Eating out cost in Singapore is surprisingly wide ranging you can grab a full plate of Hainanese Chicken Rice for just S$3.50 at a hawker centre, or spend S$300 per person at a Michelin-starred fine dining restaurant. That’s the beauty of Singapore’s food scene: it genuinely caters to every budget, every craving, and every occasion. Whether you’re a tourist planning your daily food spend or an expat trying to figure out your monthly grocery and dining budget, understanding how food pricing works across different venue types is the first step to eating smart in one of Asia’s greatest culinary cities.
On average, eating out in Singapore costs between S$15 and S$50 per person per day, depending entirely on where and how you choose to dine. Budget eaters who stick to hawker centres and kopitiams can live like royalty for under S$20 a day, while those who prefer air-conditioned cafés, international restaurants, and rooftop bars can easily spend S$80 to S$150+ daily. In this 2026 guide, we break down the real cost of eating out in Singapore meal by meal, venue by venue so you know exactly what to expect before your first order.
The Big Picture: Singapore’s Food Scene
Singapore has one of the most diverse and celebrated food cultures in the world. UNESCO recognized “hawker culture” as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2020, a nod to how deeply food is embedded in Singaporean identity. The city’s cuisine is a fusion of Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Western influences, meaning you can eat your way through entirely different culinary worlds without ever leaving the island.
The good news for budget-conscious eaters is that Singapore’s food ecosystem is structured in tiers. At the bottom and arguably the best value on earth are hawker centres and kopitiams (traditional coffee shops). In the middle are food courts and casual restaurants. At the top are fine dining establishments that rival any in the world. Understanding each tier helps you eat smart, no matter your budget.
Hawker Centres: The Budget King
Hawker centres are open-air or semi-covered complexes housing dozens (sometimes hundreds) of individual food stalls, each specializing in one or two dishes. There are over 100 government run hawker centres across Singapore, with more than 6,000 stalls operating within them. This is where most Singaporeans eat daily and for good reason.
Dishes at hawker centres generally range from S$3 to S$10, a fraction of the price you’d pay at a restaurant or café. What makes this remarkable is the quality. Many hawker stalls serve food at a Michelin-star level. In fact, Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle at Chinatown Complex is widely known as one of the cheapest Michelin-starred meals in the world. Many first-time visitors also want to know what to order. Our list of Famous Hawker Dishes makes it easier to navigate the stalls confidently.
What You Can Expect to Pay at a Hawker Centre
- Hainanese Chicken Rice: S$3.50 – S$5
- Char Kway Teow (Fried Flat Noodles): S$4 – S$6
- Laksa: S$4 – S$6
- Nasi Lemak: S$3 – S$6
- Economic Rice (2 veg + 1 meat): S$3.50 – S$5
- Fishball Noodles: S$3.50 – S$5
- Kaya Toast + Soft-Boiled Eggs + Coffee Set: S$3 – S$4.50
- Roti Prata (with curry): S$1.20 – S$2.50 per piece
- Drinks (Kopi/Teh/Milo): S$1 – S$2
- Fresh Fruit Juice: S$2 – S$3.50
An IPS (Institute of Policy Studies) study found that the average cost of eating out for three meals — breakfast, lunch, and dinner — at hawker centres, food courts, and kopitiams comes to approximately S$16.89 per day. That translates to a monthly food expenditure of roughly S$506.70.
Hawker Centre Meal Costs by Time of Day
| Meal | Cheapest Combo | Most Expensive Combo | Average Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breakfast | Kaya Toast Set | Kopi + Wanton Noodles | ~S$3.25 – S$5.32 |
| Lunch | Kopi O + Economic Rice | Iced Milo + Chicken Chop | ~S$4.41 – S$9.58 |
| Dinner | Kopi O + Economic Rice | Iced Milo + Chicken Chop | ~S$4.43 – S$9.58 |
Pro Tip: Hawker centres are the cheapest dining option, followed by kopitiams, with food courts in shopping malls being the most expensive among budget venues.
