How To Survive One Day In Singapore With Only 30 USD In Your Pocket

Make your way to the MRT

MRT or Mass Rapid Transit presents the most effective way to get around Singapore either for business or leisure. It is fast, affordable, and accessible to many areas within Singapore. First thing you have to do is to get your MRT ticket. There are three ticketing options available to suit different travel needs: standard ticket, Singapore tourist pass, and EZ-Link Card or NETS Flasplay Card.

Standard ticket is a one-time payment ticket card, which you can purchase at General Ticket Machine (GTM) at any MRT station. The fare from one station to another ranges from 0.90 SGD (approximately 0.64 USD). Singapore tourist pass is an unlimited ticket with a minimum of 8 SGD (approximately 5.71 USD) per day, available for purchase at the visitors’ offices. Plus, there is a 10 SGD (7.10 USD) refundable deposit. This is a great option if you are planning to use the MRT back and forth many times in one day. EZ-Link Card and NETS Flashplay Card is what most Singaporeans use for their daily MRT trips. First you have to buy the card for 12 SGD (8.50 USD) with 7 SGD (5 USD) travel value at any TransitLink Ticket Office. This card can be topped up at any GTM.

Affordable lunch at Chinatown

You would probably be hungry arriving in Singapore from wherever you come from. Hold your appetite a little longer and make your way to Chinatown. The foods there are affordable and tasty for its price. From the Chinatown MRT station, you would have a wide range of options. Walking a little bit further may lead you to good food at a good deal! There’s a cafeteria named ‘Coffee 168’ just two blocks from the station. The place is comfortable, clean, and quiet. It serves a variety of Chinese dishes. For 1.40 SGD (1 USD). you can get rice with sauteed fresh vegetables and roasted chicken. A great lunch stop before continuing your adventure in Singapore!

Enjoy the mesmerizing city view at Marina Bay

Perhaps you have heard of the glamorous Marina Bay Sands and the world class Formula 1 night races taking place around the same area. To get to Marina Bay from Chinatown, you can take the Downtown Line to the Bayfront station. Upon alighting from the train, you will find yourself to be in The Shoppes @ Marina Bay Sands. The bayfront and promenade is less than 10 minutes away.

There is no fee to walk around the bay. There are many things you can do here for free. There are some parks for you to hang out, access to the Formula 1 grandstand during off-race, or just to sit by the bay and enjoying the cool breeze on your face.

Visit Gardens by the Bay up close

One of the most popular tourist attractions in Singapore is Gardens by the Bay. The entrance ticket to the Conservatories ranges from 8 SGD to 28 SGD (approximately 5.71 USD to 20 USD). However, even without paying for the ticket, you still can walk around the gardens and see them up close. Even though it is just from the outside, the view is still mesmerizing and there are many photo opportunities!

From Marina Bay area, you can take 15 minutes’ walk full of sightseeing. Take a shortcut to the Marina Bay shopping mall right below the Marina Bay Sands. Get to the highest floor to access the bridge leading to Gardens by the Bay.

One more stop at Little India before you leave

There are many other places you can visit in Singapore from the city center, one of which is Little India. Indian culture is one of the most fascinating cultures in the world and you can get a glimpse of that in Little India of Singapore.

From Bayfront station, you can get to Little India station. Located one block from the station is the Tekka Food Center whereby you can find many food stalls. There are many local food including Indian cuisine here. And the best part is they are all very affordable! With only 3.50 SGD (2.50 USD), you can get yourself a filling meal of Indian Roti (equivalent to savory pancake) with curry and a glass of fresh ice Lychee.