Cheapest Ways to Travel Around Singapore

Understanding Singapore's Public Transport Fare System (2025)

Before diving into money-saving strategies, it's crucial to understand how fares work. Singapore operates a distance-based fare structure, with prices varying based on how far you travel and when you travel.

Current Fare Structure (As of December 27, 2025)

Base Fare: SGD 0.99 per journey (increased from SGD 0.92)
Maximum Fare Cap: SGD 2.26 for the longest journeys
Average Journey: Most trips cost between SGD 1.20-1.80

These fares apply when using:

• SimplyGo (contactless credit/debit cards)
• EZ-Link cards
• NETS FlashPay cards
• Mobile wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay)

Important: Cash is NOT accepted on buses or MRT trains. You must use one of the cashless payment methods above.

SimplyGo: The Modern Way to Pay

Launched in 2019, SimplyGo allows you to tap your contactless bank card directly on bus card readers and train gantries—no need for a separate transport card.

How SimplyGo Works

1. Ensure you have a contactless credit or debit card (Visa, Mastercard, AMEX accepted)
2. Tap the same card when boarding and alighting buses
3. Tap when entering and exiting MRT/LRT stations
4. Fares are deducted automatically and charged to your card monthly

Advantages:

• No need to purchase or top up a transport card
• Works with cards you already own
• Eligible for the same fare caps as regular cards
• Can earn credit card rewards/cashback on transport spending

Cashback Opportunity: The DBS Live Fresh Card offers up to 6% cashback on bus and train rides via SimplyGo (requires minimum monthly spend of SGD 800). For frequent commuters, this can mean SGD 50+ annual savings.

Off-Peak Discounts: Your Best Money-Saving Tool

This is where smart timing transforms your transport budget.

Morning Off-Peak Discount

When: Tap in at MRT or LRT stations before 7:45 AM on weekdays
Savings: Up to SGD 0.50 off your fare
Annual Impact: If you commute 5 days/week: SGD 0.50 x 5 days x 52 weeks = SGD 130/year savings!

How It Works:
Regular peak fare (7:45 AM - 9:00 AM): SGD 1.80
Off-peak fare (before 7:45 AM): SGD 1.30
Savings per trip: SGD 0.50

NEW: Free Morning Off-Peak Rides for Northeast Commuters (From Dec 27, 2025)

In a groundbreaking initiative, commuters traveling on select Northeast line stations receive FREE morning off-peak train rides during specific hours. This is part of the government's effort to reduce peak-hour congestion while providing financial relief.

Eligibility: Check LTA announcements for participating stations and exact timing
Potential Savings: SGD 1.30 x 2 trips daily x 5 days x 52 weeks = SGD 676/year for eligible commuters!

Enhanced Travel Smart Journeys Programme

From December 27, 2025, this program offers higher rewards for traveling outside peak hours. Frequent off-peak travelers can accumulate credits that translate to free rides.

How to Maximize:

• Consistently travel off-peak to earn credits
• Credits automatically applied to your SimplyGo card/transport card
• Can result in several free journeys per month for dedicated off-peak commuters

Monthly Travel Passes: When Do They Make Sense?

The Adult Monthly Travel Card underwent a significant price reduction in 2025 as part of government efforts to make public transport more affordable.

Adult Monthly Travel Card

Price: SGD 128/month (reduced by SGD 6 from previous pricing)
Benefits: Unlimited travel on buses and trains for 30 days
Break-Even Point: Approximately 72-80 journeys per month

Calculation:
Average fare per journey: SGD 1.60
Monthly pass: SGD 128
Break-even: SGD 128 ÷ SGD 1.60 = 80 journeys
80 journeys ÷ 30 days = 2.67 journeys per day

Who Should Buy:

• Commuters making 3+ journeys daily (work commute + evening activities)
• Those who travel frequently on weekends for leisure
• People with irregular schedules requiring multiple daily trips
• Visitors staying in Singapore for a full month exploring extensively

Who Should Skip:

• Regular office workers with standard 2 trips/day (weekday only) pattern
• Those who can leverage off-peak discounts for most journeys
• Occasional public transport users who work from home or drive sometimes

Concession Passes (Senior Citizens, Students, Lower-Wage Workers)

These saw even greater reductions in 2025:

• Senior Citizen Monthly Pass: Reduced by SGD 3
• Lower-Wage Worker Pass: Special subsidized rates available
• Student Passes: Continued concession rates
• Persons with Disabilities Pass: Enhanced subsidies from Dec 2025

Strategic Route Planning: Distance Matters

Since fares are distance-based, smart route planning can save money, especially for journeys with multiple viable options.

