'One meal a day': Chinese tourists slam Singapore's high costs
Story by Hoang Vu
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Tourists walk past Marina Bay in Singapore
A debate erupted on social media after many Chinese tourists complained about high cost of living in Singapore and even claimed they only eat one meal a day to save costs.
On Chinese social media platforms such as RedNote and Weibo, netizens share stories of expensive prices in Singapore such as 4 yuan (US$0.56) for a plastic cup of lime tea, 15 yuan for a bottle of water, 50 yuan for a sandwich and 3,000 yuan for a meal for two at a seafood restaurant.
"Singapore was so expensive that I lose 3 kg in three days. I only had one meal a day and it was the free hotel breakfast, and I drank water only when I returned to the hotel," a netizen wrote in a post on Weibo.
Some tourists were also shocked that a 10-minute taxi ride in Singapore can cost over 100 yuan, compared to less than 20 yuan for the same trip back home.
Robin Loh, founder of tour operator Let’s Go Tour Singapore, said the lower cost of living in neighbouring countries may have increased the perception of Singapore as an expensive place, the
South China Morning Post reported.
"The value of the Singapore dollar has also increased by 6-7% against the yuan since the start of 2023, which has further widened the cost differential for Chinese tourists," said Jester Koh, economist at United Overseas Bank (UOB).
According to the Global Wealth & Lifestyle Report 2025, Singapore has once again claimed the title of the world's most expensive city.
According to Numbeo, the world's largest database of user-contributed data about cities and countries worldwide, the average single person's estimated monthly expenses in Singapore are S$1,506 (US$1,121).
Some netizens commented that Singapore is too expensive, preferring other Asian countries like Malaysia and Vietnam, which offer more to see and better value.
However, others defended the city-state, saying Singapore looks like a paradise with low crime rate, strict laws, high sense of civilization and clean environment.
"Paradise has a price, no cheap in this world," a netizen wrote.
"Singapore is not meant for the poor. If you ain't have the moola, then perhaps visit the cheaper alternatives around Singapore would be an ideal choice," another wrote.
"Try take a taxi in Europe or U.S. You will find Singapore's taxi is rather cheap," another wrote.
Singapore received 12.8 million foreign tourists in the first nine months this year, including 2.5 million from China.
