Which place is cheaper, Singapore or Phuket?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Phuket or Singapore, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Phuket is a party-hard, stunning, and activity-filled resort island. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. Other popular activities here include scuba diving and snorkeling, beaches, and shopping.
Singapore is a modern, global, and diverse city. With plenty of activities and things to do, it's a huge city that draws plenty of visitors. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.
Travelers will usually find more to do in Singapore than Phuket, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Singapore is more popular for its museums, food, music, shopping, big city activities, and impressive beauty, while Phuket is known for its nightlife, scuba diving & snorkeling, and beaches. Phuket is more touristy than Singapore and is known for its long sandy beaches, wild nightlife, colorful resorts, and easy access to day tours. Singapore is popular for its blend of cultures, its lush gardens, and its clean streets. It is also home to Merlion Park Waterfront.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Singapore and Phuket. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Singapore is a great destination for its museums and landmarks. However, Phuket does not have museums and landmarks.
With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Singapore can be an interesting and educational experience. The mix of cultures and unique history have led to museums and landmarks that mix historic and modern. The Merlion statue in Merlion Park has become a symbol of the city. For an educational experience, head to the Asian Civilizations Museum, and to see colonial architecture check out Fort Canning Park.
Phuket does not have museums and landmarks.
Singapore is an amazing city to visit for its restaurant scene. Also, Phuket is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.
Known for it's food and restaurant scene, Singapore is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. From local dives to five star restaurants, the city's food scene is all about diversity. Make sure you try Hainanese chicken rice, chili crab, and Hokkien prawn mee.
Phuket is becoming an appealing option for foodies. Because it served as an international port for so long, food around the island has many international influences. For the most authentic local food, head into Phuket Town. Many dishes include seafood, but there are also chicken curries and noodle soup. Like elsewhere in Thailand, the food can be quite spicy but because the island is so touristy, they're accustomed to people asking for "no spice."
Phuket is a must-visit destination for its evening party scene. Also, Singapore is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for nightlife.
Phuket is a world class party destination. The island has a long running reputation as a party destination and it lives up to expectations. The biggest party area is Patong, particularly around Bangla Road, but even in Kata and Karon, it's hard to escape the party atmosphere.
With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Singapore. It's all about the glitzy nightclubs and exclusive cocktail bars. Head to Clarke Quay, Marina Bay Sands, or one of the many rooftop bars to experience the best of Singapore's nightlife. Do keep in mind that the city has a high alcohol tax, and strict rules around drinking in public places during certain hours.
Singapore is an amazing city to visit for its live music scene. However, Phuket is not a live music destination.
Live music, and music in many other forms, is everyone in Singapore As a globalized city, you'll find almost any type of music here. Popular music venues include Timbre, Zouk, and the Crazy Elephant.
Phuket is not a live music destination.
With a similar set of options, fantastic resorts can be found in both Phuket and Singapore.
Phuket offers an unforgettable resort vacation. It's easy accessibility and larger size make this the premiere resort destination in Thailand. There are five star resorts, family-friendly resorts, and everything in between. Many people use the island as a base for exploring other nearby islands. Any resort or tour company can arrange excursions or activities for guests.
Singapore is a world class resort vacation destination. From sleek high rises with rooftop pools to family-friendly resorts with kid oriented activities, this city has it all. Popular resorts include Oasia Resort Sentosa, Dusit Thani Laguna, and The Ritz-Carlton.
Phuket is notable for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Singapore is a mediocre city for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling.
Many visitors partake in scuba diving or snorkeing while visiting Phuket. You can dive and snorkel year round, but the visibility is usually best between November and May. There are countless boat tours available and the easy accessibility make this a good base for snorkeling and diving. Many areas are overrun with tourists though, so it'll be hard to find a quiet, undisturbed location.
Most people don't go snorkeling in Singapore. The best place to snorkel in the area is Pulau Hantu.
Phuket is a must-visit destination for the beach. Also, Singapore is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its beaches.
Travelers come from around the world to visit the beaches in Phuket. The island has more than 30 beaches to choose from, ranging from party hard areas to a few quieter gems in more remote locations. The area became a world-famous destination because of its white sand beaches and crystal clear waters, and the beaches will not disappoint, even if development has taken over the island.
Many people head to Singapore to enjoy the beach. You'll find most of the area's best beaches on Sentosa Island. There's a 2 kilometer long artificial beach that is split into Palawan Beach, Siloso Beach, and Tanjong Beach.
Singapore is an amazing city to visit for its shopping opportunities. Also, Phuket is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping areas.
The abundance of shops in Singapore make it a world-class shopping destination. You'll find tons of malls along Orchard Road, but for a more eclectic shopping experience head to the Chinatown Street Market.
