Cheap Eats in Singapore 2026: 12 Meals and Snacks Under $5

Why this list is short, and what we checked

Top photo: a Singapore food court, by ProjectManhattan, CC0 via Wikimedia CommonsMost hawker stalls do not publish prices online, and a price we cannot check is a price we will not print. So every entry here comes from the seller's own menu, price list or online shop. If a stall only shows prices on a board at the counter, it is not here, even if you and I both know it does a $4 plate.

For more ways to stretch $20 on a day out, see our cheap things to do in Singapore under $20. Students get extra discounts, which we track in student food deals, checked.

Breakfast under $3

1. Kopitiam kaya toast set, $2.80
Where: most Kopitiam food courts. Hours: 7am to 11am. Price: $2.80 for the public, $2.20 for union members. What you get: kaya butter toast, two soft-boiled eggs and a kopi or teh. Halal: depends on the outlet.

Kopitiam says most outlets, not all, so ask before you queue.

2. IKEA breakfast, from $1
Where: IKEA Alexandra (317 Alexandra Rd), IKEA Tampines (60 Tampines North Drive 2) and IKEA Jurong (50 Jurong Gateway Rd, MRT: Jurong East). Hours: croissant platters 10am to 11am weekdays, 9am to 11am weekends; the butter croissant, curry puff and roll are listed as always available while stocks last. Price: butter croissant $1, curry puff $1.50, soft butter roll with scrambled egg $1.50. Halal: the halal menu is at IKEA Tampines only.

Three items for $4 is a real breakfast. It runs while stocks last, so do not turn up at 10.55am expecting croissants.

3. IKEA weekend mee siam, $3.50
Where: IKEA Alexandra and IKEA Tampines. Hours: weekends, 9am to 11am. Price: $3.50, sambal on the side. Dates: it is on IKEA's October breakfast menu, listed for October, while stocks last. The menu rotates monthly.

A local plate at Swedish-store prices. Check the November menu before you plan a weekend around it.

Snacks under $3

4. IKEA Bistro hot dog, $1
Where: the Bistro at each IKEA store. Price: hot dog $1; hot dog and cold drink combo $2.50; hot dog, curry puff and cold drink $3.90. The veggie hot dog is also $1, at IKEA Tampines only.

The combo saves 30 cents on the listed usual price of $2.80.

5. The Original Vadai, $1.50
Where: Amoy Street Food Centre #02-84 (Mon to Fri, 8am to 3.45pm), Century Square #01-37 (daily, 9am to 8.45pm), Geylang Serai Market #02-166 (Tue to Sun, 8am to 3.45pm), 82 Joo Chiat Rd (daily, 10am to 8.30pm by its contact page). Price on its online shop: dhal vadai $1.50, prawn or ikan bilis vadai $1.60.

Two prawn vadai come to $3.20. Counter prices can differ from the online shop, so check the board.

6. HarriAnns kueh, $2 a piece
Where: HarriAnns at Hillion Mall #B1-31/32 (7.30am to 9.30pm) and other outlets. Price on its online order site: $2 a piece for kueh salat, kueh lapis, kueh talam and others. The online ordering page showed items unavailable when we checked, so order in store.

A Tiong Bahru name since its pushcart days, and still $2 a slice. Buy two different ones and call it lunch.

Proper meals under $5

7. IKEA vegetable fried rice, $2.50
Where: the Swedish Restaurant at IKEA Alexandra, Tampines and Jurong. Hours: weekdays 10am to 9.30pm, weekends 9am to 10pm. Price: $2.50.

A $2.50 plate on the restaurant menu. Add a $1.50 curry puff and you are still under $5.

8. IKEA kids' meatballs, $4.50
Where: IKEA Swedish Restaurant. Price: $4.50 for 5 Swedish meatballs with mashed potato and a pack of Kivik juice. The other kids' plates (chicken strips, plant balls, penne) are also $4.50.

Listed as a kids' meal. Grown-ups may want the 8-piece plate at $7.50.

9. Saizeriya Milano Doria, $4.90
Where: outlets include City Square Mall #B2-55/56 (MRT: Farrer Park), Toa Payoh Blk 190 #02-514, Orchard Gateway #B2-11 (MRT: Somerset), Chinatown Point #02-10 and Marina Square #02-207. Hours: 11am to 10pm, last order 9.30pm. Price: $4.90 nett, GST included and no service charge.

Rice baked in beef bolognese and white sauce. The real Saizeriya trick is the nett price: what you see is what you pay. Not halal, the menu has pork.

10. Saizeriya Bolognese or Aglio Olio, $4.90
Where: any Saizeriya. Price: Bolognese $4.90 nett, Aglio Olio plain $4.90 nett.

Aglio Olio if you want it light, Bolognese if you want it filling.

11. Saizeriya soup and focaccia, $4.90
Where: any Saizeriya. Price: mushroom soup $2.90 nett (corn soup and seafood chowder are also $2.90), plus original focaccia $2.

Soup and bread for $4.90 is the lightest lunch on this list.

12. Saizeriya chicken wings, $4.90
Where: any Saizeriya. Price: 5 pieces for $4.90 nett.

A side on paper, a meal if you are not that hungry. Or share it and order a doria each.

Where to find more budget meals

The government runs BudgetMealGoWhere, a map of coffee shops that sell budget meals. Its data file says it was last updated on 28 April 2025, so treat any price there as a guide and check the stall.

If you can stretch past $5, a $19.90 nett mookata buffet is the next step up. We broke down what you get in mookata buffet under $20, and Eventful Tables lets you book it free.

FAQs

Where can I eat for under $5 in Singapore?

Saizeriya's Milano Doria is $4.90 nett, IKEA's vegetable fried rice is $2.50 and its hot dog and drink combo is $2.50. The Kopitiam kaya toast set is $2.80 at most outlets from 7am to 11am.

Is Saizeriya GST included?

Yes. Saizeriya Singapore says all prices are nett, inclusive of GST, with no service charge.

Is IKEA food halal in Singapore?

IKEA says its halal menu is available only at IKEA Tampines, where MUIS lists the restaurant. IKEA Alexandra and IKEA Jurong do not serve the halal menu.

Why are there no hawker stalls on this list?

Most hawker stalls do not publish prices online, and we only list prices we can check on the seller's own page. The board at the stall is still the best guide when you are there.

How much is the IKEA hot dog in Singapore?

IKEA lists the hot dog at $1 at its Bistro, and a hot dog with a cold drink at $2.50.