 compared to big-branded rivals Spinelli or Starbucks, where you'll have to hand over $5.

When the night falls and the drinks beckon, head to one of the bars with no cover charge, such as Barfly, Le Noir or Kandi Bar in Clarke Quay, or any club whose door charge includes a few drinks (like Zouk or Ministry of Sound) to save a few notes. If you like your alcohol, beware: it's highly taxed in Singapore so keep a beady eye out for 1-for-1 deals and happy hours which are everywhere - especially between 5pm and 8pm. Just remember to avoid being over charged by a trishaw driver on the way home after a few too many. Take a sneak peek at our ‘One night stand’ feature, where we sent out our trusty writer for a night out (and we mean a full night) for $30. 

Singapore's credit-card market is very competitive indeed and you may find that you can also grab a bargain just by paying with a credit card. For example, American Express, Visa, MasterCard and HSBC all have long lists of offers which can range from 1-for-1 to a free ice cream. When the bill arrives, ask which card gives you a discount.

If you flew to Singapore on Singapore Airlines, keep your boarding pass - there is also a range of discounts valid for several days after you arrive.

Now you’ve got a few tips to get started, if that still isn’t enough (really?), make the best use of our website and order your search by ‘cheapest first’ – there is bound to be something to get you going.