💰 Quick Context: The Singapore Dollar
Singapore uses the Singapore Dollar (SGD / S$). A hawker meal costs S$4–8, a restaurant meal S$20–50, and a hotel night S$150–400. Quick math: divide by 1.35 for a rough USD estimate (e.g., S$135 ≈ US$100). Or simply multiply by 0.75. Check the current SGD/USD rate before your trip. Singapore is extremely card-friendly, so a small cash backup is more than enough.
🎧 Order Singapore Dollar Before You Fly
Have cash in hand when you land. Insured delivery, 2–5 day shipping.
Order SGD → CEI Currency ExchangeCash vs. Card: What to Expect in Singapore
Singapore is one of the most cashless societies in the world. Contactless payments are the standard way to pay, and cards are accepted virtually everywhere. You can easily go days without touching cash.
Cards dominate: Contactless payments work at shops, restaurants, cafés, supermarkets, MRT stations, and even many hawker centres. Apple Pay and Google Pay are widely accepted
Cash-only situations: Some individual hawker stalls, wet markets, and small neighbourhood shops may still be cash-only, though this is rapidly changing
How much to carry: S$50–100 is more than enough as a backup for the rare cash-only stall. Keep small notes (S$2, S$5, S$10) for hawker centres
Coin denominations: Singapore uses 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, and S$1 coins. Cash transactions may be rounded to the nearest 5 cents
How to Get Singapore Dollars for Your Singapore Trip
Singapore is functionally cashless. Contactless cards, PayLah!, GrabPay, and the SimplyGo system (tap any contactless bank card on the MRT and buses) handle transit, every Cold Storage and FairPrice supermarket, every chain restaurant, and a growing share of hawker stalls (many now sport SGQR codes). The cash holdouts are tiny: some traditional hawker stalls, the wet markets at Geylang Serai and Tekka, the rare provision shop. There is no tipping, so no tipping-cash need either. The Singapore-specific money fact is the opposite of most countries: the best currency exchange is not the bank or the airport but the downtown licensed money changers at The Arcade and Mustafa Centre. Two cheap ways to get a small starter: pre-order before takeoff, or pull from a DBS or OCBC ATM after landing (Singapore banks add no surcharge of their own).
Order Singapore dollars before you fly
For pre-arrival SGD, two paths. A currency-exchange service like CEI Currency Exchange ships physical Singapore dollars to a US address with insured 2–5 day delivery, at a small spread over the bank rate. Useful if you're transiting Changi for a short stopover and want a starter float in hand. Your home bank can also order SGD: Bank of America, Chase, Wells Fargo, and Citi all stock it, free for many premium accounts and a modest fee otherwise. Allow 3–7 business days. Singapore does not have a Bank of America Global ATM Alliance partner, but it barely matters here because Singapore banks do not add an operator surcharge on foreign cards anyway, so a BoA card only pays BoA's own 3% non-network fee. The cleanest setup for a Singapore visit: a Wise or Charles Schwab card to handle 95% of payments contactlessly (and to tap the SimplyGo MRT system directly), plus a small starter envelope of SGD for hawker stalls and wet markets, topped up at a downtown money changer if you need more.
Withdraw from a Singapore bank ATM
On the ground, a major Singapore bank ATM gives you the real interbank rate with no surcharge of its own, which is unusual and good. DBS / POSB (the largest network), OCBC, UOB, and Standard Chartered all dispense SGD at the interbank rate and do not add their own operator fee for foreign cards. (Ignore the widely-quoted S$5-7 'DBS fee': that is what DBS charges ITS OWN customers to use a foreign ATM abroad, not what a foreign card pays inside Singapore.) Withdrawal limits run roughly S$1,000–3,000 per transaction, and your own daily card limit usually binds first. ATM density is exceptional: Changi (T1-T4), every MRT station, every mall (ION Orchard, VivoCity, Marina Square), and most FairPrice supermarkets and 7-Elevens have machines. Avoid the rare standalone independent ATMs in Clarke Quay and Boat Quay nightlife venues and some hotel lobbies, which add operator fees and push DCC. Decline DCC every time the screen offers "charge in USD". See the Best ATMs section below, or drop your card into our ATM fee calculator to see the cost.
Airport counters & "0% commission" booths
The Singapore exception worth learning. Unlike most countries where the airport and bank give the best rates, here the best currency exchange is the downtown licensed money changer. The licensed changers in The Arcade at Raffles Place (11 Collyer Quay, three floors of competing changers, generally the best rates in the city) and the 24-hour Mustafa Centre in Little India beat both the bank ATM and the airport counters by roughly half a percent to one percent on US dollars and major Asian currencies. The Travelex and ChangeAlley counters in Changi arrivals are actually competitive by airport standards (fine for a small starter float), but still trail the downtown changers. The exchange windows along the Marina Bay Sands strip and inside hotel concierge desks use the "no commission" framing while baking the markup into the rate, and the standalone independent ATMs in Clarke Quay nightlife venues add DCC on top of operator fees. Stick to bank ATMs (DBS, OCBC, UOB) or the licensed Arcade / Mustafa changers, decline DCC, and you have the cheapest SGD in the city.
