Our normal advice here is to allow S$100 per person per day, which will cover your basic expenses. Naturally if you choose to eat in fine restaurants, and especially buy alcoholic drinks, that may not be adequate.

Singapore is an "expensive but flexible" city, and the amount of cash you need depends on your "payment style." In 2026, Singapore is nearly a cashless society; you can use credit cards or mobile payments (Apple Pay/Google Pay) for almost everything, including the MRT (subway), buses, and most retail. You primarily need cash only for Hawker Centres (local food courts) and some small shops in districts like Little India or Chinatown. A "budget" traveler can get by on roughly SGD 20–30 in cash per day for incredible local meals and coffee. For a mid-range traveler who wants to visit attractions like the Flower Dome or the Night Safari, you should budget about SGD 100–150 per day, though 90% of this can be paid by card. The local exchange rate in February 2026 is approximately 1 SGD to 72 INR (or 0.74 USD), so carrying about $50 worth of local currency as a "just in case" backup is usually sufficient for a few days.