Express vs Regular Routes

Example: Woodlands to City

Option 1: Express Bus 960
Direct route, faster journey, but covers more distance on expressway
Fare: SGD 2.10
Time: 35 minutes

Option 2: MRT Only
Via North-South Line, multiple stops
Fare: SGD 1.90
Time: 45 minutes
Savings: SGD 0.20 per trip

If time isn't critical, the MRT saves SGD 0.20 x 2 trips x 5 days x 52 weeks = SGD 104/year.

Bus-Bus Transfers vs Bus-MRT Transfers

Transfers within 45 minutes receive fare discounts, but the specific combination affects your total cost.

Transfer Discount: SGD 0.50 off when transferring within 45 minutes
Strategy: Plan routes with transfers to maximize this discount

Real-World Budget Scenarios

Scenario 1: The Daily Office Commuter

Profile: Lives in Tampines, works in Raffles Place, 5 days/week
Distance: 15km one way

Standard Approach (Peak Hours):
Morning journey (7:50 AM): SGD 1.85
Evening return: SGD 1.85
Daily cost: SGD 3.70
Monthly cost (22 workdays): SGD 81.40

Optimized Approach (Off-Peak):
Morning journey (7:40 AM tap-in): SGD 1.35
Evening return: SGD 1.85
Daily cost: SGD 3.20
Monthly cost (22 workdays): SGD 70.40
Monthly savings: SGD 11
Annual savings: SGD 132

Decision: Don't buy SGD 128 monthly pass (would cost SGD 57.60 MORE per month for this usage pattern). Instead, optimize timing and use SimplyGo with cashback card.

Scenario 2: The Active Explorer

Profile: Student/retiree who travels extensively 7 days/week for classes, activities, social events
Pattern: 4-5 journeys per day

Pay-Per-Ride Approach:
Average 4 journeys/day x SGD 1.50 average fare = SGD 6/day
Monthly cost (30 days): SGD 180

Monthly Pass Approach:
SGD 128 for unlimited travel
Monthly savings: SGD 52
Annual savings: SGD 624

Decision: Monthly pass is a no-brainer for this usage pattern.

Scenario 3: The Weekend Warrior

Profile: Works from home 3 days/week, office 2 days/week, active on weekends
Pattern: 2 journeys on 2 office days + 4 journeys on weekends = 20 journeys/month

Pay-Per-Ride Approach:
20 journeys x SGD 1.60 average = SGD 32/month

Monthly Pass Approach:
SGD 128/month
Would lose SGD 96/month!

Decision: Definitely stick with pay-per-ride. Monthly pass makes no sense.

Hidden Money-Saving Strategies

1. The "Walk One Stop" Strategy

For short 1-2 stop journeys, walking to the next station can sometimes save the base fare.

Example: Somerset to Orchard MRT
By train: SGD 0.99
Walking: Free, 8 minutes
Annual savings (if done daily): SGD 0.99 x 2 x 5 days x 52 weeks = SGD 514.80

Of course, this only works for adjacent stations with short walking distances and when weather/time permit.

2. Bus Over MRT for Very Short Distances

Sometimes a direct bus is cheaper than MRT for short trips due to distance calculation methods.

Example: Short crosstown journey
MRT (with transfer): SGD 1.50
Direct bus: SGD 1.10
Savings: SGD 0.40 per trip

3. Avoid Unnecessary Transfers

While transfers offer discounts, sometimes a longer single-service journey costs less than multiple transfers.

Use the BusGoWhere app to compare:

• Direct route options
• Routes with 1 transfer
• Routes with 2 transfers

The app shows estimated fares, helping you choose the most economical option.

4. Free Transfer Timing Mastery

The 45-minute transfer window is generous. For multi-stop errands, plan your route to maximize the transfer discount by staying within the 45-minute window.

