4 Ways to Enjoy Singapore Without Breaking the Bank

Singapore is the most expensive country to live, work, and play in Asia, but it’s also one of the cleanest and most enjoyable places you’ll find. However, if you’re savvy, then you already know that drafting a budget for your trip is absolutely essential.

In addition, if you fly frequently and intend to return to the city-state multiple times, there are other options you might consider than simply making a hotel reservation. Here are four tips that can help you enjoy everything Singapore has to offer on a budget.

How to Get There on a Budget

If you’re a foreigner visiting Singapore from another country, one of the most expensive parts of your trip will be the flight. It’s advisable not to jump on the first fare you see, but rather to use a site that offers multiple fares to compare.

More importantly, always check fares throughout different times of the day and week. While you may find that flight prices are extremely steep at noon on a Monday, they may then drastically decrease the next afternoon later in the day.

This is all due to demand, that is, when there are more travellers are searching and buying plane tickets at the same time. This is also why you should plan your flight dates well ahead of time, giving yourself ample opportunities to wait for flight prices to come down as much as possible. It will take some time and observation, though, so be prepared to wait a bit.

Long-Term Investments

If you’re a seasoned traveler, or may have even lived in Singapore at some point, seeking out a more permanent option can save a lot of money if you’re throwing your funds away on lodging. The cooling measures put into place by the government in the last few years to curb the skyrocketing real estate prices is still in effect, and the market has indeed stabilized.

However, according to The Business Times, some developers have even cut prices by up to 25 percent since cooling measures put into place by the government will not end until 2017.

f you’re interested in purchasing a property as an alternative to renting or short-term reservations, you also don’t have to be outright wealthy.

As long as you have the right permit, even non-residents can take out loans for home purchases. If you search PropertyGuru Singapore for mortgage rates and what’s available, you’ll find a lot of different options currently.

Length of Stay

An important element to consider is how long you want to stay in the country. While some travellers are homebodies who are only visiting for a short period of time, many visitors to the country stay for longer than a few weeks.

They may even obtain work permits to live in the country for longer, and plan to purchase property. If you’re trying to travel to Singapore on a budget, figuring out how much time you can stay, where you want to be, and what you want to do is a good way to gauge what kind of expenses you’ll be dealing with.

If you’re a career traveler who lives their life by going around the world and working in different places, you actually waste less money by staying in one place for a longer time than hopping from destination to destination.

How to Get Around

While many Asian countries don’t have dependable mass transit, mostly relying on taxis or private cars, Singapore is easy to traverse. Lonely Planet advises that visitors get an EZ-link card that provides ample access to buses and other modes of transportation. One of the most convenient things about spending time in Singapore is that it’s not a huge place.

Unlike other countries where you might spend days getting from one locale to the next, this country is all-inclusive and contained. One of the biggest expenses that travelers waste funds on when they’re on holiday is unnecessary, exorbitant transportation costs.

You should always take mass transit if you can, since it will save you a good deal of money in the long run. A good tactic to avoid this unnecessary expense is to plan out ahead of time when you will want to take a taxi or splurge on a private car. For example, if you intend on going to some kind of special event or out for a night, then budgeting the money in advance will save you from spending too impulsively because you might be feeling lazy.

While the nation has a reputation as being Asia’s most expensive city-state for a valid reason, that doesn’t mean there aren’t ways to get around this conundrum. Not only that, but the trip is also worth the trouble, since it’s also known to be one of the cleanest, most beautiful destinations for travelers in the region. You can experience all the culture, entertainment, and intriguing idiosyncrasies that the country has to offer without breaking the bank, as long as you plan ahead and budget wisely.

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