Singapore where to stay. What to see in Singapore in a day, two, three or four days

How to get from the airport to the center of Singapore

Metro. Having arrived at the airport, we go down and go to the center.

It’s better to immediately buy an EZ-link card (see the link above “metro”), rather than a one-time ticket - it will be cheaper and more convenient, you can change as many times as you like and get off wherever you like. Public transport in Singapore is convenient and inexpensive - one trip starts from 0.77SGD (that's about 0.50EUR). The price depends on the number of stops; the card must be attached to the reader at the entrance and exit. Transplants “add up”, i.e. If you transfer within a short time, you do not pay the full fare, but pay extra to the previous one.

I recommend topping up your card with 10 singa dollars at once. One card per person. The card itself is paid - 5SGD. The fee is not refundable, but the card is valid for several years and even after the expiration date the card will be changed and the remaining money will be “transferred” to the new card. The card is valid for all public transport and for entry into some tourist places, for example, Sentosa Island - it is convenient that you do not have to queue for an entrance ticket.

By bus. If you don’t have much luggage and want to immediately start exploring the city, take the bus and admire the city from the bus window - don’t forget to buy an EZ-link card in advance. For example, bus 36 travels from the airport through the main terminals, then goes to the city center, passes through Suntec City and ends its route at Orchard Road.

Lifehack #4 from We Went-We Know
If you have a large family with small children and/or a lot of luggage, it is better to get from the airport to Singapore by taxi. Use Uber - it works great in Singapore, the price from the airport starts from 10 SGD per trip.

How to get around Singapore

The most convenient way is by bus and metro. My favorite thing about Singapore is the buses - they are easy to use, cheap, the routes are very clear, and there are bus maps at every stop. They come often, there is almost no wait. It's cool inside the bus and the ride is comfortable. Double-decker buses– excellent transport to see Singapore.

Lifehack #5 from We Went-We Know
All transport in Singapore can be easily found in Google Maps via “Get directions”, “public transport”. Type, for example, “Changi Airport”, and in the destination field - the name of the hotel. Get all the options for how to get there, direct and with transfers.

Schemes of all Singapore bus routes can be viewed on the website busrouter.sg or www.mytransport.sg.
The latest Singapore metro map on the official website - use the office. site, because The metro is being built quickly and those plans that are posted on the Internet quickly become outdated.

What to see in Singapore in 1 day: the most interesting sights

There are a lot of interesting places worth seeing in Singapore. What to choose - an aquarium, a zoo, temples, skyscrapers, beaches? When time is short, you need to watch something that you will never see in other countries and cities - here I have collected everything the most important things to see in Singapore, something you won't see anywhere else.

You can see the iconic sights of Singapore in one day with a self-guided tour of Singapore. For those who are traveling to Singapore for the first time, here is the best route around Singapore for 1 day:

Route around Singapore, 1 day. Sights of Singapore on the map

See a map of a one-day itinerary in Singapore and 10 unique “must see” places that cannot be missed. And then I will describe each place in detail.

So, what to see in Singapore in 1 day:

1. Where to stay in Singapore

To see Singapore in one day and inexpensively, it is best to stay in Chinatown (Chinatown). For those traveling alone, it is cheaper to stay in the Wink capsule hostel - the beds are in a shared room, the bathroom and toilet are also shared.

For two or a family - book a more comfortable hotel room - the price for a small room will not be much higher than for two beds, but you will have privacy and all the amenities in the room. In Chinatown, I recommend the Southbridge Hotel - ideal location and inexpensive by Singaporean standards. The rooms are small (larger ones in Singapore cost twice as much), but clean and modern, the room has a safe, kettle, toothbrushes and everything you need for an overnight stay.

The hotel does not take a deposit and upon check-in they give you a coupon for a free drink of your choice (alcoholic or non-alcoholic). I recommend asking for a room with a window when booking.
There are many inexpensive cafes near this hotel - we have a quick breakfast and go to explore the city.

2. Colorful China Town

We walk along the authentic streets of China Town, which have been preserved among modern skyscrapers.

Right next to the hotel, on Southbridge Road, is a picturesque Hindu temple, and a couple of blocks away is the Buddhist Temple of the Tooth Relic.

Chinatown in Singapore is clean and tidy, unlike similar neighborhoods in other countries.

By the way, Chinatown offers a large selection of Singaporean souvenirs.

We walk, buy souvenirs, then go out onto Southbridge Street and move towards Boat Quay.

3. Boat Quay

We go out to the skyscrapers standing by the water and find this beautiful fat bird, from which we turn towards the Fullerton Hotel.

5. Merlion – symbol of the Lion City

We go around the Fullerton Hotel, cross the road and find ourselves at the symbol of Singapore - the Merlion statue. There are two such statues here, a small one and a large one – don’t miss it!

Nearby there is a cruise pier with tourist boats - you can take a ride and see what Singapore looks like from the river.

5 and 5A. Where to eat delicious food in Singapore + observation deck at Marina Bay

Next we go to lunch. First option (expensive, on map 5A)– to the bar-restaurant LeVeL33 on the 33rd floor, with panoramic views of the bay and skyscrapers.

They serve craft beer, and it's fun to try a selection of different types of beer with a group of people. There are smoking areas. We take a table at the edge of the terrace to enjoy the magnificent view. For the exact location of the bar and phone numbers for booking, see the office. website.

Advice: If you want to watch evening Singapore from this bar, you need to reserve your seats in advance.

Second option: take a stroll to Singapore's iconic food court Lau Pa Sat (see 5 on the map), where all the traditional local dishes and inexpensive food are presented to suit all tastes.

If this is your first time in Asia, then a food court here is a large area with many stalls and different food. The tables are located in the common room as in Soviet canteens. You can order food from different kiosks and sit at any table. There are no waiters or service, but everything is cheap.

Lifehack #6 from We Went-We Know
When you want to eat inexpensively, look not for restaurants, but for food courts in large shopping centers - usually they are located on the lower or upper floor, see the signs Food Court, Food Republic, Food Center.
Before entering the food court, take regular paper napkins with you - Singapore food courts may not have them. Singaporeans always carry napkins with them, because putting a package of napkins on the table shows that the table is occupied (“chope seats”).

6. Fountain of Luck

In front of the central entrance to the shopping mall “The Shoppers” we find - make a wish, throw a coin and wait for it to come true :) The main thing is to get the coin into the center of the fountain, into the hole. Do you think it's simple? Try it!

We pass through the shopping center, past the casino, through the lobby of the famous Marina Bay Sands hotel. We try not to be distracted (and this is difficult!), because at this stage we are going to see the tropical - a wonderful place, the likes of which are not found anywhere in the world. These gardens were created on the site of the ocean.

7. Gardens by the Bay

Gardens by the Bay are part of a government program to transform prosperous Singapore into a “City in a Garden” - not just a green city, but a civilization merging with nature, where people live in harmony with the flora, but with comfort and without the slightest damage to nature.

We come to the gardens in the evening to see this place in the light and when it gets dark. There are many rare tropical plants, greenhouses and the famous “supertrees” up to 50m high, which act as ecological engines, are rainwater collectors and have many other functions, which can be read about on the official website.

The supertrees are equipped with solar panels, which transform Gardens by the Bay into a futuristic, glowing fairy tale in the evening. At 19-45 and 20-45 there is a beautiful show “Garden Rhapsody”.

Walking through Gardens by the Bay is free, but climbing the famous trees requires a ticket. It is best to buy in advance online with a discount of up to -20% >>.

8. Sky Park - Sands SkyPark observation deck

After the gardens, we go up to the observation deck of the famous Sky Park and look at evening Singapore.

Entry price 23 SGD, children 17 SGD, under 2 years free. Want to get a discount? Check out these SkyPark ticket prices here.
Check prices and opening hours on the website.

