Good to know
Good to Know
- Singapore is nearly cashless but hawker centres—where locals eat—are usually cash-only. Have small SGD on hand for food.
- When withdrawing from ATMs, always select 'Decline Conversion' to avoid dynamic currency conversion markups; let your home bank handle the exchange rate.
- A 10% service charge is automatically added to restaurant and hotel bills—you are not expected to tip on top of this, though a small extra is appreciated for truly exceptional service.
- Card surcharges apply to taxis if paying electronically (10% fee); using cash or a service-included option avoids this.
- Singapore banks never charge foreign card users for ATM withdrawals—fees come from your home bank, not the local ATM operator.
- Tipping is genuinely not customary here; staff do not expect or depend on tips. Not tipping is never considered rude.
Cash Needs
- Necessity
- Cash is optional but useful for small purchases, hawker centre meals, and tipping. Singapore functions well as a near-cashless society.
- Recommended Amount On Arrival
- Have small change in SGD before leaving the airport for tips and small purchases, though ATMs are readily available.
Where Cash Essential
Hawker centres
- Note
- Self-service food courts where cash is the primary payment method
Street vendors and kopitiams typically cash-only
- Venue Type
- Small informal food stalls
Small independent retailers
- Venue Type
- Neighborhood shops
Tipping Norms
- Service Charge
- Most restaurants, hotels, and bars automatically add a 10% service charge to bills, marked with '++' on menus. This charge is pooled and distributed by the establishment, not given directly to individual servers.
- General Culture
- Tipping is not expected or customary in Singapore. Service staff are paid fair wages and do not rely on tips.
Best Practices
- Always tip in Singapore dollars (SGD) to avoid currency exchange fees for service workers
- Cash tips are preferred and ensure the service worker receives the full amount
- Check your bill before tipping—if a service charge is already included, additional tipping is not necessary
- A warm thank-you or email to management is often more valued than a monetary tip
- Hand tips directly to the person who helped you for discretion and certainty they receive it
- At Changi Airport, a smile and 'thank you' are sufficient—staff cannot accept tips
When Tipping Is Optional
Exceptional restaurant service
- Amount
- SGD 10
- Note
- Small tip appreciated but not expected even at fine dining; service charge typically covers this
Hotel housekeeping
- Amount
- SGD 5.00
- Note
- Per day, optional; leave daily rather than at end of stay as different staff clean each day
Per bag; appreciated for helping with luggage
- Amount
- SGD 1.00
- Scenario
- Hotel bellhops/porters
For arranging something special; typically S$5–10
- Amount
- SGD 5.00
- Scenario
- Hotel concierge
Taxi drivers
- Amount
- SGD 1.00
- Note
- Rounding up fare to nearest dollar is common; not expected but appreciated for long journeys or luggage help
Tour guides
- Amount
- SGD 10
- Note
- Around 10% of tour fee for exceptional service; customary if genuinely appreciated
Bars and cafes
- Amount
- SGD 1.00
- Note
- Rounding up or small tip per drink is acceptable; no obligation
When Tipping Is Inappropriate
- Hawker centres and food courts—tipping is unusual and potentially awkward
- Spas and beauty services—therapists may find tipping offensive, implying poor service
- Airport services—staff are forbidden from accepting tips at Changi Airport
- When service charge is already included on the bill—no additional tipping required
ATM Information
- Availability
- Singapore has over 3,000 ATMs available 24/7, widely distributed across airports, MRT stations, bus interchanges, malls, and bank branches.
- International Card Acceptance
- Most international debit and credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay, American Express) are accepted. Multiple card network partnerships exist.
- Pin Notes
- 6-digit PINs are standard but 4-digit PINs are also accepted. ATMs support multiple languages (English, Mandarin, Malay, Tamil).
Fee Structure
- Home Bank Fees
- Your home bank may charge foreign transaction fees, typically 1-3% of the transaction amount or flat fees ($5-$7 SGD per withdrawal).
- Withdrawal Limits
- Typically S$1,000–S$2,000 per transaction; some banks allow up to S$3,000 per day
- Singapore Bank Charges
- Singapore banks generally do not charge fees for foreign cards at their ATMs (no charge by the ATM operator itself).