Example Multi-Stop Journey:
Home → Grocery Store (Bus A) → 15 min shopping → Post Office (Bus B) → 10 min errand → Work (Bus C)
Total time: 40 minutes
Cost: First bus full fare (SGD 1.20) + two transfers (SGD 0.70 + SGD 0.70) = SGD 2.60
vs. Three separate journeys: SGD 3.60
Savings: SGD 1.00 by planning within transfer window

Apps and Tools for Budget Travel

Essential Apps

• BusGoWhere: Real-time bus arrivals, route planning, fare estimates
• MyTransport.SG: Official LTA app with journey planner and fare calculator
• SimplyGo Portal: Track your transport spending and journey history
• Google Maps: Public transport directions with multiple route options

How to Use Apps to Save Money

1. Before traveling, check multiple route options in BusGoWhere/Google Maps
2. Compare estimated fares (shown in most journey planners)
3. Check if slightly earlier/later departure allows off-peak travel
4. Review your monthly spending in SimplyGo portal to decide if monthly pass makes sense

Annual Budget Transport Calendar

Mark these dates to maximize savings:

• December 27: Annual fare adjustments typically take effect—review your strategy
• End of Each Month: Check SimplyGo portal to calculate if monthly pass would have saved money
• January: If changing jobs/schedules, recalculate optimal transport strategy for the year
• During School Holidays: Off-peak travel easier with reduced morning rush

The Ultimate Budget Transport Comparison

Absolute Budget Minimum (Office Worker):
2 journeys/day x SGD 1.60 x 22 days = SGD 70.40/month
With off-peak timing: SGD 59.40/month
With cashback card (6%): SGD 55.84/month
Annual cost: SGD 670 for 528 journeys

Maximum Savings Scenario:
Northeast commuter with free morning off-peak + evening travel
Morning: FREE (new initiative)
Evening: SGD 1.60
Daily cost: SGD 1.60
Monthly cost (22 days): SGD 35.20
Annual cost: SGD 422.40 for 264 journeys

Comparison to Other Cities:
Singapore public transport remains one of the world's best value propositions when you consider:

• Reliability (99%+ on-time performance)
• Cleanliness and safety
• Comprehensive coverage
• Air-conditioned comfort
• Integrated payment systems

Common Mistakes That Cost Money

• Forgetting to Tap Out: Results in maximum fare charge (SGD 2.26)
• Using Different Cards: Switching between cards means losing transfer discounts
• Buying Monthly Pass Without Calculating: Many people waste SGD 50-90/month on unused passes
• Ignoring Off-Peak Timing: Leaving 5 minutes earlier saves SGD 0.50/trip = SGD 132/year
• Not Comparing Routes: Blindly following first suggested route without checking cheaper alternatives
• Cash Top-Ups at 7-Eleven: Convenience fees add up; SimplyGo eliminates this entirely

Special Situations and Savings

Visitors and Tourists

Short Stay (1-5 days): Use SimplyGo with your overseas contactless card
Medium Stay (1-2 weeks): Pay-per-ride with tourist SimplyGo card
Long Stay (1 month+): Consider monthly pass if exploring extensively

Lower-Income Commuters

Public Transport Vouchers (PTV) provide SGD 60 vouchers to eligible lower-income households:
Eligibility: Household income below certain thresholds
Application: Through CDC (Community Development Council)
Impact: Can cover most or all monthly transport costs for eligible families

Senior Citizens (60+)

Concession Cards: Significantly reduced fares
Off-Peak Timing: Most seniors travel off-peak naturally, maximizing savings
Special Passes: Senior monthly passes at reduced rates

Final Thoughts: The Budget Travel Mindset

Saving money on Singapore's public transport isn't about extreme penny-pinching—it's about smart habits:

• Leave 10 minutes earlier to catch off-peak fares
• Use apps to compare routes before traveling
• Track your monthly spending to optimize pass decisions
• Leverage cashback credit cards for additional savings
• Stay informed about new fare initiatives and discounts

The difference between a thoughtless commuter and a strategic traveler can be SGD 100-300 annually—money better spent on hawker food, entertainment, or savings.

Singapore's public transport system is already one of the world's most affordable for the quality provided. With these strategies, you're not just saving money—you're mastering the art of efficient, economical urban travel in one of Asia's most connected cities.