Lifehack No. 7 from We Went-We Know
Instead of the observation deck, you can go up to the SkyPark bar - you will pay 20 SGD for entry, you will be given a voucher that can be spent on a drink at the bar. Located on the same roof, the views of the city are the same.

Keep in mind that tourists will only be allowed to go up to the observation deck, and only hotel residents can swim in the highest pool in the world.

Lifehack #8 from We Went-We Know
The view of Singapore from the roof of the 1-Altitude bar is more beautiful than from the Sky Park site. Therefore, it makes sense to go here instead of Sky Park - you will pay a little more money, but in addition you will get a more luxurious view and 2 drinks!

Instead of Sky Park - 1-Altitude observation deck - a more impressive view

The view of Singapore from the Sky Park observation deck is, of course, beautiful. But an even more impressive view is of the Marina Bay hotel itself in the evening, and even from a higher observation deck! Want to see where the most beautiful photos from Singapore are taken? Then, instead of the observation deck, choose the “1-Altitude” bar - with a gorgeous view of Marina Bay. Taking up the entire rooftop, the bar offers panoramic views of Singapore. The whole city is at your fingertips!

Price: from 18:00 to 21:00 – 35 SGD, after 21:00 – 45 SGD and dress code is “smart casual”. The price includes two alcoholic drinks.
During the day the price is 25 SGD, only one soft drink is included in the price. But during the day there is practically no one on the roof and you can come without prior reservation.

The bar is located in One Raffles Place. You can book a table and see details on the website. If you are going to celebrate the next New Year in this bar, then you need to make reservations several weeks in advance.

Lifehack #9 from We Went-We Know
It is better to come to all observation decks in Singapore overlooking Marina Bay in the evening to watch the Spectra show over the bay (see schedule below in paragraph 10). From above this show looks amazing!

9. Helix Bridge – DNA bridge

Then we walk across the Helix Bridge pedestrian bridge - it’s not without reason that it’s called the most beautiful bridge in the world. The bridge design in the form of a DNA molecule is illuminated in the evening with bright neon lights. The most attentive ones will notice the letters C, G, A and T on the bridge - they symbolize the basis of DNA (cytosine, guanine, adenine, thymine). There are observation platforms on the sides of the bridge.

Ferris wheel - optional

However, you don’t have to go to the Ferris wheel, but after the bridge immediately turn left to the Explanade.

10. Laser show at Marina Bay

We take our seats at the Esplanade Theaters with the best view of the magnificent Spectra laser show over the bay. Images are projected onto the water, music plays over the bay - everything looks incredibly spectacular.

Some believe that the show is best viewed from the area in front of The Shoppers shopping center, which is located next to the Louis Vuitton store, near the ArtScience Museum (in the shape of a lotus flower).
If you wish, you can watch the show twice from different places and evaluate where it is better - after all, it takes place twice, at 20 and 21 hours daily.

Lifehack #10 from We Went-We Know
If you are on a romantic trip and want to rent a hotel with a gorgeous view, do not take Marina Bay Sands - the view of the famous hotel is much better than from it. Therefore, take a hotel room with a view of Marina Bay Sands, a bottle of wine in your room and watch laser shows from your own window - it’s unforgettably wonderful! And you won’t have to spend money on different observation platforms))

The best views of the bay are available from just two hotels: Marina Mandarin (cheaper) and even better - from the Ritz-Carlton, Millenia. When booking, you must choose a room with a view of Marina Bay.

11. Clar Quay

After the show we go to Clarke Quay and choose a restaurant where to have dinner.

We return to the hotel on foot along the beautiful embankment and think about how to stay in Singapore for at least 5 days next time :)

Let me tell you a secret: even a week in Singapore is not enough. This amazing city reveals something amazing every time. And it's never enough.

What to see in Singapore on day 2: Sentosa

Lifehack #11 from We Went-We Know
Paid entertainment in Sentosa is expensive, so we recommend using discounts and promotional codes in Singapore, and buy tickets online - it’s cheaper and you don’t have to stand in lines for tickets! Here are discounts on the most interesting entertainment:
– Universal Studio amusement park
– 20% discount at Sentosa Aquarium
– buy a discounted all-inclusive ticket for ALL things to do in Sentosa

Not only children, but also adults have fun in Sentosa. I liked flying in a wind tunnel. It's called iFly. For prices, locations and schedules, visit the official website.

There are also free things to do in Sentosa! For example, the grand Crane Dance Show of dancing cranes. Impressive!

A magical love story between a pair of mechanical cranes (really huge cranes). About how love turns even rough mechanisms into beautiful birds. Very touching and beautiful. With music, fountains and lighting effects.
Many consider this show to be the best in Singapore.
Taking place on the Sentosa embankment, it’s hard not to notice these cranes.
Starts in the evening at 20-00, lasts 10 minutes. But it doesn’t happen every day, the schedule is constantly changing, so check with the office. website.

Want to see non-touristy Sentosa? I give away secret places: Tanjong Beach and the elite residential area of ​​Sentosa Cove with restaurants, yachts and beautiful views of the ocean.

You can return from Sentosa by cable car to the Harbor Front shopping center or go to Mount Faber Park.
Next to the Harbor Front is the Vivo City shopping center, and a little further is the millionaires' district.

Day 3 in Singapore – shopping!

Shopping in Singapore is quite a show! All the world's popular brands are represented here, and the most advanced new items appear first in Singapore stores. You can find things that you won't find even in New York.

Remember the iconic places: Orchad Road, Raffles Place and Suntec City shopping complexes - in that order.

By the way, the ION shopping center has an excellent observation deck, and you can get there for free! Open from 14 to 17-30. How to find: We go up to the 4th floor and follow the signs “ION Sky” to the elevator. We go upstairs, 55th floor. There is a restaurant here. To visit the observation deck for free, you must meet these conditions.

Spent some money on shopping and need more money? It's easy in Singapore! Towards evening we go to Fountain of Wealth, which is located in the Sintec City shopping center. Singaporeans believe that in order to attract wealth into your life, you need to make a wish (of a material nature), put your hand in the fountain and, without removing your hand, walk around 3 times clockwise. Ready! By the way, the attraction is free.

You may not believe it, but wishes come true! It seems that thanks to this fountain Singapore has become such a prosperous city :)

Streets of Singapore, photo

For me the most important attraction of Singapore– this is the city itself! Much more impressive than Gardens by the Bay or the Marina Bay rooftop pool. There are entertainment and tourists, and here is real life, not staged or only for tourists, but the very real life of the Future. You just walk around the city and are amazed: how is it possible to make the city so convenient!! Singapore is perhaps the most modern city on the planet and the only place in the world where you can now actually walk in the Future. Absolutely free!

Lifehack No. 12 from We Went-We Know
There is no need to travel around the city by taxi - walk the streets or travel by bus, having purchased an EZ-link card in advance (as described above). The whole city is like the Museum of the Future. Instead of chasing the sights, take the time to walk the streets of Singapore, carefully looking at the houses and paying attention to the details.

Everything here is surprising and impressive: escalators in parks, many free well-kept gardens among ordinary neighborhoods, houses, streets with lots of greenery and flowers, roads, even public transport - everything is done exclusively for people. Incredible! When we get tired of walking, we choose a double-decker bus and go... no matter where:) Everything is beautiful here. By the way, all buses have air conditioning, so you can cool down at the same time.

Here are a few photos of Singapore streets:

All houses in Singapore are different and many have greenery. One house is more beautiful than the other. I hope that in the future everyone will live in cities like this - in harmony with nature.

Old temples are not destroyed; they fit perfectly into the modern city and create a special Singaporean flavor:

In the middle of the city you can always relax in a quiet, cool park with ponds where lilies bloom and turtles swim:

It's surprising that there are no mosquitoes in such places.