Common Fees
ATM Withdrawal Fee
- ATM Withdrawal Fee
- SGD 0.00
Usually S$0–S$8 depending on bank agreements
Foreign Exchange Conversion Fee
- Note
- Charged by some ATM operators; avoid by selecting 'Decline Conversion' option
How To Minimize Fees
- Select 'Decline Conversion' or 'Charge in SGD' when prompted to avoid currency conversion markups
- Use partner bank ATMs if your home bank has agreements with Singapore banks (e.g., Westpac cardholders at DBS/POSB)
- Check your bank's international ATM partnerships before traveling
- Avoid independent ATMs in tourist areas, nightclubs, and pubs—they may charge higher fees
- Notify your bank before traveling to avoid card blocks
- Use major bank ATMs (DBS, UOB, OCBC, HSBC, Citibank, POSB) for reliability
Card Acceptance
- Overview
- Singapore is highly card-friendly with widespread acceptance across urban areas, shopping districts, restaurants, and hotels. Contactless payments are increasingly common.
- Where Cards Work
- Restaurants, hotels, shops, MRT stations, and taxis. Some merchants charge a small fee for card payments, especially for small amounts.
- Where Cash Preferred
- Hawker centres and informal food stalls (self-service counters), some small neighborhood shops, and very small transactions. Taxis accept cards but charge a 10% surcharge.
- Minimum Spend Note
- Some smaller venues may have minimum spending limits before accepting card payments.
Major Cards Accepted
- Visa
- Mastercard
- American Express
- UnionPay
- Apple Pay
- Google Pay
Banking
- Account Opening Process
- Can be completed online or in-person depending on bank and residency status. Online applications available at most major banks (DBS, OCBC) for Employment Pass holders. Processing time varies from immediate (with Singpass) to 3-5 working days.
- Account Opening Eligibility
- Foreigners aged 18+ with a valid passport and long-term pass (Employment Pass, S Pass, Student Pass, Dependent Pass, or Long-Term Visit Pass) can open accounts. Some banks accept In-Principle Approval letters before formal pass issuance.
Common Fees
- Fall Below Fee
- SGD 5.00
Charged when average daily balance falls below threshold (typically S$1,000-3,000)
- Early Closure Fee
- SGD 30
If closed within 6 months
Major Banks
- DBS
- OCBC
- UOB
- HSBC
Digital Options
- GXS Bank (requires Singpass)
- MariBank (requires Singpass)
- Wise (multi-currency, for nomads without long-term passes)
Required Documents
- Valid passport
- Proof of Singapore residential address (tenancy agreement, utility bill, or employer letter)
- Valid long-term work/residence pass or IPA letter
- Proof of tax residency (if requested)
Minimum Initial Deposits
- Uob One
- SGD 1,000
- HSBC Standard
- SGD 2,000
- Dbs Ocbc Standard
- SGD 0.00
No minimum for standard accounts
Account Types For Foreigners
- Checking/Statement Savings Account
- Multi-Currency Account (holds up to 9-13 currencies)
- Fixed Deposit Account (minimum S$5,000, typically 6-12 month terms)
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this money & payments research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
- 1.wise.com
- 2.atmfeesaver.com
- 3.expatden.com
- 4.globalbankdirectory.com
- 5.tripadvisor.com
- 6.wise.com
- 7.crowncurrency.com.au
- 8.travelfish.org
- 9.triploko.com
- 10.qantas.com
- 11.singareviews.com
- 12.sedonahotels.com.sg
- 13.hootling.com
- 14.donsignaturecrab.sg
- 15.sheiswanderlust.com
- 16.xe.com
- 17.xe.com
- 18.xe.com
- 19.alea.care
- 20.moneyinternational.com
- 21.expatden.com
- 22.expatfinancial.com
- 23.expatassure.com
- 24.expatarrivals.com
- 25.expatica.com
- 26.wisemove.sg
- 27.osome.com
- 28.singsaver.com.sg
- 29.ocbc.com
- 30.wise.com
- 31.dbs.com.sg
- 32.expatden.com
- 33.globallinkconsulting.sg
- 34.expatmovingtosingapore.com
- 35.statrys.com
- 36.moh.gov.sg
- 37.moh.gov.sg
- 38.moh.gov.sg
- 39.thesmartlocal.com
More About Singapore
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.