Affordable Food Alternatives for International Students in Singapore

22 September 2025

When you study in Singapore, one of the first things one will find most pleasing is the incredible variety in culinary options. The city-state has an enviable multicultural culinary scene, in which Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Western cuisines come together in perfect syncopation. For overseas students, this offers an exciting prospect; at least, it can come across as expensive in the beginning. Fortunately, the city offers affordable food options in Singapore that allow one to taste amazing meals without spending a wallet load of cash. 

Many students voice concerns about the ever-increasing cost-of-living, but Singapore allows anyone to access affordable and healthy meals without stretching one’s budget. With active hawker centres slinging affordable and authentic local foods, affordable university canteens, and value-for-money supermarkets, everyone eats cheap! A large plate of chicken rice or noodles will only set one back between SGD 3-5, while an expensive restaurant may charge SGD 15 or more per plate for an individual eat-in meal. Learning about best practices will go a long way toward expenses, while still providing the opportunity to indulge in Singapore’s vibrant eating culture.

Affordable Eating Hubs for Students

Explore Hawker Centres.

Hawker centres feature as an integral part of Singapore’s culinary scene and as compulsory places of visit for all students. The food courts are known for serving tasty and clean food at extremely low prices. Dishes like nasi lemk, roti prata, and laksa can be obtained as low as less than SGD 5. Popular hotspots like Maxwell Food Centre, Lau Pa Sat, and Newton Food Centre provide great options to taste local dishes without spending too much money.

College and Polytechnic Canteens

Most of the universities, as well as NTU, NUS, and SMU, have canteens designed to offer students healthy options at subsidized prices. The standard full dinner or lunch costs SGD 3–6, and as such, these canteens continue to be one of Singapore’s best affordable eats for students.

Supermarkets and Home Cooking

Cooking at one’s own home provides a great budget control measure. Retailers such as FairPrice, Sheng Siong, and Giant will be good places to buy fresh stock at fair prices. Additionally, for people who desire occasional tastes of home, supermarkets such as Mustafa Centre and Indian stores in Little India offer varieties of international spices and specialties at fair prices.

Food Delivery Apps and Discounts

Although dining in restaurants is normal, restaurant order-in services like Foodpanda and GrabFood occasionally provide discounts or voucher codes. Taking advantage of these effectively can enable one to have good restaurant food at reduced prices, particularly during study marathons.

Bright Ideas to Reduce Food Expenses

• Plan your meals responsibly to prevent extra payments and minimize garbage generation.
• Make use of the student prices set by cafes, fast-food outlets, and delivery services.
• Share dishes with friends when you order larger dishes—it’s cheap and social.
• Integrate eating out and cooking to lead an equally balanced life. Cooking during weekdays and having dinner at hawker centres on weekends is one common practice.
• Shop in bulk at cheap stores or wet markets to reduce costs even further.

Need for Affordable Eating as a Student

You can spend wisely on your allowance and focus on studies and enjoying time abroad. Choosing budget-friendly food in Singapore doesn’t mean giving up taste or nutrition. Hawker centers, cafeteria at campus, and home-cooked meals provide healthy options and allow you to still experience the rich culinary heritage of the nation.

At understand that financial planning holds equal significance to selecting an appropriate university. We assist students in organizing not only their educational paths but also their lifestyle decisions, thereby ensuring they possess confidence regarding their experience of living and studying in Singapore.

In the right mindset, international students can experience Singapore’s amazing culinary scene without breaking the bank. Cheap eating is not just feasible but part of the experience of studying overseas. For more advice on studying in Singapore and day-to-day advice on student life, get in touch with BCES Admissions Abroad today at +91 9319996330. We’re here to ease and enrich your experience.