If you want to grab a bite to eat, you can go shopping - there are cafes and restaurants everywhere. I like the chain of restaurants “The Soup Spoon” - very tasty soups. Menu on a tablet: you place an order (no need to communicate with the waiter), they bring everything to you, and at the end you go to the cashier to pay.

Local residents move around the city on electric scooters and other types of environmental transport:

For two sing dollars - a glass of freshly squeezed cool orange juice:

What else to see in Singapore

Here are some interesting places to see in Singapore:

Rooftops of Singapore

In addition to the above rooftops with excellent views of the city, some tourists also like to visit the observation deck Pinnacle@Duxton in the Chinatown area. But in my opinion, the site is boring, there are no interesting views from it. It’s better to stay in a hotel with a beautiful view of Marina Bay or go up to Sky Park or the 1-Altitude bar, which were described above - more expensive, but much more impressive. However, if you suddenly have some time left in Singapore, then go up to the Pinnacle@Duxton observation deck. Located at Outram Park metro station, approach the buildings and follow the signs to Sky Bridge Office. Entrance fee: 6 SGD.
Of. website .

Unique places that tourists rarely get to:

9 km Southern Ridges Road with the most beautiful views of the city and parks - there are many interesting birds along the way. It is not necessary to walk the entire 9 km.

Singapore Botanic Gardens

The stunning Singapore Botanic Garden is located in the city center. The entrance is free.
In fact, this is a huge park with several themed gardens: Bonsai Garden, Frangipani Garden, Garden of Aromas, etc.
The park is so wonderful that even people who are far from botany, accidentally coming here, stay for several hours.

Plants in this garden were brought from all over the world. Here is the famous unique Orchid Garden With more than 3,000 species of flowers, it is the world's largest collection of orchids. The garden is magnificent!

Entrance to the Orchid Garden is paid, the price is 5 sing.dol (about 3.5 euros)

In addition to thematic gardens, the park has waterfalls, unusual birds, Swan Lake, and for relaxation there are many gazebos and cafes. The garden is large and the hours fly by, so plan to have plenty of time for your visit.
How to get to the Singapore Botanic Gardens: Botanic Gardens metro station, blue or yellow line.

Before visiting the Botanical Gardens, go to the office. website and look at the news, because... some pavilions are sometimes temporarily closed.

East Coast Park is Singapore's longest park

A 12-kilometer park with beaches, cafes, restaurants, playgrounds and rental of various equipment: from bicycles to electric scooters.

Here's a short video from East Park:

There are practically no tourists here, so the beaches are empty.

The best beaches in Singapore are, of course, on Sentosa, but they are overcrowded with tourists. East Park Beach is more suitable for those who do not like crowds of tourists and just want to relax. You can find completely deserted places:

There is also entertainment for adults - Singapore Wake Park - for those who want to try wakeboarding (water ski slalom).

Chinese Park – exclusively for gourmets!

Those who love photogenic parks will definitely enjoy the picturesque Chinese Garden with a temple on the water - it is sparsely crowded, calm, there are no tourists.

The only thing is that this park is very popular with local photographers, so it’s not uncommon to see groups conducting photo sessions. However, the park is large and photographers do not interfere with your relaxation.

I’m telling you about the route around Singapore, what to see in Singapore in a day, two, three or four days. Most tourists visit the city-state of Singapore as part of visa-free transit, i.e. for up to 96 hours, and some even fly into the city for a day or two, and fly further, for example, during the route from Russia to Indonesia. In the previous article I talked about, and now I’ll tell you how to optimally combine these attractions in a route around the city.

Walking around Singapore: against the backdrop of the Marina Bay Sands hotel-ship

I would like to immediately note a few points:

1. Even a clearly planned route around Singapore is not always possible to implement :) For example, in our case, due to rain, we had to reschedule the plan for two days, and due to fatigue, we did not visit two places that I really wanted to go to: the LeVel 33 pub.

2. Despite the fact that when we travel we get up early and leave the hotel at 8-9 am, don’t have lunch in cafes and restaurants, and snack on some snacks along the way, it still somehow turns out that we have time to see less than many other tourists. I also noticed from our trip that we, following a clearly planned route based on reviews, only manage to visit 70% of what we planned... And I also don’t like to visit attractions for show, but try to fully enjoy the vacation :)

What to see in Singapore in 4 days. Singapore route

Day 1. Around the bay - Marina Bay - gardens by the bay - greenhouses

We start our day either near the fountain of wealth or near it, depending on what part of the city the hotel is located. We slowly go out to the embankment near the bay, pass by the Esplanade Theater, the floating stadium and cross the DNA bridge to the famous one. We go inside the building into a pleasant coolness. Here you can relax, have a snack at the food court, drink coffee at Starbucks or look into a couple of shops.

Walk around the bay. Video

From the saving coolness, following the signs to “Garden by the bay” we go out onto the street to. By the way, please note that to do this you need to go from the MBS shopping mall building to the Marina Bay Sands hotel building, the transition is on the second (or third) floor! We tried to walk across the street, but we ended up on a road with no pedestrian crossing! But I didn’t want to break the rules in Singapore, I had to go around for a long time...

We walk through the gardens by the bay, past the lake and huge Super trees and gradually approach two greenhouses - . A visit to two greenhouses will take about three hours; it is best to visit them in the midday heat (or, like us, wait out the rain in them). It’s cold in the greenhouses, so it’s advisable to stock up on a jacket and a scarf – stole.

Are you frozen? We leave the greenhouses on the street and again find ourselves in the tropical heat :) We go to the central Super trees, climb the skyway - a bridge between two trees, take a walk, photograph the gardens by the bay from above.

After the walk, we return to Marina Bay Sands and visit the observation deck or rooftop bar SE LA VI. It is best to visit the observation deck at sunset to admire the city in daylight and at night.

We go down to Gardens by the Bay and watch the show “Garden Rhapsody”. There are two shows per evening at 19:45 and 20:45. The best way to watch the show is while lying on the green lawn between the trees :)

Video:

If you watch “Garden Rhapsody” at 19:45, you can catch the Spectra laser-water-music show at 21:00, which is usually watched from the platform in front of the entrance to the MBS shopping mall. The show takes place every day at 20:00, 21:00, and on weekends also at 22:00.

Well, then, if you have any energy left, you can go to the LeVel 33 bar for a glass of beer or the Long Bar of the Raffles Hotel for the legendary Singapore Sling cocktail, or take the metro/taxi and return to the hotel. The route around Singapore for the first day is completed :)

Day 2. Sentosa Island

I advise you to dedicate one day out of four completely. Take the metro to the Harbor Front station, and then take the cable car, monorail, or walk across the bridge to the island. About how to get to Sentosa in.

On the island, everyone will find something to do for the whole day, just choose what interests you: a park, an aquarium, a water park, an observation tower, museums or other entertainment, which I have already described in detail in the article about Setoza. You can go to the beach and check in at the southernmost point of mainland Asia :)

Day 3. Animals – birds – flowers

The route for this day depends on how much you love flora and fauna :) For me, the ideal route for this day is as follows:

• . I advise you to arrive early, before opening or at least at 9 o’clock. Allow at least four hours to explore the zoo.
• River Safari Park. There is also something to do here for 2-3 hours. And I can hang out near the pavilion with pandas for an hour or two :)
• Rest, lunch and dinner and visits to the Night Safari park.
• Take a taxi home to the hotel :)

• Zoo 4-5 hours
• By taxi to the bird park and there it also takes 3-4 hours.

• Zoo
• By taxi to the botanical garden, or rather to its best part - to :)

In the evening of the same day, with the option without the Night Safari park, you can have time to walk around Chinatown, buy souvenirs there and have dinner. Or visit the bar on the 63rd floor of 1-Altitude.

