Compare Prices from All US Cities
| From | Airport | Est. Price | Flight Time | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
BESTSeattle | SEA | $746 | ~17h | View → |
Portland | PDX | $751 | ~17h | View → |
San Francisco | SFO | $780 | ~18h | View → |
Salt Lake City | SLC | $809 | ~19h | View → |
Los Angeles | LAX | $810 | ~19h | View → |
Las Vegas | LAS | $816 | ~19h | View → |
San Diego | SAN | $819 | ~19h | View → |
Denver | DEN | $838 | ~19h | View → |
Phoenix | PHX | $839 | ~19h | View → |
Minneapolis | MSP | $839 | ~19h | View → |
Chicago | ORD | $864 | ~20h | View → |
Detroit | DTW | $868 | ~20h | View → |
Boston | BOS | $869 | ~20h | View → |
New York | LGA | $880 | ~20h | View → |
St. Louis | STL | $880 | ~20h | View → |
Newark | EWR | $881 | ~20h | View → |
New York | JFK | $881 | ~20h | View → |
Philadelphia | PHL | $886 | ~20h | View → |
Baltimore | BWI | $891 | ~20h | View → |
Washington D.C. | DCA | $893 | ~20h | View → |
Dallas | DFW | $897 | ~20h | View → |
Nashville | BNA | $902 | ~21h | View → |
Austin | AUS | $909 | ~21h | View → |
Charlotte | CLT | $914 | ~21h | View → |
Houston | IAH | $917 | ~21h | View → |
Atlanta | ATL | $920 | ~21h | View → |
Orlando | MCO | $956 | ~22h | View → |
Tampa | TPA | $958 | ~22h | View → |
Fort Lauderdale | FLL | $972 | ~22h | View → |
Miami | MIA | $974 | ~22h | View → |
San Juan | SJU | $1008 | ~23h | View → |
About Singapore
Singapore is the city-state that makes other cities look disorganized. It's a 280-square-mile island that functions as one of the world's great transit hubs, financial centers, and — genuinely — one of the best food cities on the planet. For Americans, it's often the first Southeast Asian stop precisely because it's so frictionless: English is everywhere, the MRT metro is cleaner than any subway you've ridden, tap water is drinkable, and crime is almost nonexistent. The trade-off is that it's expensive by Southeast Asian standards, closer to Western European prices than Thai ones.
The food alone justifies the flight. Singapore's hawker centers are UNESCO-recognized and priced so cheaply (SGD $3-6 per dish) that the city somehow manages to be simultaneously expensive and affordable depending on how you eat. Maxwell Food Centre, Lau Pa Sat, and Old Airport Road Food Centre are not tourist traps — locals queue at the same stalls. The cultural mix of Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Peranakan influences means the cuisine is genuinely diverse and fiercely argued over by residents.
The city has also quietly become one of Asia's best nightlife and arts destinations. The bar scene along Ann Siang Hill, Tanjong Pagar Road, and Club Street rivals any in the region. The National Gallery, housed in the old Supreme Court and City Hall, is world-class. Gardens by the Bay's Supertree Grove is genuinely impressive after dark and free to walk through. Don't let the 'boring' reputation fool you — that mostly comes from people who didn't know where to look.
Flights from the US to Changi Airport (SIN) run roughly 17-19 hours from the West Coast with one stop, or up to 24 hours from the East Coast. The airport itself (Changi) regularly ranks as the world's best and has a 24-hour transit hotel, a rooftop pool, and the Jewel indoor waterfall — so a long layover here is legitimately pleasant. Time zone is Singapore Standard Time (UTC+8), which is 13 hours ahead of EST and 16 ahead of PST, making calls home logistically annoying but otherwise no real issue.