Phuket has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. Shopping malls offer a range of stores, air conditioning, and fixed prices while markets have more local items and unique souvenirs. There are also galleries and other souvenir shops all over the island.
Singapore is an amazing city to visit for its family-friendly activities. Also, Phuket is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.
Singapore is an amazing family-friendly city to visit. With places like Sentosa and Universal Studios, there really is no shortage of activities for kids. There's also a zoo, an aquarium, and bird park, and many kid-friendly museums.
Phuket offers lots of family activities. Many people visit this island with kids because it has beautiful beaches and tons of activities including water sports, water parks, and amusement areas. The island is filled with a diversity of tourists, so you'll encounter a number of areas with party-hard atmospheres, but there are also tons of family-friendly resorts to choose from as well.
Singapore is an amazing city to visit for its romantic activities. Also, Phuket is still popular, but not quite as popular for couples.
Singapore has so much to offer for a romantic couple's vacation. The city has stunning hotels, amazing restaurants, and plenty of fun activities that are perfect for couples.
Phuket is a great resort island if you're traveling as a couple. The island is filled with beautiful beaches and plenty of activities for all travel styles. It's a tourist and party mecca in Thailand with many resorts and restaurants to choose from.
Singapore is an amazing city to visit for backpackers. However, Phuket is a resort island with minimal options for backpackers and budget travelers.
Backpackers and budget travelers come from all over the world to visit Singapore. Many backpackers use this city as a starting or ending point for their Southeast Asian backpacking trip. It's modern and glamourous, but still has plenty of backpacker-friendly and budget-friendly options.
Phuket is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It has a long history as a party island with expensive prices and hordes of tourists. Many backpackers complain about the lack of authenticity and prefer to spend their time elsewhere.
Singapore is an amazing city to visit for students. However, Phuket is not popular with students.
Singapore is a great destination for students. As such a diverse city, you'll find plenty of international students as well as expats to hang out with.
Phuket is not popular with students.
Singapore is an amazing city to visit for its public transit. Also, Phuket is still popular, but not quite as popular for times when you don't have a car.
Public transit in Singapore is top-notch. There is the MRT subway system as well as buses that travel all over the city.
While Phuket offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. Tuk tuks, buses, and motorbike taxis are all available on the island. The buses are usually Songtaew, which have open air seating areas.
Singapore is an amazing city to visit for its high level of walkability. Also, Phuket is still popular, but not quite as popular for its ease of walking around.
Getting around Singapore on foot is easy. It's possible to walk in most areas in the city center. There are also park connectors that are nice for taking a stroll or going for a run.
Phuket is a somewhat walkable resort island. Most of the hotels and resorts are walking distance to the beach and many resort areas are small enough to be explored on foot.
For even more information, also check out Is Phuket Worth Visiting? and Is Singapore Worth Visiting?.
Both Phuket and Singapore have a number of activities to choose from. In our opinion, Singapore has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Singapore than Phuket. In general, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Phuket, and 2-7 days is enough time in Singapore.
Families should spend more time in Singapore than Phuket. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Singapore, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Couples should spend more time in Singapore than Phuket. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Singapore that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Singapore than Phuket if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Singapore.
You'll find scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping around the resort island of Phuket. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.
Singapore is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.
You'll find shopping and nightlife around the party-hard destination of Phuket. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. This resort island offers a variety of activities to choose from.
Singapore is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.
You'll find nightlife and food around the party-hard resort island of Phuket. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. If you have five days, this resort island makes for a great vacation. It's also a relaxing resort destination. Five days should give you a good understanding of everything this resort island has to offer.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in Singapore. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.
Phuket is a popular choice for travelers. One week here is typical. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Phuket, one week is sufficent for most. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.
Singapore is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. If you have one week, this is a great place to go. This would be the perfect place to spend one week, as it has just the right amount of activities.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, The Best 2-Week Tours in Thailand, The Best Budget Tours to Singapore, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Singapore.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Phuket is $106, while the average daily cost in Singapore is $152. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Phuket and Singapore in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Phuket or Singapore? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Phuket:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Phuket:
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Singapore:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Singapore:
Prices for flights to both Singapore and Phuket change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Phuket:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Phuket.
Some typical examples of dining costs in Singapore are as follows:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Singapore.
Here are a few typical costs in Phuket for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Here are a few actual costs in Phuket for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Singapore are as follows:
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Phuket from other travelers:
Also in Phuket, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Singapore:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Phuket and Singapore, we can see that Singapore is more expensive. And not only is Phuket much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Phuket would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Phuket and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Singapore would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Singapore than you might in Phuket.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Phuket Expensive? and Is Singapore Expensive?.
Singapore has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Phuket. When comparing the sizes of Phuket and Singapore, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.