Day 4. What we didn’t manage to do in the previous three days

What to see in Singapore on the last, fourth day depends on your preferences. Are you interested in ethnic neighborhoods? Or the National Museum of Singapore? Or a boat trip? Or shopping? The choice is yours.

You can walk through the Arab, Indian or Chinese quarters, go to the Temple of the Tooth Relic, and there it’s just a stone’s throw away with an observation deck on the roof.

And then take the metro and get to Orchard road, where great shopping awaits you :) Or go to Promenade station and take a ride on the Ferris wheel at sunset. And in the evening have dinner on the Clar Quay embankment.

Chinatown in Singapore. Video

What to see in Singapore in 2 - 3 days

If I only had 2–3 days in Singapore, I would do this:

• The route around Singapore for the first day described above remained unchanged.

• On the second day, I would visit the zoo in the morning, and in the afternoon the Temple of the Tooth Relic in Chinatown, then The Pinnacle@Duxton observation deck, dinner, and then either the Ferris wheel or the 1-Altitude bar.

• The third day I would spend on Sentosa, or rather on the Universal Studios Park, I would try to keep it to 4-5 hours, so that in the evening I would still have time to walk along the Clar Quay embankment or take a boat ride.

What to see in Singapore in 1 day

What to see in Singapore in 1 day? Personally, I would choose the route of the first day described above. Perhaps with minor adjustments, for example, I would visit one of the two greenhouses in order to free up time for the Ferris wheel or other places of interest to me.

Let's sum it up

It’s always useful to plan a route, but you need to understand that force majeure is possible: for example, because of the rain you might have to sit somewhere indoors for two hours, or you might be so tired of the heat that you only want one thing – to go to an air-conditioned room :)

I advise you not to combine such energy-intensive and far-from-each other places as Universal Park in Sentosa and the zoo in one day.

Personally, four days in Singapore didn’t seem enough to me, we didn’t have time to do a lot, we’ll come again :) But for my friend, who was also in Singapore for four days, this time was enough for everything she had planned and she doesn’t plan to return to Singapore anymore :)

In this article I talk about hotels in Singapore, their features, hotel prices, in which area of ​​the city it is better for a tourist to choose accommodation, about the best hotels in Singapore, inexpensive and cheap hotels in Singapore, hostels and where to book.

I always approach the choice of a hotel very carefully; it is very important for me to choose correct location even temporary housing and optimal price-quality ratio. It turned out to be very difficult for me to choose a hotel in Singapore, although I started this difficult task four months before the trip, when we lived in :) I’ll say right away, if you have a budget for housing in Singapore is not limited, then choosing a hotel will not take as long as mine :)

Singapore hotels: area selection

Before I start choosing a hotel, I very carefully choose the area to stay that is suitable for me. Despite the fact that Singapore is a small city and, if you have a lot of desire and time, it is convenient to walk around it on foot or travel by taxi, the first requirement for me when choosing a hotel was the presence of a nearby station (MRT) and ease of getting to and from the airport (read about how to get from Singapore airport to the center and to the main attractions), as well as walking distance to the main attractions that I planned to visit: Marina Bay, etc. and so on.

On the map below I have outlined the so-called tourist center of Singapore:

Schematically marked the optimal area for choosing a hotel in Singapore

Now let's look at it in more detail :)

If you're not strapped for cash, I recommend choosing a hotel in the Bay Area. Nearest metro stations: Marina Bay, Raffles Place, City Hall, Promenade, Esplanade (marked in the diagram below with a green circle).

For more budget travelers, areas near Clarke Quay, Bras Basah, Dhoby Ghaut, Bugis, Lavender stations (marked with red circles) are suitable.

There are many cheap hotels and hostels in the Chinese (Chinatown) and Indian (Little India) quarters (marked in blue).

I know that some tourists like to stay in the area of ​​the busy Orchard road and the metro station of the same name, but I didn’t like this area of ​​Singapore: nothing special, just a noisy street with huge shopping centers, shops and restaurants.

They don’t have very flattering comments about the Geylang area (although if you need to hire a prostitute for the night, then go there 🙂), but I didn’t consider this area primarily because of the distance from the tourist center.

Personally, I spent a long time choosing between two areas and metro stations: Clarke Quay and Bugis, each of which attracted me with its walking distance to Marina Bay. As a result, the Clar Quay embankment area outweighed the fact that it is located next to Chinatown, I thought that we would go to Chinese restaurants for dinner :) As a result, we were so tired during the day in Singapore that we no longer had the strength to go somewhere specifically for dinner , so we dined where we were hungry and didn’t change places :)

Singapore hotels: features and prices

Singapore is an expensive city and hotel prices there are correspondingly very high (about prices in Singapore).

Hotel Features:

• Small numbers
• Often in rooms of inexpensive hotels no windows
• In the room between the room and the bathroom-toilet there may be glass transparent partition
• Many mid-priced hotels have at least a small pool
• In Singapore hotels rarely check-in before the official check-in time even if rooms are available
• When checking into a hotel often deposit required in the amount of ~$100
• In many booking systems and hotel websites, the price per room may be indicated excluding taxes 17%
• Book a hotel in Singapore in advance through booking, agoda, etc. cheaper than searching locally
• Often on the website of the same booking the number is indicated two prices: price per room when paying later at the hotel and with the possibility of canceling the reservation before a certain date and a non-refundable price, which is charged from the card immediately on the day of booking. Of course, the sunk cost of interest on 10-20 below! For some, it’s convenient for me to pay for a hotel in advance with a fixed debit of funds.
• I personally I didn't notice any seasonal trend on price changes for . Whereas, for example, in November hotels are two times cheaper than in August, but in Singapore this is not the case. And the funny thing is, my friend went to Singapore for Chinese New Year, so the cost of her hotel during this holiday period was lower than the cost for our non-holiday period in early April.
• They often come to booking promotions and discounts on hotels in Singapore.

Singapore hotels prices:

• Bed in a hostel or capsule hotel ~ 20 USD
• A room in a cheap hotel in Indian, Chinese, Arab quarters ~ 60 USD
• A room in a normal hotel and a good location, but very small and without a window ~ 80 – 130 USD
• Hotel room with window ~ 130-220 USD
• A room in a good hotel in the center of Singapore ~ ​​180 – 300 USD
• Room in a luxury five-star hotel ~ 250 – 700 USD
• Hotel room from ~ 200 USD

Marina Bay Sands - the most famous hotel in Singapore

Best hotels in Singapore

– a luxurious five-star hotel on the bay with magnificent views of the Marina Bay complex and Singapore. Comfortable rooms, swimming pool, gym, spa, well-trained staff. Rating 9.4, price ~ $500.

is a luxurious five-star hotel located in a restored colonial building in the center of Singapore near the waterfront and City Hall MRT station. The hotel's bar serves the famous Singapore Sling cocktail using a legendary recipe. Rating 9.3, price per room ~ $600.

– a small, cute and cozy four-star hotel in an old building. The very center of Singapore, close to Telok Ayer and Raffles Place metro stations. Rating 9.2. Cost ~ 250 $.

– a five-star hotel with a super convenient location near the embankment and Clarke Quay metro station. Not far from Chinatown. Nice rooms, beautiful pool. Rating 9. Price per room ~ 250 $.

– an inexpensive five-star hotel in the City Hall area. Spacious rooms, swimming pool, fitness room. Rating 9, price per room ~ $220.

Naumi is a 5 star designer boutique hotel. Nice rooftop pool. Near City Hall and Esplanade metro stations. Rating 8.9. Price per room ~ 320 $.

5 star hotels in Singapore

In addition to the best hotels in Singapore listed above, I recommend taking a closer look at the following 5-star hotels near the bay:

Cheap hotels in Singapore

Below I will list inexpensive hotels in Singapore, which I very carefully studied and selected for us. Let me make a reservation right away that “inexpensive” is around +/- 100 USD per night. Everything is within walking distance from the tourist center.

