Is cash still widely used?
Singapore is rapidly moving cashless. PayNow (bank transfer via QR), NETS, and contactless card payments dominate daily life. However, cash remains widely accepted and many older Singaporeans still prefer it.
Hawker centres — Singapore’s beloved open-air food markets — are increasingly cashless but many stalls still accept both.
ATMs and withdrawing cash
ATMs are everywhere — in MRT stations, shopping malls, and on most city streets. DBS, OCBC, and UOB ATMs are the main networks and accept foreign cards.
- Fees for foreign cards are typically around 5 SGD per withdrawal
- ATM availability is excellent 24/7 across the whole island
- Changi Airport has multiple ATMs and money changers with competitive rates
Card acceptance
Excellent. Visa, Mastercard, and American Express are accepted at virtually all hotels, restaurants, shops, and attractions. Contactless payments are supported widely.
Tips for travelers
- Singapore is very safe with negligible card fraud risk
- EZ-Link cards work on MRT and buses and can also be used at some hawker stalls
- The Singapore dollar is strong — budget accordingly
- Some hawker stalls charge a small surcharge for card payments; cash avoids this