How many cents are in a dollar in Singapore?

There are 100 cents in 1 dollar. So 50¢ is half a dollar, and 100¢ is the same as $1.00.

What coins and notes do we use in Singapore?

Singapore coins are 5¢, 10¢, 20¢, 50¢ and $1. Common notes are $2, $5, $10 and larger. A bigger coin is not always worth more — for example, the 20¢ coin is larger than the $1 coin.

What does 'change' mean when buying something?

Change is the money the cashier gives back when you pay more than the price. If a toy costs $4 and you pay with a $5 note, your change is $1, because $5 − $4 = $1.

What is the count-up trick for making change?

Instead of subtracting, you start at the price and count up to the amount paid. For a $7 item paid with $10, count up $7 → $8 → $9 → $10, which is 3 steps, so the change is $3.

How do you count money that has both notes and coins?

Count the notes first because they are worth more, then add the coins. For example, $5 + $2 + 50¢ + 20¢ comes to $7.70, read as "seven dollars and seventy cents".

Counting Money and Making Change

Math Interactive lesson Free to play

Counting money and making change is the skill of working out how much a group of coins and notes is worth, and how much money to give back when a customer pays more than the price of an item. In Singapore, money is counted in dollars ($) and cents (¢), with 100 cents making up one dollar. Coins come in 5¢, 10¢, 20¢, 50¢ and $1, while notes start at $2, $5 and $10.

To count money, you add the value of each coin and note together, usually starting with the larger amounts. Reading an amount like $7.70 as "seven dollars and seventy cents" links the written figure to spoken language. Change is the difference between the money paid and the price: $5.00 paid for a $3.00 item gives $2.00 change.

A reliable way to find change is the count-up method — start at the price and count up to the amount handed over. These ideas build everyday number sense for shopping, saving and simple subtraction, and form a foundation for later work on decimals and budgeting.

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Money in Singapore

💰 Let's Count Money! In Singapore we use dollars ($) and cents (¢). There are 100 cents in $1. Tap any coin or note to make it jump! 👇 By the end you will be a money master — counting coins and giving the right change. Let's go! 🚀
What is each one worth?

🔍 Know Your Money Each coin and note has its own value. Tap each card to flip it and reveal how much it is worth. Tip: the bigger coin is not always worth more — the 50¢ is big, but $1 is worth twice as much!
Add the coins up

🐷 Fill the Piggy Bank Tap coins to drop them in. Make exactly 90¢. Total: 0¢ ↺ Empty bank
Notes and coins together

🧾 Bigger Amounts When we have more money, we use notes too. Count notes first, then add the coins. $5 + $2 + 50¢ + 20¢ = $7.70 Read it as “seven dollars and seventy cents” → written $7.70. Tap below: which is more?
What is 'change'?

🔁 What is Change? When you pay more than the price, the cashier gives back the extra. That extra money is called change. You pay − Price = Change $5.00 − $3.00 = $2.00 🍞 $3 → pay 💵$5 → get back 🪙$2 Change is just subtraction. Let's practise!
Give the right change

🛒 Be the Cashier A toy costs $4.00. The child pays with a $5 note. How much change? Pick the correct change: Try another →
The count-up trick

🪜 The Count-Up Trick Smart cashiers count up from the price to the money paid. Price $7, paid $10. Tap Count up to climb from $7 to $10, one dollar at a time. Change so far: $0 ⬆ Count up ↺ Reset
You did it!

🎉 You're a Money Master! 🏆 🪙 💵 ⭐ Here's what you learned: $1 = 100¢. Dollars and cents make up our money. Count coins by adding their values together. Count notes first, then add the coins. Change = money paid − price (just subtraction!). Use the count-up trick to find change quickly. Keep practising at the shop with your family. Well done! 👏

Frequently asked questions

How many cents are in a dollar in Singapore?: There are 100 cents in 1 dollar. So 50¢ is half a dollar, and 100¢ is the same as $1.00.
What coins and notes do we use in Singapore?: Singapore coins are 5¢, 10¢, 20¢, 50¢ and $1. Common notes are $2, $5, $10 and larger. A bigger coin is not always worth more — for example, the 20¢ coin is larger than the $1 coin.
What does 'change' mean when buying something?: Change is the money the cashier gives back when you pay more than the price. If a toy costs $4 and you pay with a $5 note, your change is $1, because $5 − $4 = $1.
What is the count-up trick for making change?: Instead of subtracting, you start at the price and count up to the amount paid. For a $7 item paid with $10, count up $7 → $8 → $9 → $10, which is 3 steps, so the change is $3.
How do you count money that has both notes and coins?: Count the notes first because they are worth more, then add the coins. For example, $5 + $2 + 50¢ + 20¢ comes to $7.70, read as "seven dollars and seventy cents".

Counting Money and Making Change

What this Spark covers

Frequently asked questions

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