How Does Tipping Work in Singapore?
Last verified: 2025-01 · Asia
1The Quick Answer
Do not tip in Singapore. A 10% service charge is automatically added to all restaurant bills. Tipping is not part of the culture.
2What You Need to Know
Singapore has a no-tipping culture reinforced by the standard '++' pricing model at restaurants and hotels. The '++' means 10% service charge plus 9% GST (Goods and Services Tax) is added to the listed price. This service charge is collected by the establishment, not necessarily passed directly to individual servers. Attempting to tip on top of this is unusual and may even cause confusion. At hawker centres (open-air food courts) where the service charge doesn't apply, leaving change is done occasionally but not expected. Taxi drivers do not expect tips.
3Practical Tips
Practical Tips
- 1When you see prices listed as '$10++', the final price is approximately $12.10 after GST and service charge
- 2Hawker centre food stalls have no service charge — leaving change is kind but not expected
- 3Hotel porters and housekeeping do not expect tips — the service charge covers this
- 4Grab (rideshare) drivers are not tipped — it's not part of the app culture in Singapore
- 5The service charge on your restaurant bill goes to the business, not always to the individual server
How does this compare?
Tipping rules in nearby and similar countries:
Do not tip in Japan. Tipping is considered rude and may cause embarrassment.
Tipping is appreciated and expected in tourist areas. 20–50 THB at restaurants, 20–100 THB for massage, round up taxi fares.
Tipping is expected but modest — around 10% at restaurants and 50–100 INR for guides and drivers, but not required at street food stalls.
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More About Singapore
Singapore has an excellent, clean MRT and bus network. Use an EZ-Link card or tap with your contactless bank card. Public transport is cheap and air-conditioned.
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Singapore has world-class healthcare but at very high prices. Travel insurance is essential. English is spoken everywhere. Polyclinics are cheaper than private GPs.
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Singapore enforces laws very strictly. Chewing gum is banned for sale. Drugs carry the death penalty. Littering and jaywalking are heavily fined.
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Police: 999. Ambulance & Fire: 995. Non-emergency police: 1800-255-0000. Singapore has extremely fast emergency response.
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Singapore is hot and humid — dress light. Modest dress required at temples and mosques. Upscale clubs and restaurants have smart casual dress codes.
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Drinking age is 18. No outdoor drinking after 10:30pm in most public areas. Retail alcohol sales end at 10:30pm. Licensed restaurants serve until later.
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