Kopitiams and Food Courts
Kopitiams are traditional Singaporean coffee shops usually smaller than hawker centres but with a cozy, neighbourhood feel. They often serve a mix of Chinese, Malay, and Indian dishes, alongside the classic local beverages like kopi (coffee brewed with condensed milk) and teh tarik (pulled milk tea). Prices are slightly higher than hawker centres but still very reasonable expect to pay S$4 to S$8 for a main dish.
Food courts, on the other hand, are the air-conditioned cousins of hawker centres, typically found inside shopping malls. While they offer climate-controlled comfort and a wider variety of international cuisines, prices are marginally higher. A meal at a food court usually runs S$5 to S$10.
Casual Restaurants and Cafes
Step up from hawker centres and you enter the world of casual sit-down restaurants and independent cafés. Singapore has a thriving café culture, particularly in areas like Tiong Bahru, Dempsey Hill, and Haji Lane. At these establishments, you’re paying not just for food but for ambiance, service, and often a photogenic aesthetic.
A typical meal at a casual restaurant in Singapore will cost between S$12 and S$25 per person. Cafés with brunch menus often charge S$15 to S$30 per person, especially on weekends. Drinks at cafés specialty coffees, smoothies, and fresh juices generally add another S$6 to S$12 to your bill. Most restaurants apply GST (currently 9% in 2026) and a 10% service charge, which can meaningfully push up the final total.
Tips for Eating at Casual Restaurants
- Always check the bill for GST and service charge what looks like S$20 on the menu can become S$24 after charges.
- Many casual restaurants offer weekday lunch sets at reduced prices (S$10 to S$16), which are great value.
- Café hopping is best done in the morning or early afternoon when crowds are smaller and menus are freshest.
- Sharing dishes is common and encouraged, particularly at Chinese restaurants.
Mid Range and International Cuisine
Singapore’s restaurant scene covers virtually every cuisine on the planet. Whether you’re craving Japanese omakase, Italian pasta, Korean BBQ, or Middle Eastern mezze, you’ll find it here often at a surprisingly high quality level. Mid-range international restaurants typically charge S$25 to S$60 per person for a full meal including drinks.
Japanese restaurants, which are extremely popular in Singapore, range widely. A bowl of ramen at a decent ramen shop will cost S$14 to S$20. Sushi and sashimi sets at mid-range Japanese restaurants can run S$30 to S$60 per person. Korean BBQ spots charge approximately S$30 to S$50 per person inclusive of meats and side dishes. If you’re looking beyond local dishes, you might enjoy our guide to the Singapore Restaurants for Local Food or our full breakdown of Unique Singapore Cuisine for something different.
Fine Dining in Singapore
Singapore punches well above its weight in the fine dining arena. The city hosts dozens of Michelin-starred restaurants, with internationally renowned chefs running establishments across the Central Business District, Marina Bay Sands, and Dempsey Road. The average food price at top restaurants in Singapore is S$75 to S$100 per person. For truly high-end omakase or tasting menu experiences, expect to pay S$200 to S$500+ per person.
Alcohol adds significantly to fine dining bills. A glass of wine at a fine dining restaurant typically starts at S$18 to S$30, and a bottle can easily exceed S$100.
Dining Cost Comparison Table
Here’s a comprehensive look at what eating out costs across different venue types in Singapore in 2026:
| Venue Type | Meal Cost (Per Person) | Drinks | GST + Service Charge | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawker Centre | S$3 – S$8 | S$1 – S$2 | None | Daily meals, local food |
| Kopitiam | S$4 – S$8 | S$1 – S$2.50 | None | Breakfast, quick meals |
| Food Court (Mall) | S$5 – S$10 | S$2 – S$4 | None | Comfort + variety |
| Casual Café / Restaurant | S$12 – S$25 | S$5 – S$12 | +19% | Brunch, dates |
| Mid-Range Restaurant | S$25 – S$60 | S$8 – S$20 | +19% | Special occasions |
| Fine Dining | S$75 – S$300+ | S$18 – S$50+ | +19% | Celebrations, business |
Monthly Food Budget Estimates
If you’re planning to live in or visit Singapore, here’s a rough idea of what your monthly food budget might look like based on your dining preferences:
| Lifestyle | Daily Food Spend | Monthly Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Budget (hawker centres, kopitiams only) | S$15 – S$20 | S$450 – S$600 |
| Moderate (mix of hawker + casual dining) | S$30 – S$50 | S$900 – S$1,500 |
| Comfortable (cafés + mid-range restaurants) | S$60 – S$100 | S$1,800 – S$3,000 |
| Lavish (fine dining + cocktails) | S$150 – S$300+ | S$4,500 – S$9,000+ |
Popular Hawker Centres Worth Visiting
If you want to eat well on a budget, here are some of the most celebrated hawker centres in Singapore:
- Maxwell Food Centre (Tanjong Pagar): Famous for Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice, beloved by the late Anthony Bourdain. Great for lunch.