Inexpensive hotels in Singapore near Clar Quay and the metro station of the same name:

• Fragrance Hotel – Riverside – inexpensive hotel with a small rooftop pool
• Champion Hotel City – we stayed at this hotel for 4 days. Detailed review. I recommend!

Cheap hotels in the Bugis area (Bugis, Lavender, Bras Basah and Dhoby Ghaut MRT stations):

• Santa Grand Hotel Bugis – has a small swimming pool, next to the Arab Quarter, Bugis metro station
• V Hotel Lavender – large hotel with a swimming pool, metro Lavender
• Summer View Hotel – convenient location near three metro stations Bugis, Bras Basah and Dhoby Ghaut, close to Indian and Arab quarters
• Hotel Bencoolen Singapore – small rooms with windows (!)
• Hotel Boss is a popular hotel among our tourists, it has a swimming pool and a gym. Metro Lavender
• YMCA @ One Orchard – has a swimming pool, close to Dhoby Ghaut metro station
• Ibis Singapore on Bencoolen – Ibis hotel, rooms with windows, Bugis MRT

And one hotel near City Hall, it is a little more expensive than the above listed hotels, its price is ~$125.

How do they do it 05/25/18 285 883 46

Four years ago, my husband and I decided to move to Singapore.

Slavina Bueva

moved to Singapore

We wanted to change the country and the climate, and we thought that there was nothing stopping us from doing this. Before that, we came to Singapore just as tourists for three days, and we really liked the city.

My husband found a job in Singapore in IT finance. When he received an official job offer, I transferred to the Singapore office within my company - then I worked at Iota Devices.

Moving

First, my husband came to Singapore alone for three months to see how the new project would go, and to make sure that he could live comfortably in a completely new country, where there were no acquaintances at all.

Finally, we sent the necessary things to Singapore: clothes and shoes, small household appliances, books, medicines and several packs of buckwheat - there is no buckwheat in Singapore, but we love it. The husband's employer paid for the transportation. Several people of heroic physique came to our Moscow apartment, packed everything in a dozen branded boxes and left - and two weeks later they brought it to an address in Singapore. We did not take any part in this at all.

About Singapore

Singapore is a city-state in Southeast Asia. About 5.3 million people live here. In recent years, the Internet has often written about the Singaporean economic miracle.

I recommend the memoirs of former Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, From the Third World to the First, where he describes how prison, the death penalty and socio-economic tools helped the country attract business and investors

Back in the mid-20th century, Singapore was known as a corrupt port city with a thriving opium trade. Over the course of 50 years, the city has become a separate state, the largest financial and logistics center in the region and the second largest seaport in Asia after Shanghai.

I'll tell you why we chose Singapore to move.

It's comfortable here. In big ways and in small ways. There are elevators everywhere, clean free toilets at every metro station. Covered walkways have been built throughout so as not to get wet when it rains - and it rains here often.

Singapore has a very high standard of living and safety. You can't see the police at all, but there are cameras everywhere. The police respond to incidents within a maximum of 15 minutes.

Compared to Europe and Australia, taxes are low here.

The banking and IT sectors are very developed. There are many main offices of various service companies and manufacturing companies with factories throughout Asia - all this is an excellent opportunity to find work. If the company is international, it most likely has at least a small office in Singapore.

We like the local climate. On average there is +27 °C all year round - and there is a lot of greenery.

Most bureaucratic procedures in Singapore can be completed online. My friends were able to register a legal entity and obtain a business permit within 24 hours.

There is a downside to all this: living in Singapore is expensive.

Money

There are 117 foreign and 6 local banks in Singapore. Most international banks have their representative offices or head offices here. The undisputed leaders are DBS, UOB and OCBC. DBS - The Development Bank of Singapore is the local equivalent of Sberbank. In my experience, DBS is an extremely customer-centric bank, with a user-friendly app and online banking. There is a DBS office or ATM near every metro station.

The official currency of Singapore is the Singapore dollar.

You can open a bank account at any branch. It's quick and simple: you need a passport, a valid work or study visa and proof of address. A letter from an employer or educational institution will do. You can simply bring your utility bill.

You can apply for a deposit or loan directly in Internet banking. The annual interest on a consumer loan will be only 4.5-8% depending on the bank, but you can’t count on high returns on your deposit either. Most deposits in Singapore will bring a maximum of 1% per annum, some options - up to 2.5%.

per annum will bring the majority of deposits in Singapore banks. Rarely 2.5%

In some small stores you can only pay with a card with the national payment system NETS - Visa and MasterCard will not be accepted. There are local banks that, by default, issue clients only cards that support the NETS system.

There are places that only accept cash, such as some taxis and fast food establishments.

Taxes

Taxes in Singapore are low. For us, this was one of the reasons for moving.

It has a progressive tax system: the higher the annual income, the higher the tax. For example, an employee’s salary before taxes is $5,000 (236,386 R) per month, which is $60,000 (2,836,636 R) per year:

1. The first $20,000 of this amount is tax-free.
2. On another $10,000 the tax is 2%.
3. On another $10,000 the tax is 3.5%.
4. On another $20,000 the tax is 7%.

Salaries in Singapore are always quoted before taxes. Taxes are paid once a year. The total amount is calculated based on the entire annual income, including bonuses.

Language

Singapore has four official languages: English, Malay, Chinese and Tamil. Everyone uses English for everyday communication at work and in the city. Knowing Chinese is useful in some cases, but until now, ordinary spoken English has always been enough for me.

It is necessary to make a reservation that there is a local version of English - “Singlish” (Singapore + English). It is a mixture of English, Malay and Chinese. The most common expression of Singlish is adding “lah” after a word to make it more convincing. Mostly service industry workers say this.

I got used to Singlish within a couple of months, as well as to the Chinese, Indian and many other accents of the multinational population of the country.

Visa

In Singapore, 30% of the population are expats who came to work or study. As an expat, I feel very comfortable here. Thanks for this to the official policy of mutual respect in the country. In Singapore, displaying intolerance towards another religion or nationality is punishable up to criminal liability. They still use caning as punishment here. For example, this is the punishment for robbery or for overstaying a visa.

Long-term Singapore visas come in three categories: work, dependent and study. I will tell you in detail about the different types of visas.

S-Pass (SP)- the first type of work visa. To obtain such a visa, you need to have an official salary in Singapore of $2,500 (RUR 118,193) per month. By law, every company only 15-20% of employees can operate under S-Pass, others must be Singaporeans or Permanent Residents.

30%

Singapore residents - expats

Employment Pass (EP)- the second type of work visas. Since 2018, the official salary for this visa must be at least $6,000 (283,663 RUR), but the quota for employees here is almost nominal.

Dependant's Pass (DP)- the first type of “dependent” visas. Such a visa is obtained, for example, by the spouse of a person who came to Singapore under SP or EP. The sponsor's minimum salary must be $6,000 per month. With a DP visa you can work in Singapore. The quota for the employer will not be applied, because he will not have to act as a sponsor - this is convenient for the employer.

Long Term Visit Pass (LTVP)- the second type of “dependent” visas. The sponsor must be a Singaporean citizen or permanent resident who is legally married to the person applying for the visa. The minimum salary for a “sponsor” to apply for LTVP is also $6,000.

Student Pass- a student visa for which the sponsor is an educational institution. With this visa you can stay in the country exactly as long as your studies last. With this visa you can work no more than 16 hours a week, but only if the school or university is on a special list. Even if you yourself want to work more, the employer will not allow it: he may be fined for this, and your visa will be revoked.

My husband has an Employment Pass visa and I have a Dependant’s Pass. This made my job search in Singapore very easy. Instead of applying for an Employment Pass, my new employer simply notified the state that they were hiring an employee with DP.

