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For Tourists and Expats: How to Enjoy Singapore on the Cheap

Singapore is known as one of Asia’s most expensive cities to live in, especially when compared to her neighboring counterparts. Traveling there does require quite a bit of effort in saving up.

However, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it while on a tight budget. Money issues shouldn’t stop you: everything all boils down to how you spend when you travel, and how much.

There are even many travelers who spend almost nothing in their adventures via hitchhiking and couch-surfing. If other people can travel this way, then you can, too. Here are some things that you need to know:

Accommodation
No need to splurge on where you’re staying in Singapore. Your best bet would be a hostel, with plenty are available that you can reserve online before you even book your flight. Some could charge even as low as S$20 nightly.

Alternatively, you could also couch-surf at a fellow tourist’s place, or even at a local’s. There are many sites that can connect you to locals that would be happy to offer you a place to stay. Not only does this help you save so much more, but it also gives you a local’s insight on living cheap.

Food and Other Delights
“Go where the locals go”. This is a saying that extends to not just good food and sightseeing, but almost everything. When it comes to food, try out hawker stalls or carts for a real taste of Singaporean local cuisine, and for far lower prices than eating out at the more expensive restaurants.

A good rule of thumb when in Singapore: line = good. If there’s a long line, chances are that stall or cart is selling good food.

When it comes to shopping at places like Lucky Plaza, don’t be afraid to haggle. However, as in all places, always remember to not drive too hard a bargain (always be a little flexible on the final offer), and watch out for scammers.

Getting Around
Forget cabs and city tour buses – the best way to experience Singapore is by foot. Surprisingly, most Singaporeans don’t own cars, often relying on the incredible transit system that is the envy of many countries all over the world.

To add to that, their streets are really friendly to walk in and you don’t have to worry about getting mugged when sightseeing after dark. Marveling at the architecture isn’t something that you can do just by going from point A to point B – it’s taking the time to plant your feet in the ground and let your eyes feast on gorgeous designs.

And remember to not just take a picture and split. Nothing beats actually talking to people and asking questions when it comes to getting to know a country and those that live there. After all, what makes a place but the people that live there

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