- Chinatown Complex Food Centre: The largest hawker centre in Singapore with over 260 stalls. A must-visit for variety and value.
- Old Airport Road Food Centre: A local favourite with over 150 stalls, known for serving food at local (non-tourist) prices.
- Tekka Centre (Little India): The heart of Little India’s food scene excellent for Indian and Malay dishes like biryani, dosa, and prata.
- Lau Pa Sat (Telok Ayer): Located in the CBD, slightly pricier than neighbourhood hawker centres but famous for its Satay alley at night.
- Tiong Bahru Food Centre: Known for high-quality stalls in a charming neighbourhood setting.
If you prefer hidden gems away from crowds, check out Hidden Food Spots in Singapore
Factors That Affect Food Costs in Singapore
Several variables can push your dining costs up or down significantly:
- Location: Restaurants and stalls near tourist hubs like Orchard Road, Marina Bay Sands, and the Singapore River tend to charge more than neighbourhood spots.
- Time of visit: Lunch deals at restaurants are often significantly cheaper than dinner menus for the same food.
- Alcohol: Liquor taxes in Singapore are very high. A pint of beer at a bar or restaurant typically costs S$10 to S$18. Cocktails range from S$18 to S$28. Avoiding alcohol can dramatically reduce your bill.
- Tourist vs. Local areas: Stalls in tourist-heavy hawker centres sometimes charge slightly more. Eating where locals eat is always cheaper.
- GST and service charge: Restaurants are legally required to display prices before GST and service charge. Always factor in the extra 19% (9% GST + 10% service charge) when budgeting.
Money Saving Tips for Eating in Singapore
- Eat breakfast and lunch at hawker centres and save restaurants for dinner. You’ll enjoy the same quality food at a fraction of the price.
- Look for the longest queue at hawker centres. In Singapore, a long line of locals almost always signals excellent food.
- Use a “tissue packet” to chope (reserve) a table before lining up for food — this is a deeply ingrained local custom.
- Avoid eating and drinking in tourist zones. The areas immediately surrounding Marina Bay Sands, Sentosa, and Clarke Quay carry premium prices.
- Download apps like Burpple and Eatigo for restaurant discounts and 1-for-1 deals, which are widely available in Singapore.
- Try Economic Rice (mixed rice with your choice of toppings) for one of the best value meals on the island you control the price by choosing how many toppings you add.
- Drink kopi or teh instead of café specialty coffees. A traditional kopi at a hawker centre costs S$1 to S$1.50, compared to S$6 to S$8 at a café.
- Avoid ordering alcohol at restaurants. Grab a cold beer from a convenience store (7-Eleven, Cheers) for S$3 to S$5 instead.
Final Verdict: Is Eating Out in Singapore Expensive
Singapore has a reputation as an expensive city, and in some contexts that reputation is well-earned. But when it comes to food, it’s one of the best-value cities in the developed world. You can eat incredibly well — with real culinary depth, freshness, and variety on a budget of S$15 to S$20 a day if you eat at hawker centres. And if you want to splash out at a Michelin-starred restaurant, Singapore has more of those per capita than almost anywhere else on earth.
The key is knowing the landscape. Hawker centres and kopitiams are the backbone of Singapore’s food culture, celebrated locally and internationally for good reason. They are the starting point for any honest understanding of what eating in Singapore actually costs and what it tastes like. For most visitors and residents, a diet that mixes hawker centre meals with the occasional café or restaurant outing will comfortably sit in the S$30 to S$50 per day range, making Singapore surprisingly affordable for a world-class food city.
