Monthly Breakdown for Digital Nomads, Hybrid Workers, and Travellers.

Ah, Singapore — my home country. A clean, efficient, and incredibly safe city that’s perfect for families, solo travellers, and digital nomads alike. While many locals dream of traveling abroad, I found unexpected joy in rediscovering the city I grew up in. I spent a month living centrally, eating my way across neighbourhoods, and soaking in the slower pace of everyday life.

💰 Expenses Breakdown

🛏️ Accommodation: SGD3,300
→ Stayed in a central district before rental prices surged post-pandemic. Thanks to Singapore’s stellar transport system, most areas are well-connected even if you’re not in the city center.
🍽️ Food: <SGD40/day
→ A balance of hawker centres, cafes, and restaurants.
🚕 Transport: SGD228
→ SGD128 for an adult monthly concession pass + SGD100 on Grab for convenience.
💄 Personal Expenses: ~SGD300
→ Shopping, grooming, massages, etc.

Total: ~SGD5,068 (excluding activities)

📌 On a budget, you could comfortably live here from ~SGD2,500/month with shared housing and local eats.

🏡 Where to Stay in Singapore: Best Mid-Range Options

✔️ Downtown Area – Condos here offer Marina Bay Sands views. If you’re splurging, this is it.
✔️ City Hall – A key transit hub, surrounded by museums, shopping malls, and lush parks.
✔️ Orchard Road – The iconic shopping street with endless food and fashion options.

🏠 Airbnb, Hotel, or Something Else?

✅ Hotels: Ideal for short-term visits but pricey.
✅ Airbnb/Serviced Apartments: Regulated in Singapore — your best bet is a licensed serviced apartment or mid-term rental.

📌 Booking in advance is key — demand fluctuates depending on global travel seasons.

🍽️ Food and Dining in Singapore (SGD40/day)

Singapore is a food paradise — whether you’re on SGD3/day or SGD300/day. I spent most meals out, hopping between food gems.

My favourites:

✔️ Hong Lim Market and Food Centre – For spicy, aromatic Heng Kee Curry Chicken Noodles.
✔️ Chinatown Complex – Traditional dishes at unbeatable prices.
✔️ Amoy Street Food Centre – Try Han Kee Fish Soup during weekday lunch rush.
✔️ Ikoi Japanese Restaurant – All-you-can-eat Japanese buffet with stellar sashimi and service.
✔️ Red House Seafood – Classic chilli crab and seafood feasts; perfect for groups or celebrations.

📌 Budget tip: Hawker meals range from SGD3–6. Bring tissues. You’ll need them to ‘chope’ tables – a little bit of culture vibe here!

🚕 Transport Costs (SGD228 for the Month)

Singapore’s MRT and bus system is world-class. I relied on:

✔️ The Adult Monthly Concession Pass (SGD128) for unlimited MRT/bus rides.
✔️ Grab for airport runs or lazy-night outings (~SGD100 total).

📌 Taxis are more expensive, but Grab promo codes pop up now and then!

📶 Internet and Workspaces (SGD25)

WiFi is excellent, free in most cafes, and mobile data is fast.

✔️ As a local, I used my mobile plan.
✔️ Travellers can grab a prepaid tourist SIM with ~100GB data at affordable rates.
✔️ Remote-friendly cafes are everywhere — my picks are in Duxton, Tiong Bahru, and Bugis.

🎟️ Things To Do in Singapore

🌆 Walks Around Marina Bay and Gardens by the Bay
Enjoy iconic skyline views and catch the Garden Rhapsody light show in the evenings.

🍲 Hawker Centre Food Crawl
Hop between Maxwell, Chinatown Complex, and Amoy for a full local feast.

🖼️ Museum Visits

Check out the National Gallery, ArtScience Museum, or rotating pop-ups at Gillman Barracks.

🎢 Bonus Tip: Book Local Activities with Discounts
Even as a local, I still use platforms like Klook and Trip.com for promo bundles on attractions like Universal Studios Singapore or Skyline Luge.

📌 Compare prices on both platforms — I’ve scored better rates than local prices before!

🌟 Final Thoughts: Was SGD5,068 Worth It?

✔️ For a mid-range month filled with good food and comfort? Yes.
✔️ Budget travelers can cut costs drastically by choosing shared stays and hawker meals.
✔️ It’s one of the easiest places in the world to live short-term — clean, fast, safe. I could do a run at 3am – after travelling around the world, this will always be my safest place to do things like this without a second thought.

🙋‍♀️ Who This City is For

• Food lovers who crave variety (and spice!)
• Digital nomads looking for fast internet and efficient systems
• Solo travelers who want structure, safety, and cultural mix