NakedSingapore.com

Tempted to visit Singapore? Hesitate no more, it's a beautiful country, and we're here to share what intimate information we know about Singapore to help you plan that perfect trip.

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Tourist Guide to Singapore

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Singapore Currency and Money

The Singaporean currency is the Singapore dollar, abbreviated SGD, S$ or just $ (as used throughout this site). One dollar is divided into 100 cents. There are coins of $0.05 (gold), $0.10 (silver), $0.20 (silver), $0.50 (silver) and $1 (gold), plus bills of $2 (purple), $5 (green), $10 (red), $50 (blue), $100 (orange), $1000 (purple) and $10000 (gold). The Brunei dollar is at par with the Singapore dollar and the two currencies can be used interchangeably in both countries, so don't be too surprised if you get a Brunei note as change. As of April 2007, one Euro is worth about $2.05 and one US dollar is worth about $1.5135.

Restaurants often display prices like $19.99++, which means that service (10%) and sales tax (5%), (7% from 1 July 2007 onwards) are not included and will be added to your bill. Hotels and fancy restaurants may note rates as +++, where the third plus denotes 1% CESS (essentially a tourism tax), for a total surcharge of 16.55%. (18.55% from 1 July 2007 onwards).

Tipping is generally uncommon in Singapore, although bellhops still expect $2 or so per bag. Taxis will usually return your change to the last cent, or round in your favor if they can't be bothered to dig for change.

ATMs are ubiquitous in Singapore and credit cards are widely accepted (although shops often levy a 3% surcharge, and taxis a whopping 15%). Currency exchange booths can be found in at the airport as well as in every shopping mall and usually offer better rates, better opening hours and much faster service than banks. The huge 24-hour operation at Mustafa in Little India accepts almost any currency at what are probably the best rates in town. Travelers checks are generally not accepted by retailers, but can be cashed at most exchange booths.

Costs

Singapore is expensive by Asian standards but cheap for visitors from most industrialized countries: $50 is a perfectly serviceable daily backpacker budget. Food in particular is a steal, with excellent hawker food available for less than $5 per generous serving. Accommodation is a little pricier, but a bed in a hostel can cost less than $20 and the most luxurious hotels on the island (except maybe the Raffles) can be yours for $200 with the right discounts.