For a side-by-side comparison of every method (bank wire, travel card, pre-order, ATM, exchange counter) including USD-to-SGD timing tips, see our complete Getting Currency guide →.
Best ATMs to Use in Singapore
Singapore's three major banks (DBS, OCBC, UOB) operate extensive ATM networks across the island. These machines are reliable and widely available in MRT stations, shopping malls, and bank branches. Your home bank may charge its own foreign transaction fee, but local bank ATMs generally do not add operator surcharges for foreign cards. Always choose SGD when prompted.
DBS Bank
Singapore's largest bank with the most extensive ATM network. Found in nearly every MRT station, shopping mall, and neighbourhood across the island. Also operates POSB ATMs.
Recommended
OCBC
Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation. Wide ATM coverage across Singapore with machines in malls, MRT stations, and commercial areas.
Recommended
UOB
United Overseas Bank. Strong ATM presence throughout Singapore, including branches, shopping centres, and transport hubs.
RecommendedHSBC
International bank with ATMs in major commercial districts. A good option if your home bank is part of the HSBC network, as you may avoid additional fees.
Recommended⚠ Watch Out for Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC)
When an ATM or card terminal offers to charge you in USD instead of SGD, always decline. Choosing USD means accepting a 3–5% markup hidden in their exchange rate. Always select "SGD" or "local currency" at every prompt. Some ATMs and card terminals near Orchard Road, Marina Bay, and Clarke Quay push DCC aggressively.
ATMs to Avoid in Singapore
While Singapore has fewer predatory ATMs than many tourist destinations, standalone machines in high-traffic tourist areas can still hit you with poor rates and unnecessary fees. Stick to the major bank ATMs listed above.
Standalone ATMs in Tourist Areas
Independent machines around Orchard Road, Marina Bay Sands area, and Sentosa. These may charge flat fees and push DCC prompts with inflated exchange rates. Use a bank ATM instead.
AvoidAirport Money Changers
Currency exchange counters at Changi Airport offer worse rates than city-centre money changers. If you need cash on arrival, use a bank ATM in the arrivals hall or wait until you reach the city.
AvoidPaying by Card in Singapore
Card Networks
Visa and Mastercard are accepted virtually everywhere in Singapore, from hawker centres with card readers to luxury hotels
American Express is accepted at most hotels, larger restaurants, and chain stores, but some smaller businesses may decline it. Do not rely on Amex as your only card
Discover / JCB have limited acceptance. Not recommended as a primary travel card
Contactless & Mobile Payments
Contactless (tap) is the default: Singaporeans tap to pay for almost everything. Contactless cards work at virtually all payment terminals
Apple Pay and Google Pay work at most terminals and are widely used by locals and visitors alike
NETS and PayNow: These are Singapore's local payment systems. They are designed for local bank accounts, so tourists should rely on contactless Visa/Mastercard instead
Where Cards May Not Work
Some hawker stalls: While many hawker centres now have card readers, some individual stall operators (especially older ones) remain cash-only
Wet markets: Traditional fresh markets typically operate on cash
Very small shops: Some neighbourhood provision shops and older businesses may prefer cash
Tipping in Singapore
Tipping Guide
Tipping is NOT expected in Singapore. Most restaurants automatically add a 10% service charge plus 9% GST to your bill. There is no need to tip on top of this
Restaurants: No tip expected. The 10% service charge is already included. Leaving extra can sometimes be awkward
Cafés and hawker centres: No tip expected
Taxis and rideshare: No tip expected. Grab (the local rideshare app) does not have a tipping feature
Hotels: Not customary to tip porters, concierge, or housekeeping
Tour guides: A small tip is appreciated but never expected or required
Hawker Centres, EZ-Link & Cashless Singapore
Things to Know
For Singapore-specific neighborhood tips (hawker centre payments, MRT fares, Orchard Road vs. Chinatown card acceptance, and money changer locations), see our Singapore Money Guide.
