do you really think food is expensive in singapore?

If go right store, only $2.50 can get a decent meal. Buy raw material and choose right ingredients can be quite cheap. Just dun go to those cut throat areas. What do you think?

[globalcookie]

Meals in Singapore isn't very expensive as compared to many countries. Let me compare Singapore and Malaysia (city area).

Similar job (eg admin)
Sg : $1.5k/mth
MY : RM1.5k/mth

Average meal (rice w 3 dishes and a drink)
Sg : $4-5
MY : RM6-8

Daily necessities mostly higher. Petrol (RON95) cheaper than Singapore by a bit. Cost of electronic appliances a lot more expensive.

However, cost of entry level housing is a lot cheaper.
SG : 3rm HDB flat, approx S$300k (don't take e higher priced ones)
MY (JB) : Single storey terrace w 2br, approx RM150-200k

The possible reason why pple said Singapore is a lot more expensive, is because of the exchange rate. But we have to also be realistic, take income in the same country and living expense into consideration, take out exchange rate.

Funny thing is.... I heard from a M'sian friend, his friend earns RM2k/mth and can afford a double storey terrace. A good handful of M'sian families are earning about RM3k/mth and able to have 2 or more kids.

[aroc719]

Originally Posted by globalcookie

Meals in Singapore isn't very expensive as compared to many countries. Let me compare Singapore and Malaysia (city area).

Similar job (eg admin)
Sg : $1.5k/mth
MY : RM1.5k/mth

Average meal (rice w 3 dishes and a drink)
Sg : $4-5
MY : RM6-8

Hehehehe... so, u think most ppl go Msia only??

I think for the places i travel to, food is definitely more ex lah. Besides Msia lah, i.e.

Housing and rental very exp I think. Food price must control, cos hunger can have bad consequences.

[denser]

also depend where u stay, my place here dun have hawker center, all food i paid extra compare to some area

[AlvinLeong]

Rental a killer in Singapore..... just way way to high for a hawker stall in market and those in food court. Now coffeeshops are bidding at sky high prices....and more and more PRC are bidding for stalls as well...

I think hawker stall sale transaction is very not transparent. Government should fix this quickly.

[Beerman]

Normal hawker center prices should be ok (cheap).

[stargazer]

If you talking about normal hawker fare, no, SG is not ex compared to other 1st world countries.

I think the problem here is expensive properties prices, which causes people to stress and becos of this properties, people are fearful of loss of jobs (to FTs).

It is a vicious cycle.

[globalcookie]

Originally Posted by aroc719

Hehehehe... so, u think most ppl go Msia only??

I think for the places i travel to, food is definitely more ex lah. Besides Msia lah, i.e.

Big bro big, i no travel much like u... so i can only illustrate M'sia.

But than, reason for using M'sia for comparison is b'cos it's so near us, more easier for us to compare.

Whichever country we compare with, we take the earning power against the cost of living to be realistic. Cannot compare Sing Dollar earning power against 3rd world, else we can live like a king there liao.

Originally Posted by stargazer

If you talking about normal hawker fare, no, SG is not ex compared to other 1st world countries.

Like my colleg compared, Sg against Australia. His illustration is, an average meal should cost you 1 hour salary.

In Australia, an average hourly pay is maybe... A$15/hr while here in Sg is about S$5/hr. A meal in Australia could be about A$15 while it's about S$5 here.