Singapore
Currency in Singapore: what to use and how to exchange
Singapore uses the Singapore dollar (S$, SGD), with notes from S$2 and coins from 5 cents. Pay by card or phone almost everywhere, including hawker centres; carry S$50–100 in cash for small stalls, taxis and top-ups. Change money at a licensed money changer in a mall, not at the airport or hotel, and always choose to be charged in SGD.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
GuideSingapore
Key facts
- Currency
- Singapore dollar (S$, SGD); notes from S$2, coins from 5 cents
- Card acceptance
- Widely accepted, including contactless and QR at many hawker stalls
- Cash you actually need
- S$50–100 for small stalls, taxis, top-ups and deposits
- Best exchange rate
- Licensed money changers in malls and around Raffles Place
- Worst rate
- Airport counters and hotel desks
- Dynamic currency conversion
- Decline it; pay in SGD and let your bank convert
- Tipping
- Not expected; 10% service charge + 9% GST on restaurant bills
- Time zone
- UTC+8 all year, no daylight saving
Details
Singapore is close to a cashless city, but not quite there. Cards and phone wallets work at MRT ticket machines, supermarkets, chain cafés, most restaurants and an increasing share of hawker stalls that display a QR code. Small family stalls, some taxis, market vendors and older kopitiams still prefer cash, and a few take only cash. Carry a modest float rather than a thick wallet.
Withdrawing from an ATM is the simplest way to get cash. ATMs are everywhere, including inside MRT stations and malls, and most accept foreign Visa, Mastercard, Cirrus and Plus cards. Your own bank's fees and exchange rate apply, so take larger amounts less often. Some local ATMs charge an access fee; the screen shows it before you confirm.
If you bring cash to change, do it at a licensed money changer. Rates in Singapore are competitive and the spread is usually tighter than at banks. The cluster of changers around Raffles Place, especially in The Arcade, is the benchmark locals use; mall changers in Chinatown, Little India and Orchard are also fine. Airport and hotel counters are convenient but typically cost more per unit.
When you pay by card, the terminal may offer to charge you in your home currency. This is dynamic currency conversion: it looks helpful and usually costs 3–7% more. Choose SGD. The same rule applies at ATMs that offer to convert for you.
Tipping is not expected. Restaurant bills usually add 10% service charge and 9% GST, so the total on the bill is what you pay. Hawker centres, food courts and taxis have no service charge; rounding up is optional and small.
| Method | Where it works | Cost or catch |
|---|---|---|
| Contactless card or phone | Most shops, MRT, chains, many hawker stalls | Your bank's FX rate; decline conversion to your home currency |
| ATM withdrawal | Everywhere, including MRT stations and malls | Home-bank fees plus possible local access fee |
| Licensed money changer | Malls, Raffles Place, Chinatown, Little India | Best rates in the city; bring your passport for larger amounts |
| Airport or hotel counter | Arrivals hall, hotel desk | Convenient, usually the weakest rate |
| Cash | Hawker stalls, taxis, markets, deposits | Keep S$50–100 on you; some stalls are cash only |
Tips
- Pay in SGD, never in your home currency, when a card terminal or ATM offers the choice.
- Change money in town rather than at the airport; the difference on a few hundred dollars is a meal.
- Keep small notes and coins: S$2 and S$5 are useful at hawker stalls and for bus and MRT top-ups.
- Tell your bank you are travelling so a first card payment is not declined.
- Keep the receipt from a money changer until you have counted the notes.
- Singapore is strict on cash reporting at the border; check the current threshold before carrying large sums.
FAQ
Questions people ask
What currency is used in Singapore?
The Singapore dollar, written S$ or SGD. Notes start at S$2 and coins at 5 cents. It is a separate currency from the Malaysian ringgit and the Brunei dollar, though the two are interchangeable at par in each country.
Where is the best place to exchange money in Singapore?
Licensed money changers in malls and around Raffles Place, especially The Arcade, usually give the tightest rates. Airport and hotel counters are convenient but cost more per unit. Compare two or three counters before changing a large amount.
Is it better to bring cash or use a card in Singapore?
Use a card or phone for most spending and carry S$50–100 in cash for small stalls, taxis and top-ups. Withdraw from an ATM if you run short. Always choose to be charged in SGD, not your home currency.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check