Best Time to Fly to Singapore
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Track Singapore flights →Airport to City: How to Get There
Changi Airport to city center has three solid options. The MRT train (East-West Line or Thomson-East Coast Line) costs SGD $1.70-$2.20 depending on destination and takes 30-40 minutes to City Hall or Outram Park — buy an EZ-Link card at the airport for S$10 (S$5 deposit + S$5 credit). Grab (Southeast Asia's Uber equivalent) from Changi to the CBD runs S$18-S$28 and takes 20-30 minutes depending on traffic; book from the app inside the terminal. Official metered taxis are available at the taxi queue (no surge pricing but add S$5-8 airport surcharge) and cost roughly S$25-40 to the CBD. Skip the airport shuttle buses — they're slower and not significantly cheaper than the MRT.
Neighborhoods & Where to Stay
Home to the Marina Bay Sands, the Fullerton Hotel, and Singapore's skyline money shots. Restaurants here are either expense-account business dining or overpriced tourist traps — don't eat here unless someone else is paying. Good base for first-timers who want walking distance to Gardens by the Bay and the ArtScience Museum.
The most livable neighborhood for visitors — packed with hawker centers (Maxwell Food Centre is a 5-minute walk), indie coffee shops, excellent cocktail bars on Ann Siang Hill, and the Sri Mariamman Temple. Hotels here like the Potato Head Singapore (now 'Hotel Vagabond' nearby) or the boutique spots on Club Street offer great value. MRT access is excellent via Tanjong Pagar and Chinatown stations.
Singapore's Arab Quarter and best neighborhood for walking and café-hopping. Haji Lane is lined with independent boutiques and brunch spots. The Sultan Mosque anchors the area beautifully. Eat at Zam Zam (operational since 1908 — get the murtabak) or grab coffee at Creamier. Boutique hotels in the area are genuinely charming and prices are reasonable by Singapore standards.
The most affordable neighborhood for accommodation — budget hotels and guesthouses along Race Course Road and Dunlop Street go for S$60-120/night. The food is outstanding: Komala Vilas on Serangoon Road serves vegetarian South Indian thalis for under S$10. The area is vibrant, loud, and colorful — a sharp contrast to the sterile CBD. Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple is worth a visit any time of day.
Singapore's main shopping corridor — ION Orchard, Paragon, and Takashimaya malls line this stretch. Hotels here (Hilton, Marriott, St. Regis) are well-located but priced 20-30% more than equivalent quality in Tanjong Pagar. The area feels more corporate than charming, but if shopping is your primary goal and you want everything within walking distance, it delivers.
Singapore's hipster-heritage neighborhood — art deco-era public housing blocks now host specialty coffee shops, independent bookstores (BooksActually), and excellent bakeries. Tiong Bahru Market has some of the best char kway teow and hokkien mee in the city. Fewer hotel options but worth a half-day visit even if you're staying elsewhere. Locals actually live here — it hasn't been fully gentrified yet.
Daily Budget: What to Expect
S$35 dorm bed or budget guesthouse in Little India, S$20-25 eating exclusively at hawker centers (breakfast + lunch + dinner), S$5 MRT day of riding, S$10-15 on one paid attraction or a couple beers at a local bar
S$150-180 boutique hotel in Tanjong Pagar or Kampong Glam, S$40-50 mixing hawker meals with one sit-down restaurant (try Burnt Ends or PS.Cafe), S$10 transport on EZ-Link, S$25-30 on a paid attraction like Gardens by the Bay Cloud Forest or a rooftop bar
S$450-650 Marina Bay Sands or Raffles Hotel room, S$80-120 dinner at a 1-star Michelin hawker or upscale restaurant like Odette or Candlenut, S$20 Grab rides, S$50 on cocktails at level 33 or Atlas Bar, S$30 spa treatment or activity
What to Eat in Singapore
Hainanese Chicken Rice at Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice (Maxwell Food Centre, Stall #01-10/11) — the dish Singapore is most proud of, S$5-6 a plate, expect a 20-minute queue at lunch. The poached chicken is silkier than anything called 'chicken rice' has any right to be.
