Currency & Payment
Exchange rates fluctuate daily. Check current rates locally.
Local Currency Overview
Currency type, banknotes, and coin denominations
The currency is the Singapore dollar (SGD, symbol S$), divided into 100 cents. Notes and coins are widely used, but the country is largely cashless.
- Currency
- Singapore dollar (SGD, S$)
- Subunit
- 100 cents = S$1
- Cash
- Useful, but cards dominate
- The Brunei dollar circulates too but is best avoided for change
Currency Exchange Tips
Best places and methods to exchange money
Licensed money changers in malls (e.g. Mustafa, Change Alley) usually give better rates than airport counters or hotels. Compare a couple before changing large sums.
- Best rates
- Mall money changers
- Airport/hotels
- Convenient but pricier
- Tip
- Compare rates; no commission is common
- You often need little cash thanks to widespread card acceptance
Credit Card Acceptance
Card brand availability and usage tips
Cards are accepted almost everywhere, including small shops and hawker stalls. Visa and Mastercard are ubiquitous; contactless and mobile wallets are standard.
- Acceptance
- Very widely accepted
- Networks
- Visa/Mastercard everywhere
- Contactless
- Tap-to-pay standard
- Choose to be charged in SGD, not your home currency (avoid DCC)
ATM Usage
How to withdraw cash and associated fees
ATMs are everywhere and reliable. International cards on Visa/Mastercard/Cirrus/PLUS work well. Watch for your home bank fees and always decline currency conversion at the machine.
- Availability
- Plentiful and safe
- Networks
- Visa/Mastercard/Cirrus/PLUS
- DCC
- Decline conversion; withdraw in SGD
- Use ATMs at banks or malls; check your bank's foreign fees
Mobile & Digital Payments
Digital payment services available locally
Mobile payment is huge, but local systems like PayNow and NETS mostly need a Singapore bank account. Visitors are best served by contactless cards, Apple Pay/Google Pay or GrabPay.
- PayNow/NETS
- Mainly for local accounts
- For visitors
- Apple/Google Pay, contactless
- GrabPay
- Handy in the Grab app
- Add your card to a phone wallet before you arrive
Tipping Culture
Expected tipping amounts and etiquette
Tipping is not expected in Singapore. Many restaurants add a 10% service charge plus 9% GST (shown as "++"), so no extra tip is needed.
- Tipping
- Not expected
- "++"
- 10% service charge + 9% GST
- Taxis/cafes
- Rounding up is optional
- Tipping is even discouraged at the airport
Price Guide
Average costs for meals, transport, and accommodation
Singapore is expensive overall, especially hotels and alcohol. But hawker centres offer excellent, cheap meals, so daily food costs can stay low.
- Hawker meal
- Around S$4–8
- Alcohol
- Notably expensive (high duty)
- Hotels
- Among the priciest in the region
- Eat at hawker centres and use public transport to save money
Tourists can claim back the 9% GST on purchases via the electronic Tourist Refund Scheme (eTRS). You need at least S$100 (incl. GST) per retailer and must be a non-resident aged 16+.
- Minimum
- S$100 (up to 3 same-day receipts)
- Where
- eTRS kiosks at Changi/Seletar
- Eligibility
- Non-resident, 16+, taken out of SG
- Show passport at purchase; claim before checking in your bags