Hawker centres: Singapore's famous hawker centres (Lau Pa Sat, Maxwell Food Centre, Old Airport Road) are increasingly cashless, but some individual stalls remain cash-only. Bring S$10–20 in small notes as a backup when visiting
EZ-Link card: The EZ-Link card is Singapore's stored-value card for MRT trains and buses. However, you can skip buying one entirely by tapping your contactless Visa or Mastercard directly at fare gates. This works on all MRT lines and buses
NETS and PayNow: These are Singapore's local payment systems linked to local bank accounts. Tourists cannot easily use them, so stick with your contactless card and cash
Money changers: If you need to exchange cash, the money changers at Mustafa Centre (Little India) and The Arcade at Raffles Place offer some of the best rates in Singapore. Avoid exchanging at the airport or hotels
Money Safety in Singapore
Staying Safe
Extremely safe: Singapore is one of the safest countries in the world. Violent crime and pickpocketing are virtually nonexistent. Standard common sense is all you need
ATM safety: You can use ATMs at any time of day with minimal concern. Bank ATMs inside MRT stations and malls are plentiful and well-lit
Carry a second card as backup. Singapore is extremely card-friendly and fraud holds are rare, but having a backup ensures you can always tap for MRT rides and hawker centre meals without interruption.
Singapore is a major international hub and most banks process transactions without issue. You likely do not need to notify your bank unless you use a small regional bank or credit union.
DBS and OCBC ATMs dispense up to SGD 2,000 per transaction, though you rarely need much cash in card-friendly Singapore. A single withdrawal covers hawker centre meals and MRT top-ups for a week.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need cash in Singapore?
Very little. Singapore is one of the most cashless societies in the world. Contactless cards work at shops, restaurants, MRT trains, buses, and even many hawker centres. Keep S$50–100 as backup for the occasional cash-only hawker stall or wet market vendor. Many visitors never use cash at all.
Do I need an EZ-Link card for the MRT?
No. You can tap your contactless Visa or Mastercard directly at MRT fare gates and on buses. This works on all lines and routes. An EZ-Link card is only worth buying if you want slightly cheaper fares on frequent rides, but the convenience of using your existing card usually outweighs the small savings.
Is tipping expected in Singapore?
No. Most restaurants automatically add a 10% service charge plus 9% GST to your bill. There is no need to tip on top of this. Hawker centres, cafés, taxis, and hotels do not expect tips. Leaving extra at a restaurant can sometimes be awkward in Singapore's culture.
Where can I get the best exchange rate in Singapore?
Money changers at Mustafa Centre in Little India and The Arcade at Raffles Place offer some of the best rates in the city. Avoid exchanging at Changi Airport or hotels. For most visitors, using a no-FX-fee contactless card is simpler and just as cost-effective.
Are hawker centres cash-only?
Not anymore. Many stalls at Lau Pa Sat, Maxwell Food Centre, and Old Airport Road now have card readers. However, some individual stall operators (especially older ones) remain cash-only. Bring S$10–20 in small notes as backup when visiting hawker centres.
Is Singapore expensive?
It depends on where you eat. Hawker meals cost S$4–8 ($3–6), making Singapore surprisingly affordable for food. Restaurant meals run S$20–50 ($15–37). Hotels are expensive at S$150–400+ ($110–300+) per night. Alcohol is heavily taxed: expect S$12–18 ($9–13) for a beer at a bar.
Spend Singapore Dollars Like a Local
The Wise card converts your money at the real mid-market exchange rate. No markups, no surprises. Tap to pay everywhere in Singapore.
Get the Wise Card →Quick Comparison
| Method | Cost | Convenience | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| No-FX-fee card (contactless) | Best (no fees, mid-market rate) | ★★★★★ | Works almost everywhere |
| Bank ATMs (DBS, OCBC, UOB) | Low (fair rate, minimal fees) | ★★★★★ | Small cash backup |
| Money changers (Mustafa / The Arcade) | Low (competitive rates) | ★★★★☆ | Good rates for cash exchange |
| Standalone tourist ATMs | High (fees + poor rates + DCC) | ★★☆☆☆ | Avoid |
| Airport exchange counters | Medium–High (rates worse than city) | ★★☆☆☆ | Avoid if possible |
Singapore Quick Facts
| Currency | Singapore Dollar (SGD / S$). Multiply by 0.75 for rough USD estimate |
| Cash vs. Card | Extremely card-friendly. S$50–100 cash backup is more than enough |
| Best ATMs | DBS, OCBC, UOB |
| Contactless | Universal. Tap to pay is the default at nearly every terminal |
| Card Acceptance | Excellent. Visa/Mastercard everywhere. Apple Pay and Google Pay widely accepted |
| Tipping | Not expected. 10% service charge is auto-added at restaurants |
| DCC Risk | Moderate. Always choose SGD at ATMs and card terminals |
| Best Strategy | No-FX-fee contactless card for nearly everything. Bank ATM for small cash backup |
Singapore City Guides
Neighborhood-level money guides for Singapore. Where to find ATMs, which areas need cash, how to pay for transport, and more.
Singapore money toolkit
Deep-dive guides for specific banks, airports, and traveler nationalities in Singapore. Each one builds on this overview with card-by-card fee math, exact ATM locations, or terminal-by-terminal directions.