“Do I need to tip in Singapore?” Tired of seeing conflicting answers on Quora, TripAdvisor or random travel blogs in your quest to understanding another aspect of Singapore’s unique culture? Well, here is yet another definitive guide to tipping in Singapore. This time based on the real-life experiences of your Expat-In-Chief, a New Yorker who relocated to Singapore since 2009.
Let me be clear that this guide is specifically for Singapore – tipping etiquette varies widely around the world, and even with the South East Asian region. So, what is the “right” tipping culture in Singapore? The short answer: Tipping is generally not expected, but it is certainly appreciated when you encounter good service. For specific nuances, keep reading to find out.
A Quick Anecdote Before we Get Started
For my first haircut in Singapore I headed over to a little shop I noticed just outside the MRT station near my house. It was called QB House and touted simple S$10 haircuts. My hair is pretty simple so I figured I would give it a try. Everything went smoothly but then after the cut I wasn't sure if I was supposed to tip the hair stylist at all. If this was going to be the place where I would get my haircut for the next couple of years I didn't want to be known as that @$$hole who doesn't tip.
So I grabbed a couple of $2 bills from my pocket and handed them to the stylist.
They shot me a quick look like I had three heads, which pretty much made it clear that this wasn't expected or common,
but then graciously accepted the tip and put it into their apron. I was a bit shocked and embarrassed (as there were a number of other patrons who had also witnessed this interaction) but a bit ultimately I was quite relieved it wasn't worse.
A "Simple" Guide to Tipping In Singapore
Restaurants: When eating out in restaurants, a standard 10% service charge and 7% GST (Good and Services Tax) is usually included in your total bill automatically. In Singapore, wait staff and servers are typically paid a fixed salary which does not include tips or gratuity. If you receive excellent service, a good way to show your appreciation would be to leave them a nice comment on their Facebook page or a Google review.
Hawker Centre and Food Courts: Tipping is also not required at these locations. The meal will also not include service charge as these are self-service concepts.
Taxis: Taxis in Singapore go by the meter – there is absolutely no fear of being scammed by rogue drivers here. However, if you would like to tip the driver for an enjoyable ride or doing things like assisting with your luggage, feel free to tip them an extra SGD 1 – 5, or just round up your fare to the nearest dollar when requesting change. Most taxi drivers will be thankful for the gesture.
Ride-hailing Apps: Taxis are no longer the only ride-hailing means in Singapore. Apps like Grab (Uber’s Asian equivalent) have features which allows the rider to rate and tip the driver. Tipping is not required, but a nice gesture should you have enjoyed your ride.
Delivery: In most instances, there is no tipping required for deliveries in Singapore. However, some food delivery apps like Deliveroo, Grab and Food Panda (Postmates equivalent in Singapore) have recently included features for providing additional tips to your delivery person. If you are ordering an extra-large order, or during a rainy day, it is nice to tip a little extra USD 1 – 5 to express your gratitude.
Spa Treatments (Facial, Massage etc.): Unlike your experiences in neighbouring South East Asian countries like Thailand or Indonesia, spa treatments in Singapore do not require an extra gratuity as well. Why? Most of the staff are paid a fixed salary and do not rely on tips to make up their pay.
Hairdressers: Similar to the spa treatments. Most services as such will already include a standard 10% service charge and 7% GST (Good and Services Tax) in your total bill.
Hotels: No additional tipping is required, and the staff typically will not expect it. However, should you want to reward exemplary service for the bellhop or housekeeping, feel free to tip them $2 – 5 depending on the service rendered.
I could go on and on, but I will not bore you with the details. Generally, you do not need to tip because the service is generally accounted for as an additional charge in your bill when appropriate. If you still really want to tip, you should always offer it directly (where possible). Just make sure you never offer a tip a government officer.