How Far Does Your Singapore Dollar Go in India?

Good news for Singaporean travelers: your Singapore Dollar stretches remarkably far in India! With favorable exchange rates and lower cost of living, India offers incredible value without compromising on experience. Here's your complete budget breakdown for 2025.

Exchange Rate Overview (2025)

As of 2025, SGD 1 ≈ INR 60-62. This means every Singapore Dollar gives you approximately 60 Indian Rupees, providing excellent purchasing power across all categories - accommodation, dining, transport, and activities.

Where to Exchange Money

• Best rates: ATMs in India using Singapore bank cards with international access
• Good rates: Authorized money changers in Singapore (Mustafa, Lucky Plaza)
• Avoid: Airport exchanges (poor rates), hotel front desks (high commissions)
• Recommended: Carry SGD 100-200 cash for emergencies, use cards for most transactions

Daily Budget Breakdown by Travel Style

Budget Backpacker: SGD 60-100 per day

Accommodation: SGD 15-30

• Hostel dorm bed: SGD 10-15
• Budget guesthouse/hotel: SGD 20-30
• Popular options: Zostel hostels, OYO budget hotels, local guesthouses

Food: SGD 15-25

• Street food meal: SGD 1-3
• Local restaurant (thali/meal): SGD 3-6
• Coffee/chai: SGD 0.30-1
• Bottled water: SGD 0.20-0.50

Transport: SGD 10-20

• Metro/local bus: SGD 0.30-1 per ride
• Auto-rickshaw (short distance): SGD 1-3
• Uber/Ola: SGD 3-10 depending on distance

Activities: SGD 15-25

• Monument entry: SGD 0.50-5 (Taj Mahal is most expensive at SGD 15)
• Free walking tours, temple visits, local markets

Mid-Range Comfort: SGD 120-200 per day

Accommodation: SGD 40-80

• 3-star hotel: SGD 40-60
• Nice boutique hotel: SGD 60-80
• Options: Treebo, FabHotels, heritage properties

Food: SGD 30-50

• Restaurant meal: SGD 8-15
• Nice café breakfast: SGD 5-8
• Drinks at bar/restaurant: SGD 3-8
• Mix of local and international cuisine

Transport: SGD 20-40

• Uber/Ola for most trips: SGD 5-15 per ride
• Private car for day trips: SGD 50-80
• Train (AC chair car between cities): SGD 15-30

Activities: SGD 30-50

• Guided tours: SGD 20-40
• Monument entries and experiences
• Evening cultural shows: SGD 15-30

Luxury Experience: SGD 250-400+ per day

Accommodation: SGD 120-250+

• 5-star hotel: SGD 120-200
• Heritage palace hotels: SGD 200-400
• Options: Taj Hotels, Oberoi, heritage properties

Food: SGD 60-100

• Fine dining: SGD 30-60 per meal
• 5-star hotel restaurants: SGD 25-50
• Premium bar/drinks: SGD 10-20

Transport: SGD 50-100

• Private car with driver (full day): SGD 80-120
• Premium airport transfers: SGD 30-50
• First class train: SGD 40-80

Activities: SGD 50-100

• Private guided tours: SGD 60-100
• Spa treatments: SGD 40-80
• Premium experiences and shows

Sample 10-Day Budget (Mid-Range)

Golden Triangle Circuit (Delhi-Agra-Jaipur) + Kerala

Flights (Singapore-India return): SGD 400-800
Book 2-3 months ahead for best rates. Scoot and IndiGo offer budget options.

Accommodation (9 nights): SGD 360-720
SGD 40-80/night for comfortable 3-4 star hotels

Food (10 days): SGD 300-500
Mix of local restaurants and hotel dining

Transport: SGD 200-400

• Delhi-Agra train: SGD 15
• Agra-Jaipur car: SGD 80
• Jaipur-Delhi flight: SGD 60
• Local Uber/metro: SGD 100
• Delhi-Kerala flight: SGD 120

Activities & Entries: SGD 200-300

• Taj Mahal: SGD 15
• Other monuments: SGD 50
• Kerala backwater tour: SGD 60
• City tours and guides: SGD 100

India eVisa: SGD 80-120
Includes service fee for hassle-free processing

Miscellaneous: SGD 150-200
Shopping, snacks, tips, emergencies

Total 10-Day Trip: SGD 1,690-3,040
Average: SGD 2,300 for comfortable mid-range experience

Specific Price Comparisons

Meals & Dining

Accommodation

Transport

Money-Saving Tips for Singaporeans

1. Use UPI and Digital Payments

Download apps like Google Pay or Paytm. Many places offer discounts for digital payments. Avoid foreign transaction fees with multi-currency cards like YouTrip or Revolut.

2. Book Accommodation Strategically

• Book directly with hotels after finding them on booking sites (often get 10-15% off)
• Stay in neighboring areas instead of tourist centers (20-30% cheaper)
• Mix budget and splurge nights - heritage hotel for one night, budget for others

3. Eat Where Locals Eat

Local restaurants (dhabas) offer authentic food at 1/3 the price of tourist restaurants. Street food is safe at busy stalls with high turnover.

4. Use Public Transport

Delhi Metro, Mumbai local trains, and city buses are extremely cheap and efficient. Save Uber/Ola for late nights or when carrying luggage.

5. Book Internal Flights Early

IndiGo, SpiceJet, and AirAsia India offer flash sales. Sign up for newsletters and book 4-6 weeks ahead for best rates (often cheaper than trains for long distances).

6. Negotiate at Markets

Expected and respected! Start at 40-50% of asking price for non-food items. Markets near tourist sites have 2-3x markup.

7. Buy Attraction Passes

Some cities offer multi-monument passes. Delhi's ASI pass covers multiple sites at discount.

What to Budget Extra For

Tips & Gratitude

• Restaurant staff: 10% if service charge not included
• Hotel porter: INR 50 per bag (SGD 0.80)
• Tour guides: INR 200-500 depending on tour (SGD 3-8)
• Drivers (full day): INR 200-300 (SGD 3-5)

Shopping Budget

India offers incredible shopping value. Budget SGD 200-500 for souvenirs, textiles, jewelry, and handicrafts. Carpets, jewelry, and silk can be major expenses if you're serious shoppers.

Emergency Fund

Keep SGD 200-300 accessible for medical emergencies, last-minute changes, or unexpected expenses.

Credit Cards & ATMs

Best Cards for India

• Multi-currency cards (YouTrip, Revolut): No foreign transaction fees
• OCBC 365, DBS Woman's Card: Lower foreign transaction fees (2-3%)
• Mastercard generally has better acceptance than Amex

ATM Usage

HDFC, ICICI, and Axis Bank ATMs widely available. Withdraw larger amounts to minimize per-transaction fees. Most ATMs limit SGD 250-300 per withdrawal.

Final Budget Wisdom

Your Singapore Dollar provides exceptional value in India - often 3-4 times more purchasing power than in Singapore for accommodation and dining. A comfortable mid-range trip costs SGD 150-200 per day including everything, while the same experience in Singapore would cost SGD 250-400. Focus your budget on experiences (tours, activities, special meals) rather than worrying about daily expenses. India rewards travelers who engage deeply with the culture, and your SGD makes it affordable to do so without compromise!