How Much Do You Really Spend on Food Each Day?

Are You Aware of How Much You Really Spend on Food Each Day?

Spoiler: It’s probably more than you think.

A morning coffee, lunch with colleagues, an afternoon bubble tea, a casual dinner out… and just like that — $20–$30 SGD gone in a day.

Food spending is one of those daily costs that quietly adds up. Small purchases don’t seem like much in the moment — until you check your bank app and think, “Wait… how did I spend that much?”

In this blog, we’ll cover:

• What the average daily food spend looks like across different lifestyles
• The factors that influence your food budget — from habits to cravings
• And practical tips to eat smarter without giving up what you enjoy

Whether you’re budgeting, saving, or just curious about your habits — this guide is for you.

Average Daily Food Spending

• 🥢 Budget-conscious locals often spend under S$10/day by cooking at home or eating at hawker centers 
• 🍜 Hawker meal prices typically range from S$3.50–S$8 per dish .
• ☕ Coffee or light snacks cost around S$1–S$4 per serving
• 🍽️ Mid‑range dining (e.g. mall cafés) averages S$7–S$12 per meal, while a full restaurant dinner can cost S$15–S$30 per person .
• 💼 Traveler and expat data show food costs between S$61/day, with a range of S$19–S$119
• 🍽️ Inexpensive restaurant meal averages around S$14 
• 🍔 Fast-food combo (e.g., McDonald’s) costs about S$10

Typical Daily Food Spending in Singapore (~S$35/day)

Food in Singapore can be affordable — but daily habits, cravings, and convenience can quickly push up your spending. Below is a realistic breakdown of how a typical day might look if you’re mixing hawker meals, occasional café stops, and delivery conveniences.

☀️ Breakfast – S$4.50

Start your day with:

• A kopi (coffee) or teh at a hawker stall (~S$1.50)
• Kaya toast set with eggs (~S$3.00)
  

➡️ Why it adds up:
A simple, affordable local breakfast. But if you swap this for a Western-style café breakfast, your cost can double or triple.

🍛 Lunch – S$10.00

Midday meal options:

• Economy rice or chicken rice from a hawker centre (~S$4–S$6)
• Or a quick café lunch set (~S$8–S$12)
  

➡️ Why it adds up:
Even hawker food prices are slowly rising due to inflation. Opting for air-conditioned food courts or mall cafés can add S$2–S$5 more per meal.

🍪 Snacks – S$5.00

Afternoon cravings:

• A bubble tea (~S$3.50–S$5.00)
• Or a small pastry or snack from a bakery
  

➡️ Why it adds up:
Snacks feel harmless, but a daily bubble tea habit alone can cost you S$150+ per month.

🍲 Dinner – S$12.00

Dinner choices:

• Local dishes like laksa or nasi lemak (~S$5–S$8 at hawker stalls)
• Or casual dining with friends (~S$10–S$20 per person)
  

➡️ Why it adds up:
Dinner is often the most social meal. GrabFood or dine-ins can double the cost versus eating local.

🥤 Drinks – S$3.50

This includes:

• A second coffee
• Bottled water or soft drink
• Optional evening beer or juice
  

➡️ Why it adds up:
Even small drink purchases across the day add hidden costs — especially when dining out or using delivery platforms.

What Drives Daily Food Spending?

Food is more than just fuel — it’s tied to our habits, routines, and emotions. That’s why daily food spending often goes beyond what we need and reflects how we live. Here are the biggest factors that influence how much we spend:

⚡ 1. Convenience vs. Cravings

We don’t always eat because we’re hungry. Sometimes, we eat because it’s fast, easy, or just comforting.

Think about grabbing:

• A quick S$5 kopi and toast because you skipped breakfast
• A delivery order after work because you’re too tired to cook
• Bubble tea “just because” — S$6 gone in 10 minutes

Convenience and cravings are powerful — and they quietly add up across the week.

🍜 2. Dining Out Culture (vs. Home-Cooking)

Singapore has a vibrant food scene, and eating out is a way of life.
It’s social, fast, and often more appealing than cooking at home — especially when hawker centres and food courts are everywhere.

But dining out daily, even affordably, costs more than home-cooked meals.
A hawker meal might be S$5–S$7, but a home-prepped dish could cost just S$2–S$3 per portion.

💸 3. F&B Inflation

The cost of food is rising — in grocery stores, restaurants, and even hawker stalls.

You may have noticed:

• Your go-to chicken rice is now S$0.50 more
• Delivery platforms are charging higher service fees
• Some food courts increasing prices due to rental and wage hikes
  

These price changes might seem small individually, but they compound over time, especially for daily spenders.

☕ 4. Premium Coffee, Snacks & Delivery Fees

Gone are the days of just kopi-C. Now it’s oat milk lattes, cold brews, acai bowls, and imported snacks.

We’re also paying for:

• Convenience fees from delivery apps (S$3–S$5 extra per order)
• Minimum orders or platform charges
• Tips and surcharges — often unnoticed, but always there

These “extras” feel minor day to day — but can cost S$100–S$200 per month if unchecked.

Where Can You Save Without Compromising Joy?

Let’s be real — we all love food. And cutting down on food spending doesn’t mean cutting out everything fun or delicious. The goal isn’t to eat less, it’s to eat smarter. Here’s how to save without feeling like you’re missing out:

🍱 1. Meal Prep Once or Twice a Week

You don’t have to cook every day. Just set aside time once or twice a week to prep a few basic meals — like rice bowls, pasta, stir-fry, or soups.

• It saves money (cost per portion drops to S$2–S$4)
• It saves time during busy weekdays
• And you’re less likely to order takeout out of convenience

💡 Bonus: Meal prepping gives you more control over your nutrition too.

☕ 2. Find Budget-Friendly Cafés or Hawker Gems

Singapore is packed with hidden food gems.
Instead of fancy brunch spots or chain cafés, check out:

• Local coffee joints with $2 kopi
• Hawker stalls with delicious meals under $6
• Food courts with daily lunch deals

You still get the joy of eating out — without the high prices.

✨ 3. Use Eatigo’s Magic – Up to 50% Off

With Eatigo, you can dine at popular restaurants — and pay half the price.

Book during off-peak hours and get up to 50% off your meal. That means:

• Less guilt about dining out
• More room in your budget for snacks or weekend plans
• And maybe even that second dessert 😄

It’s one of the easiest ways to eat out without overspending.

A Week with Eatigo: What You Could Save

Dining out doesn’t have to be a guilty pleasure — not when you’ve got Eatigo.
Here’s what a typical week could look like across different countries using Eatigo’s time-based discounts:

Reflect & Book

🤔 How much do you think you spend on food per day?

Really think about it — a quick breakfast, bubble tea, a food court lunch, maybe dinner delivery.
Now add that up. Surprised?

📊 Ready to take control (without giving up good food)?

🎯 Download our Free Budget Tracker
Track what you spend each day and spot your food habits.

🍱 Grab the 7-Day Smart Meal Planner
Plan a full week of delicious, cost-effective meals — dine in and out, smarter.

✅ Final Tip: Don’t stop eating out. Just start eating smart.

With Eatigo O’Clock Deals, you can enjoy the food you love —
at up to 50% off. Less guilt. More flavour. Bigger savings.

👉 Start saving with Eatigo now »