Char Kway Teow at Tiong Bahru Market (second floor, look for the stall with the longest local queue) — wok-fried flat rice noodles with Chinese sausage, cockles, and dark soy sauce. It's unhealthy, smoky, and perfect. Under S$5.
Chilli Crab at Jumbo Seafood (Riverside Point location) — yes it's touristy, yes it's expensive (S$65-80 for a crab for two), but the dish is genuinely Singapore's most iconic. Order the fried mantou buns to mop up the tangy, slightly spicy tomato-egg gravy. Book at least 2 days ahead.
Roti Prata at The Casuarina Curry (Casuarina Road, not the tourist-facing branches) — flaky griddle-cooked flatbread served with dal and fish or mutton curry. Breakfast here with a pulled 'teh tarik' milk tea costs under S$6 total and is how Singapore starts its day.
Laksa at 328 Katong Laksa (East Coast Road) — a rich, coconut-milk curry noodle soup that's a specifically Peranakan-Singaporean creation. The noodles are cut short so you can eat it with a spoon only, which is the traditional Katong style. S$6-8 a bowl and worth the cab ride to the East.
Flying from the US to Singapore
Airlines & Routes
- →Singapore Airlines nonstop from JFK (18.5 hours, their flagship A350 route)
- →Singapore Airlines nonstop from LAX (17.5 hours, daily A350 service)
- →Singapore Airlines nonstop from SFO (17.5 hours, daily service)
- →United Airlines via Tokyo NRT (22-24 hours total)
- →Japan Airlines via Tokyo NRT (22-24 hours total)
- →Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong HKG (21-23 hours total)
- →Korean Air via Seoul ICN (21-23 hours total)
- →ANA via Tokyo NRT (22-24 hours total)
- →Emirates via Dubai DXB (22-26 hours total)
- →Qatar Airways via Doha DOH (22-25 hours total)
Flight Duration
Safety Tips
Singapore is among the safest cities in the world — violent crime against tourists is genuinely rare. That said: the drug laws are severe and not negotiable (mandatory death penalty for trafficking over threshold amounts; this is not hyperbole). Don't bring recreational drugs of any kind. Jaywalking within 50 meters of a pedestrian crossing carries a S$50 fine — Singaporeans actually do get ticketed. Carry your passport or a photo of it, as spot checks exist. The tap water is safe to drink everywhere. Scams targeting tourists are minimal but watch for overpriced cab rides — always use the meter or Grab. Flash flooding happens fast during heavy rain — stay off underpasses and low-lying areas during intense storms. Healthcare is world-class but expensive without travel insurance; buy it before you go.
Get an EZ-Link card from any MRT station the moment you clear customs — it works on the MRT, buses, and even many convenience stores and 7-Elevens. Load S$20-30 on it and you'll handle 90% of your in-city transport without ever fumbling for cash. More importantly: eat lunch at hawker centers (never the tourist restaurants on Clarke Quay waterfront, which charge 3x for the same quality), then spend what you save on a nicer dinner. The Michelin-starred hawker stalls — like Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle at Crawford Lane — charge S$6-10 for food that would cost S$40+ in a restaurant setting. That's the arbitrage that makes Singapore affordable despite its reputation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest way to fly to Singapore?
The cheapest route to Singapore from the US is typically from Seattle (SEA), with estimated round-trip prices around $746. Prices vary significantly by season and booking timing.
What is the best time to visit Singapore?
The best time to visit Singapore is February, March, June, July, August. Singapore is hot and humid year-round (85-90°F). Slightly less rain in February-March and June-August. Avoid November-January (monsoon season). There's no 'good' weather — just less bad.
Do US citizens need a visa to visit Singapore?
Visa-free for US passport holders for up to 90 days (tourism). Easy entry.
How long is the flight from the US to Singapore?
Flight time from the US to Singapore (SIN) is approximately 17 hours from Seattle. Flight times vary by departure city — eastern US cities are typically shorter to their destination.
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