By Vicky · Published Nov. 30th, 2022 · Updated Apr. 21st, 2024
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Singapore is an expensive city, but if you search hard enough you can find several decent yet cheap hotels.
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Best Cheap Hotels in Singapore
As expected, the hotels nearest to the centre of Singapore are more expensive. Those to the east of downtown tend to be the cheapest, yet still have good transport connections to all the main tourist sights.
Some of the cheaper options at cheap hotels do not have windows. At the better cheap hotels, the rooms are well-designed and feel quite light even without windows, though at the cheapest hotels in Singapore these windowless rooms can be claustrophobic and smell bad. If you’re staying for more than a few days, it’s definitely worth paying a bit extra for a window. Read on for a list of the best cheap hotels in Singapore.
Ibis Budget Singapore Joo Chiat
The Ibis Budget in Joo Chiat is well known as the best cheap place to stay in Singapore for its price/quality ratio. It’s also common for people to stay a month or so here. All rooms have windows and private bathrooms, a kettle and a fridge. The WiFi is good, the rooms are clean and the reception staff are very friendly. This would be my top choice amongst the best cheap hotels in Singapore. It’s in a great area, with lots of cool cafes and shops along Joo Chiat Road and a bus stop just outside the hotel. The only downside is that you’re not immediately in the very centre of Singapore, but the bus and metro connections take you there efficiently.
Hotel 81 Premier Star
Hotel 81 Premier Star has simple but clean rooms. There are bus stops nearby from which buses head quickly into the centre of town, and the nearest metro is a 10-minute walk. The price is good, but it is kind of in the red light district of Singapore. However, being Singapore it’s still a pretty decent and safe area.
Fragrance Hotel – Rose
Fragrance Hotel – Rose is in the Balestier neighbourhood, which is fairly central but you have to either take a bus or walk 15 minutes to the nearest metro station. The rooms are simple but clean, and all have a private bathroom, though a few do not have windows. Overall, the price is good but the location is not super convenient if you want to explore a lot of Singapore.
Best Slightly More Expensive Hotels in Singapore
ST Signature Tanjong Pagar
ST Signature Tanjong Pagar is a cool hotel in a heritage building with a great location on the edge of Chinatown. The rooms are all ‘cabins’, and you can choose between a few different sizes – small, medium or large. You can also choose whether you want a window or not, and between a shared or private bathroom. All rooms come with a little desk. The small cabins with no windows and shared bathrooms are the cheapest. You still get to enjoy the nice rooftop area with cool views, and there’s a very clean communal kitchen you can use to cook for yourself.
ST Signature Chinatown
Another ST Signature Hotel, which means another cool heritage building, and the same cabin arrangement as the hotel above. This hotel is more in the centre of Chinatown and is a bit more expensive than the Tanjong Pagar version, but it’s still a great value hotel for being in one of the most popular areas of Singapore.
Hotel Classic by Venue
Hotel Classic by Venue is a highly-rated hotel with fairly spacious and very clean rooms. Some rooms are without windows, but those with are not much more expensive. Its location at the top of Joo Chiat Road is a good one. There are metro stations not far away, several food courts just next door and many hip cafes and bakeries a short walk down the street.
The Quay Hotel
The Quay Hotel is very popular and definitely a great place to stay. Most of the rooms do not have windows, but they’re fairly well-designed, sparkling clean, light, and don’t feel too claustrophobic. The location is one of the main attractions of this hotel, right on Boat Quay in the heart of Singapore. It’s within walking distance of Chinatown, the Colonial District, Marina Bay, Gardens by the Bay and many other of the top tourist attractions in Singapore. There’s also a rooftop garden from which you can admire views of the city.
Hmlet Cantonment
Hmlet Cantonment is a great place for those spending more time in Singapore, as there’s a 6-night minimum stay requirement. There are several communal kitchens so you don’t have to eat out all the time. There’s also a large shared working area with many tables and plugs, so it’s a decent place for working from home or being a digital nomad. Additionally, there’s a small pool out the back, great for cooling off in the afternoons. It’s also close enough to the centre of Singapore with several useful bus and metro stations nearby.
D’Resort @ Downtown East
D’Resort @ Downtown East is a large resort hotel on the coast just next to lovely Pasir Ris Park. The area is lovely, with lots of greenery and the rooms all have nice views. It’s great for kids as there’s a waterpark at the resort and lots of fun stuff to do. It’s a 20-minute walk to the nearest metro station and about 1 hour on public transport to the heart of Singapore, and 15 minutes drive to Changi Airport.
To explore more of Singapore, check out our Singapore Guide!