Travel essentials
Money & Payments
The currency is the Singapore dollar, and cards work almost everywhere — but keep a little cash for the smallest hawker stalls.
- Currency
- The Singapore dollar (S$ / SGD). ATMs are everywhere, and money changers in the malls give good rates.
- Cards & contactless
- Contactless and mobile pay are accepted almost everywhere, increasingly even at hawker centres. Carry S$20–30 in cash for the few cash-only stalls.
- Tipping
- Not expected. Restaurants already add a 10% service charge and 9% GST (shown as “++” on menus).
- Tourist GST refund
- Tourists can claim back the 9% GST on eligible purchases at participating shops via the eTRS kiosks when flying out (a minimum spend applies).