After living in the country for several years on a work visa, you can apply for permanent resident status (Permanent Resident, PR). You must sign up to submit documents a year in advance; documents will be reviewed for another six months. PR status is assigned for 6 years, then you need to submit a request for extension. Previously, renewal was almost automatic, but recently refusals have become more frequent. The authorities do not like the fact that expats receive residency with its privileges and minimum responsibilities, but do not want to then receive Singapore citizenship and stay in the country forever.

Expats rarely apply for citizenship. It is forbidden to have dual citizenship here - you can become a Singaporean only when you document your renunciation of any other citizenship.

Both permanent residents and citizens of Singapore are required to complete two years of military service and participate in annual training. Only men are subject to conscription.

Citizenship also has advantages. You can buy social housing, receive benefits for education and medical services.

My husband and I do not plan to obtain Singaporean citizenship.

Rental of property

The employer usually pays the expatriate employee's housing for one month. During this time, you need to find and remove the permanent one. The rental contract here is concluded by default for a year or two. If you sign for two years at once, the price per month will be less.

All expats mostly live in condominiums. This is a building or several buildings with a fenced area, security and entrance by magnetic card. The condominium has its own parking, gym, swimming pool, barbecue area and children's playground.

An alternative to a condominium is an apartment. This is what they call an ordinary residential building with a magnetic card entry, sometimes with a swimming pool on the roof.

Another type of housing is HDB, from the Housing & Development Board. This is social housing, which the state sells to citizens of the country at a discount. Typically, HDB apartments are large and inexpensive, but with a minimum of privacy. Such apartments can also be rented out only three years after purchase. Locals joke that Singaporeans propose with the words not “Will you marry me?”, but “Let’s take HDB together?”, because a decent size subsidy is given only to families.

By and large, HDBs are typical panel high-rise buildings.

A house or townhouse can be found at the price of a condominium, but then it will be far from the center and with very limited transport accessibility. Otherwise, the range of prices for individual houses is quite wide and depends on many factors.

Rental prices in Singapore have been falling for the third year. I recommend haggling when renting. Often in advertisements on websites there is a note: “Price is negotiable.”

A one-bedroom apartment in a condominium 30 minutes from the center by metro can be rented for $2,100-2,300 (99,300 -108,757 RUR). With two bedrooms - $2700-3000 (127,666 -141,851 R). Apartments on average cost $200-300 less than condominiums. HDB is still slightly cheaper, depending on size and location.

Paying for housing and communal services in Singapore is simple: all utility payments are carried out by one company - SP Service. On average, for a one-bedroom apartment it turns out to be 100-150 $ (4700 -7050 R).

RUB 142,000

on average we pay rent per month for a two-bedroom apartment near the center

We live in a condominium 30 minutes from the center. On the scale of Moscow, it’s as if we lived on Kolomenskaya. With the birth of the child, we moved to an apartment with two bedrooms; we pay $3,000 (RUR 141,852) per month for it, plus utilities.

Lease contract

The contract is required. It is not customary to conclude an agreement without a realtor. The agreement is usually signed as a template; it equally protects the tenant and the owner of the property.

If you found housing on the site yourself, then the owner pays for the realtor’s services. If you find a realtor, and he finds a suitable apartment for you, then you will already pay for his work. Typically, a realtor's fee is equal to one month's rent.

After concluding the contract, you need to transfer a deposit to the owner within a few days - payment for 1 month if you have a contract for a year, or for 2 months if the contract is for 2 years.

It is very important to photograph all the shortcomings of the apartment when you rent it. This could save you time and money in the future if you decide to change properties and get your deposit back. Typically, landlords try to keep the maximum deposit for themselves, finding fault with every scratch or stain in the apartment.

It is important that the tenant is given 1 month to “test” the housing. All problems that you identify during this period will be repaired by the owner at his own expense. All other breakdowns are paid for as follows: the first $150 of the repair cost is at your expense, the rest is paid by the owner.

Buying a home

Most banks provide mortgages in Singapore at 1.5-2% per annum. You can take out a mortgage for a maximum of 80% of the cost of the apartment. Without citizenship or residency, you can only buy condominium housing or apartments. Even without citizenship, you will have to pay an additional fee - about 18% of the total cost of housing.

The cheapest one-bedroom condominium apartment will cost a minimum of $500,000 (23,600,000 RUR).

23.6 million R

the average price for the cheapest one-bedroom condominium apartment is

Since we don't plan to stay in Singapore forever, we don't intend to buy our own apartment. For those who do not have permanent resident status, an apartment in Singapore is a dubious investment.

Pets

It is prohibited to import Staffordshire bull terriers, Akitas and a number of other dog breeds into Singapore. In addition to the standard requirements for importing animals such as vaccinations and a microchip, you will need to quarantine the animal for the first 30 days. Singapore quarantine is a kind of pet hotel. A room with an area of ​​2 m² will cost $30 (1420 RUR) per day, the dog will be fed and walked.

You can get a pet in Singapore, but there are also many restrictions. Only licensed breeders can keep an uncastrated animal at home. There are few breeders, prices are high, demand exceeds supply.

We wanted to adopt a cat and contacted a cattery. The cattery needs to prove that your home is ready to receive an animal, for example, that you have already installed bars on the windows. An expat by default is not the best candidate: what if he leaves the country and leaves the cat to die on the street? In the end we were refused.

Then we adopted a cat from a Chinese family, where the child suddenly developed an allergy to wool. We paid $900 for the cat (37,800 RUR) - and they also sold him to us at a 50% discount from the breeder's price.

RUB 42,500

on average we paid for a cat

Landlords are usually extremely discouraged from having pets. Many stipulate directly in the contract that this is unacceptable, or increase the deposit several times as soon as they find out about their availability. They also took a double deposit for the cat.

Medicine

There is no free healthcare in Singapore.

Employers typically provide insurance to employees. Often insurance is taken out for the entire employee’s family. The insurance includes a visit to a GP - general practitioner, this is a general practitioner like our therapist. You can come to him with any symptoms and receive the minimum necessary treatment. A visit costs on average $40-70 (1890 -3307.5 R).

9500 R

the minimum cost is a visit to a specialist doctor

Sometimes employer insurance covers emergency care and medical specialists. A visit to the emergency room with a swollen ankle will cost $300 (RUR 14,200) for an appointment and an x-ray. If you need to straighten something else and apply a fixative - $400 (RUR 18,913). An appointment with a specialist doctor with an ultrasound, tests or vision test has never cost us less than $200 (9450 RUR). Dentistry is usually not included in insurance, and a regular visit to the dentist will also cost at least $200.

If you don’t have insurance from your employer, it’s definitely worth purchasing - at least the cheapest one for $100 (4,728 R), which will cover accidents and hospitalization. An operation for appendicitis in a public hospital will cost $2,000 (RUR 94,500). In private - about $12,000 (567,400 RUR).

The only remedies available over the counter in Singapore are for symptoms such as fever and diarrhea. Everything else is by doctor's prescription only. All Russian expats bring with them from Russia a first aid kit and a supply of various dietary supplements.

Public transport

Singapore has a large metro and many bus routes. Transport runs predictably on schedule. To get from one end of the city to the other - a maximum of $4 (190 RUR). The shorter the distance, the lower the price. The ticket must be presented to the turnstile at the entrance and exit. Payment will be debited upon travel.

I really love local buses. Firstly, half of the buses in Singapore are double-deckers - any trip turns into an excursion. Secondly, even during rush hour you can take a seat because buses run frequently. And this is also an opportunity to spend the entire trip in a comfortable temperature, under air conditioning.

There are many dedicated lanes for buses. There are almost no traffic jams in the city, especially compared to Moscow.

