Singapore Money Guide: Currency, Cards vs. Cash, and Tipping (2026)
The short answer: Singapore runs on the Singapore dollar (SGD), and it’s one of the most card-friendly destinations in Southeast Asia — contactless Visa and Mastercard work at roughly 90% of malls, restaurants, and Grab rides. You’ll still want some cash for hawker centres and smaller stalls, and you can skip the tipping math almost entirely: it isn’t expected anywhere.
The Essentials
- Currency: Singapore dollar (SGD)
- Card acceptance: Around 90% at malls, restaurants, and Grab rides
- Tipping: Not customary — most restaurant bills already include a service charge
- GST: 9%, usually built into the listed price
What Currency Does Singapore Use?
Singapore uses the Singapore dollar, written SGD or S$. Notes come in S$2, S$5, S$10, S$50, S$100, S$500, and S$10,000 denominations, and coins in 5, 10, 20, and 50 cents plus S$1. US, Canadian, and Australian dollars are not accepted for everyday purchases — convert or withdraw SGD after you land rather than trying to pay in your home currency.
Can You Pay With Card Everywhere in Singapore?
Almost. Singapore is genuinely card-friendly: Visa and Mastercard are accepted at roughly 90% of malls, restaurants, and Grab rides, and tap-to-pay is the norm rather than the exception. American Express is accepted mainly at higher-end hotels and restaurants, so don’t rely on it as your only card. One practical limit to know: contactless payments are generally capped around SGD 200 per transaction — for anything larger you’ll need to insert and use a PIN.
Where Will You Still Need Cash?
Hawker centres — Singapore’s open-air food courts, and arguably the best food in the country — skew cash-first, though PayNow and PayLah QR acceptance is growing stall by stall. Wet markets and some smaller family-run shops are the same. A reasonable rule of thumb is to carry around S$200 in cash for hawker meals and night markets, and let cards handle everything else.
How Much Do Foreign Card ATM Withdrawals Cost?
| Fee | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Local ATM fee | Around SGD 5 per withdrawal is typical |
| Foreign exchange markup | Roughly 1–3% on top, depending on your card issuer |
| Fee-free options | Some travel-focused debit cards waive foreign ATM fees — check with your bank before you leave |
If your bank offers a no-foreign-fee debit card, this is one of the few destinations in the region where it’s worth activating before the trip — between ATM fees and card networks, Singapore gives you real flexibility either way.
Do You Need to Tip in Singapore?
No, and over-tipping can actually feel a little out of place here. Restaurants typically add a service charge of about 10% to the bill already, so an extra tip on top isn’t expected. Hawker centres, cafés, and food courts usually add no service charge at all, and tipping there is uncommon.
| Situation | What’s normal |
|---|---|
| Restaurants | ~10% service charge usually included; no extra tip needed |
| Hawker centres & food courts | No tipping — pay the listed price |
| Taxis / Grab | No tip expected; rounding up is a nice gesture, not a norm |
| Hotels | Not expected; S$1–2 per bag or S$2–5 per night is optional for standout service |
| Tour guides | Not owed, but S$5–10 per day is a warm gesture after a great experience |
What Is Singapore’s GST and Is It Included in Prices?
Singapore’s Goods and Services Tax is 9% as of 2026. Listed menu and retail prices almost always already include GST, so the number you see is usually the number you pay — restaurants that add it separately are required to say so clearly, and it’s worth a second look at the bill if a total looks higher than expected.
TTC Verdict
Bring a card with low foreign transaction fees and you’ll barely think about money in Singapore — it’s that card-friendly. Keep roughly S$200 in cash in your wallet for hawker centres, skip the tip calculator entirely, and you’re set.
Singapore uses the Singapore dollar (SGD or S$). US, Canadian, and Australian dollars are not accepted for everyday purchases, so plan to withdraw or exchange SGD after you arrive.
Mostly card. Visa and Mastercard are accepted at roughly 90% of malls, restaurants, and Grab rides, with contactless payment the norm. Keep some cash, around S$200, for hawker centres and smaller stalls that still prefer cash or local QR payment apps.
No. Most restaurants already add a roughly 10% service charge to the bill, and tipping on top isn’t expected. Hawker centres, taxis, and Grab drivers don’t expect tips either, though rounding up is a fine gesture.
Singapore’s Goods and Services Tax is 9% as of 2026. It’s almost always already included in listed prices, so the sticker price is typically what you pay.
Typically yes: expect around SGD 5 per withdrawal plus a 1 to 3% foreign exchange markup, though this varies by bank. Some travel-focused debit cards waive foreign ATM fees, so it’s worth checking your card’s terms before you leave.