In Singapore, there are regular taxis with a mileage meter and Grab Taxi (the local equivalent of Uber. If you take a regular, non-premium car, you can get to any part of the city for $25-30 (1183 -1419.6 R). If you drive on a Friday evening in the rain from the center, the price can increase to $40-50 (1900 -2375 RUR), but for this you will have to travel really far and for a long time. On the scale of a country measuring 50 by 27 km, this is not easy.

Many people use taxis. Shopping malls have special exits where there is a queue for a taxi.

Personal car

If you are used to driving your own car, Singapore will be very difficult for you. The Singapore authorities have done everything to ensure that people travel by public transport. Owning a car is very expensive here.

Singapore has a fixed number of cars by law. There are also a limited number of licenses to own a car (COE), and new ones stopped being issued in 2018.

COE is purchased for 10 years. Depending on the type of car, a license costs $35,000-55,000 (1,600,000 -2.51429e+06 R). When purchasing, you must pay a registration fee - this is 140% of the cost of the car. Import duty is another 31% of the cost. Plus road tax, insurance and number plates.

As a result, a new 2017 Audi A4 in Singapore costs $182,000 already with a license. BMW 328 - $238,000 (11,259,161 R). Mercedes E-200 - $202,000 (9,556,095 R). On a loan at 2-4% per annum, you can take out only 60% of the cost of the car.

A liter of AI-95 gasoline costs $2.2 (105 R), diesel - $1.56 (74 R).

Parking is almost always paid, even next to the house. If you work in the center and want to leave your car in the parking lot during working hours, be prepared to pay $5-6 (236 -283.2 R) per hour before 17:00 and an average of $3 (142 R) per hour after 17:00.

105 R

the average cost of a liter of AI-95 gasoline

Another significant cost item for a car is toll roads. In recent years there have been more and more of them. Not only express highways are tolled here, but also entrance to the city center. On Sunday travel is free, and on weekdays during rush hour travel on one of the main highways will cost $3 (142 R) for a passenger car. More expensive for trucks, cheaper for motorcycles.

The payment device in every car is located under the windshield. Money is withdrawn automatically the moment you pass through a gate with a reader.

Cafes and restaurants

Singaporeans joke that food is their national sport. Traveling to the other end of the city for a certain dish is a normal practice. Establishments with delicious food are scattered throughout the city. Mostly the cuisine is Asian.

Hawker centers were a revelation for me. These are food courts that are found everywhere in Singapore. Hawker centers have a lot of Chinese, Peranakan and Korean dishes. Huge portions cost $2-4 (95-190 RUR). The establishments here are unbranded; the signs indicate only the cuisine or type of dish. Large hawker centers also offer Western and Japanese cuisine.

A huge percentage of residents, regardless of age, nationality and social status, constantly eat in hawker centers. Here, a top manager can have lunch at the same table with the janitor of a neighboring office, a schoolchild, or an elderly handkerchief seller on the street.

76% of Singapore's population is of Chinese origin. It is not customary for them to cook at home, unless it is necessary to feed a child. But children also begin to be fed in hawker centers from the age of 3-4 years. Initially, HDB social housing didn't even have stoves, probably to discourage people from cooking at home.

Another 15% of the population are Malays, 7.5% are Indians. On the contrary, they usually cook at home. But you can easily find them at lunchtime in hawker centers, because they are tasty and inexpensive.

In addition to hawker centers, there are food courts and cafes that are much more similar to Russian ones. You can eat something more familiar in them. A business lunch will cost 10-15 $ (470 -705 R) per serving.

A traditional Singaporean breakfast is kaya toast with butter and coconut jam, two boiled eggs and tea or coffee. In the business district, this will cost from $3 (142 R). A European breakfast with pastries and omelet costs about $10 (472 RUR).

Dinner at an ordinary restaurant in the center for two will cost about $100 (4,730 RUR) without alcohol. Liquor is expensive in Singapore due to import duties. A 0.5 liter bottle of Heineken beer in a bar will cost 11 $ (520 R), in a supermarket - 7.5 $ (354 R). Chilean table wine “Sauvignon Blanc” costs $10-15 (470-705 R) per glass in a restaurant and $20-30 (938-1407 R) per bottle in a supermarket.

4700 R

the average cost of dinner in a restaurant for two without alcohol

Products

The three largest supermarket chains are Fairprice, Giant and, the most expensive, Cold Storage. There is hardly an area in the city that does not have one of these stores. There are also tiny Seven-Eleven supermarkets everywhere.

Many Singaporeans save time and order groceries through Honestbee's delivery service. Delivery costs $3.5 (165 RUR) per order. The products are the same as in the store, on the website you can

Approximate prices for products are as follows:

• 300 g chilled chicken breast, Malaysia - $3 (142 R).
• 300 g chilled pork fillet, Malaysia - $4 (190 R).
• 300 g chilled beef sirloin steak, Australia - 11-30 $ (520 -1418.18 R).
• 300 g of fresh tiger shrimp, Malaysia - $10 (472 R).
• 1 kg of potatoes, Malaysia - 2 $ (95 R).
• 1 kg of carrots, Malaysia - 2 $ (95 R).
• 1 kg of tomatoes, Malaysia - $3 (142 R).
• 1 dozen eggs, Malaysia - 2 $ (95 R).
• 1 liter of milk, Australia - $3.5 (165 R).
• 400 g of white bread for toast, Singapore - $2 (95 R).
• Bread from a bakery, Singapore - $6.5 (307 R).
• 1 kg of rice, Malaysia - 1 $ (47 R).

I indicate the country of origin because there are still Chinese products everywhere. They are much cheaper, but there is an opinion that it is unsafe to eat and cook with them due to chemicals, hormones and antibiotics. We try not to buy Chinese. We spend about $1,000 (47,284 RUR) a month on groceries; we mostly dine out.

47,000 R

on average we spend per month on groceries

We also buy drinking water. A 1.5 liter bottle costs from $0.75 (35 R). You can drink the tap water here, but it has an unusual taste.

Internet and mobile communications

The leaders in the Singapore telecommunications market are Singtel and Starhub. There is also Circles Life, but it has appeared recently and is still trying to attract customers with low prices. And I simply do not recommend the M1 company to you.

Mobile communications can be paid for with prepaid cards. This method is suitable if you do not yet have a long-term work, study or other visa. With a visa, you can apply for a postpaid tariff - an invoice will be sent to the post office once a month.

If you sign up for a postpaid plan for 2 years, you can take a phone along with it. You will have to pay a little more per month, but the total amount will in any case be less than if you buy a phone and pay for mobile communications separately. In January 2018, you could make an initial payment of $400 (18,900 RUR), rent an iPhone 8 for two years, then pay $50 (2364 RUR) per month for 3 GB of Internet and 200 minutes of calls.

1500 R

the average cost of a month of home internet

The newer the phone model, the less profitable such a contract is. Prices are reduced six months after the phone is released.

You can save on home Internet with the “SIM card + Internet only” package. The router and Internet at home will be free for the first six months. By default, the Internet here costs from $30 (1418 R) per month for 200 Mbit/s and from $50 (2346 R) per month for 500 Mbit/s.

Life

In Singapore, it is common to hire a helper to do housework. There are two options. You can invite an assistant for 3-4 hours once a week to clean and iron clothes. It costs $50 (2364 RUR) per visit.

If you have children, they often hire a live-in assistant - they are called “helpers” or “maids” (from the English maid - maid). Usually helpers and maids are women from the Philippines, Indonesia or Burma. Their working day starts at 7-8 am and ends at 8-9 pm. Sunday is a day off. Common helper duties include cleaning, ironing, cooking, grocery shopping, caring for children, pets, the elderly or people with disabilities.

It is necessary to conclude a contract with the helper. The standard contract period is 2 years. This is usually done through an agency, which also helps you find a helper and arrange all visa formalities - for helpers in Singapore there is a special Foreign Domestic Worker visa.

66,000 R

the cost of a house helper per month, if you take all the expenses per year and divide them by 12 months

As the employer, you are entirely responsible for the assistant. Her residence and stay at your address is regulated by law. If your assistant gets sick, you are required to pay for her treatment.

How much does a helper cost:

1. Salary 600-800 $ (28,000 -37333.3 R).
2. Additional products, if for some reason the helper cannot eat the same as you - about $250 (RUR 11,821).
3. Fixed tax - $265 (RUR 12,530).
4. Accident insurance includes hospitalization - an average of $300 (RUR 14,185) for 2 years.
5. Air tickets to your hometown and back - $200-400 (RUR 9,500 -19,000) once a year.

Total - approximately 1100-1400 $ (52,000 -66181.8 R) per month, if you take the total amount for the year and divide by 12.

Despite all the above costs and hiring features, it is rare for a Chinese family with children or elderly parents in Singapore to manage without such an assistant. In addition, maternity leave in Singapore is 4 months for citizens and permanent residents and only 2 months for expats.

Grandparents in Singapore usually work as long as possible. The pension here is exactly what you yourself have managed to accumulate over the years of work. It is very easy to spend your savings at the first difficult medical case. So people in Singapore don’t count on help from their grandparents.

For working expat moms, having a home helper is almost mandatory: you can’t cope without her. All my working friends in Singapore, as well as a fair number of non-working ones, have an assistant, and this is a real lifesaver.

Services sector

Massages, body wraps, spas, beauty treatments - all this is, of course, available in Singapore, but you should not expect low prices, as, for example, in Thailand.

Approximate prices in a regular salon are as follows:

• Men's haircut - $20 (950 RUR).
• Women's haircut - $20-60 (RUR 950-2850) depending on hair length.
• Coloring 60-120 $ (2900 -5800 R).
• Classic edged manicure with OPI varnish - 28 $ (1323 RUR), with gel polish - 48 $ (2270 RUR).
• Classic pedicure with polish - $38 (1800 R), with gel polish - $68 (3215 R).

A massage costs on average $35 (1642 R) for 30 minutes or $65 (3100 R) per hour. For comparison: in Thailand, on the beaches of Phuket, an hour-long full body massage with oil in Singapore dollars will cost $16 (751 R) in the low season and $24 (1126 R) in the high season.

950 R

average cost of a men's haircut

Sports and fitness

Singapore is a paradise for summer sports lovers. It’s always warm here, there are many parks, convenient infrastructure for running, cycling and rollerblading. There are a lot of swimming pools in the city: you can go swimming endlessly. There are beaches here too, some of which you can swim in, but still, Singapore is a port city, and the water here is not very clean.

Large residential complexes often have tennis courts. They are free for residents, so tennis is very accessible here, as is badminton. Lessons with a tennis coach cost $100 (4728 RUR) per hour.

Several large shopping centers have sports facilities such as a climbing wall or ice skating rink. It costs about $35 (1660 RUR) per session. Climbing walls are popular in Singapore. Some are equipped with an “automatic partner” - this is a special mechanism that will catch you if you suddenly fall off the wall. You can safely go to such climbing walls alone, if suddenly there is no partner for training - I gladly take advantage of this opportunity.

9500 R

the average cost of an unlimited yoga subscription for a month

Wakeboarding and wakesurfing are available all year round in Singapore and my husband and I are very happy about it. In January and February there is a season of strong winds - at this time you can even wind and kitesurf here.

There are also many fitness and yoga centers in Singapore. An unlimited monthly subscription will cost about $200 (9500 RUR).

Intellectual leisure

Let's say you're not a fan of physical activity and prefer to have fun in a different way. Unfortunately, the number of large-scale events in Singapore is much smaller than in Moscow or St. Petersburg. Concerts of performers of the Scorpions or Sting level take place 4-6 times a year. Tickets for the stands cost from $170 (8,000 R), dance floor - about $300 (14,200 R).

Every September, the Formula 1 night race is held in Singapore. For her sake, half of the center is closed off, and famous musicians, such as Bon Jovi or Robbie Williams, are invited to the opening.

RUB 14,200

costs a ticket to the dance floor for a concert of a famous performer like Sting

Singapore has theater and opera, but, in my opinion, the productions cannot compare with the level of theaters in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

I went dancing in Singapore and paid $40 (1890 RUR) per class. I also attended cooking classes at Kulinarion - it costs from $88 (4160 RUR), during the class you cook three different dishes. I also took first aid courses just in case, they cost $160 (7565 RUR). Sometimes my friends and I go to play quests - from $28 (1323 RUR) per room, the session lasts 45 minutes.

The Meetup website is popular in Singapore. Here you can look for like-minded people with even the most unusual interests. The website organizes meetings, master classes, games and discussion clubs for every taste. There are free events. Larger events can be found on the Eventbright portal, but they are all paid.

You can always just go to the movies. An evening session costs about $12 (570 RUR). By default, movies are shown in English with Chinese subtitles, and if the movie was shot in China, then vice versa.

Trips

Traveling around Asia is very easy from Singapore. You can fly to the beach in Thailand in 2-2.5 hours, and to ski resorts in Japan in 7 hours. If you fly with local low-cost airlines - Eirasia, Tiger, Scoot, Jet Star - tickets will be very inexpensive.

If you buy a low-cost airline ticket about a month in advance, for $100-150 (4678 -7017 RUR) you can fly there and back to the following countries:

1. Thailand - Phuket, Krabi, Bangkok.
2. Indonesia - Bali island, Java.
3. Malaysia - Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi resort.
4. Cambodia - Phnom Penh.
5. Vietnam - Ho Chi Minh City.

If you have a budget of $300 (RUR 14,200) per person, then you can fly anywhere in Asia. My friends and I most often fly to Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Near Singapore there are the Indonesian islands of Bintan and Batam. You can get there in 45 minutes by ferry for $40 (1890 RUR). The islands have clean beaches, clear water and few sports activities. There’s not much else to do there, but if you want a change of scenery or swim with the kids, then this is a great option.

1870 R

the average cost of a ferry from Singapore to a tropical island with a beach and clear sea

Children

Having children in Singapore is very expensive if you are an expat. Here's some simple math.

Pregnancy management: $100-300 (4,728 -14,184 RUR) per visit. On average, 12 visits are needed if the pregnancy is problem-free.

Natural childbirth without the use of forceps and epidural anesthesia in a conditionally state maternity hospital and 2 nights in a ward for 4-6 people will cost approximately $4,000 (189,136 RUR). In a private maternity hospital - $8,000-10,000 (RUR 378,000 -472,500). Epidural anesthesia will add about $3,000 (RUR 141,852) to the amount. Caesarean section - another 2000-4000 $ (93,551 -187,102 R) depending on the maternity hospital.

I had a natural birth with an epidural. I spent two nights in a solitary ward. All this cost $8,500 (401,914 RUR) - fortunately, the entire amount was covered by insurance.

400,000 R

On average my birth cost, fortunately it was covered by insurance

Annual health insurance, which covers pregnancy and childbirth, costs from $4,000 (189,000 RUR) to $8,000 (378,000 RUR). Often it contains a condition that at least 10 months must pass from the start of the policy to the birth, so that women do not buy insurance while already pregnant.

In kindergarten You can leave your child from 7 am to 7 pm. Groups have up to 15 children. The cheapest kindergarten I've heard of costs $700 (33,000 RUR) per month, otherwise everywhere else the kindergarten costs $1000-1200 (47,000 -56,400 RUR).

A school - international or just private - costs from $2,500 (118,000 R) to $4,500 (213,000 R) per month. This does not include uniforms, bus fees, meals and other additional expenses. To get a place in a regular public school, you need either citizenship or permanent resident status.

The Russian-speaking community in Singapore is quite large, so there is a school and a kindergarten in Russian. There are simply language, dance and other clubs in Russian.