Why Singapore’s Food Is So Cheap Compared to Other Cities - It’s Not What You Think!

[@ttlaqui]

I am sad to admit that system would never work in my own country, France.

[@explorewithkojo]

It won't work in my home country (Ghana) too unfortunately. Singapore’s model thrives on discipline and societal habits, which would be impossible to replicate where I come from. But who knows?

[@davidchang5862]

Not unless the government imposes imprisonment of 10 to 20 years for those who flout the rules

[@okaydoubleu]

You are one of the few who do mention the deeper reasons why things work a certain way in Singapore. It took decades for Singapore to reach the current level, and we still have a long way to go. Thank you for sharing and happy holidays!🎉

[@explorewithkojo]

Thank you so much for your kind words! I really wanted to highlight the deeper systems behind Singapore's success because it's such an incredible story of hard work and careful planning. You're absolutely right-it’s been decades in the making, and there’s always room to grow. Happy holidays to you too! 🎉😊

[@rosidahariff2365]

Another reason is its also difficult to employ young pple to clear trays. Those employed are also getting older. So everyone has to chip in.

[@explorewithkojo]

@@rosidahariff2365 I agree with you. I noticed that a significant percentage of the workers there were not in their youthful ages.

[@udllord]

the fine only happened 1year ago cos the law was introduced earlier last year before that we were in a dirty table galore.

[@lindc1070]

Singapore has always been ahead of other countries, since the 70s at least and food has always been cheap, good , safe to eat long before this new rule of clearing own tables

[@doodlemecrzy8075]

Rich or poor , many Singaporeans love our hawker culture. Food is part of our ambassadorship to the larger global community. All are welcome to enjoy if you follow the rules 😊

[@explorewithkojo]

Well said! Hawker culture truly is the heart and soul of Singapore, and it’s amazing how it brings people from all walks of life together over incredible food. I couldn’t agree more that it’s part of Singapore’s global identity. And honestly, any visitor who comes to Singapore without eating at a hawker centre is doing themselves a huge disservice. It’s more than just food-it’s an experience you can’t miss! 😊

[@jameslee9742]

Glad you enjoy yourself here, some people here ( from neighboring place ) will say hey their countries food is cheaper, i just want to say compare 1st world cities with another cities and not with a 3rd or 2nd world country lol. Singapore had cheaper food compare with New York, Pairs, London, Seoul even Hongkong if you say commoners food and not Restaurant .

[@explorewithkojo]

Thanks, James Lee, for sharing your thoughts! You make a great point. The fact that you can get affordable, quality food here as part of everyday life is truly something special. It's not about fancy restaurants, but about making good food accessible to everyone. Appreciate the perspective!

[@user-fb7rf4kr5k]

Singapore welcomes you ❤

[@explorewithkojo]

Thank you so much! I’ve felt nothing but warmth and hospitality every time I visit Singapore ❤ It truly feels like a second home!

[@MakLim-w7c]

As a local I never thought it was keeping food prices down, I thought it was just courtesy 😂

[@rebeccafosuhene4703]

Singapore is an amazing place to live in

[@explorewithkojo]

Yes, it is. It is absolutely amazing.

[@sihanchen7552]

Amazing ONLY if you are rich.

[@Peter-pe6pp]

​@@sihanchen7552most locals can afford to live there though life may not be luxurious

[@RyuUzu-pg1uy]

​@@sihanchen7552you don't stay in Singapore because you are rich. You make yourself rich because you want to stay in Singapore. Rich people can decide to go to Singapore or any other country of their choice because they or their family have worked both smart and hard so they have the right to.

[@HolyEnchanta]

It's been 3 years since the "clear your own table" rule. However, the charges imposed on stallholders for utensils collection and washing has shot up instead of going down.

[@explorewithkojo]

It’s surprising to hear that but I also want to believe it’s possible that the government was heavily subsidizing this initially and maybe those subsidies have been reduced over time. Whatever the case is, it is a fantastic strategy for us the diners to assist in reducing operational costs by clearing our tables since we’re getting cheaper-or rather, very affordable-quality food. I was honestly amazed by how fantastically good the meals at these hawker centers are for the prices they are being sold at. Simply amazing.

[@HolyEnchanta]

@@explorewithkojo The only subsidies are rent, and they only apply for first-generation hawkers and their descendants (where ever applicable). The reason why hawkers can thrive even when their food is "priced low" is because raw ingredients prices are very low. Popular hawkers can easily sell 400-500 servings a day. They can afford to drive continental cars (in a country where car prices are the highest in the world), and have multiple properties Imagine a first-generation hawker paying USD100 in monthly rent (instead of 2k-4k), and selling 400 servings at $4/servings. That's 1.6k daily revenue. Operating profit is typically around 50-60%. That's about $850/day, 21k/month assuming 25 work days a month. Then we deduct the overheads. 1k for utilities, 1k for dish collection, 6k for 2 helpers. That's a neat 10-13k/month

[@explorewithkojo]

@@HolyEnchanta Wow, I’m honestly so surprised and impressed by this breakdown-thank you for sharing! The figures you’ve shared really blew my mind. Selling 400-500 servings a day at $4 each, bringing in $1,600 daily revenue, and maintaining an operating profit of 50-60%-that’s incredible! The fact that popular hawkers can pull in $850 a day, or around $21K a month, is something I never expected from stalls selling such affordable food. What really caught my attention, though, is how the overheads break down. Rent as low as $100 for first-generation hawkers? That’s a game-changer compared to $2K-$4K rents in other businesses. Even after deducting $6K for helpers, $1K for utilities, and $1K for dish collection, they’re still walking away with $10K-$13K a month. That’s an impressive income for what many might assume is a simple food stall operation. That said, I’m curious about how sustainable this is in the long term, especially with rising costs. And how exactly are raw ingredient prices kept so low? These figures are eye-opening and really highlight how well-structured the hawker system is. Thanks again for sharing this-it’s given me so much to think about!

[@HolyEnchanta]

@@explorewithkojo We actually experienced the fastest increase in food prices in recent years. Pre-2020 (before pandemic and the Russian-Ukrainian war), we had a decent number of hawkers selling their dishes for USD2-2.50/serving. Imagine going from USD2.50 to USD3.50 in 5 years (40% increase!). Food ingredients are cheap because we import our meat and vegetables mainly from our less well off neighbours

[@sfmaslfkasl]

@@explorewithkojo yes lots of tycoon hawkers exist but for context it has to be mentioned that competition is really heavy so a ton of failed hawkers or hawkers just barely getting by exist too, especially with increasing rental prices and daily cost of living increases. i know i'm not contributing any answers to the conversation but I don't think raw food ingredient imports is the reason AT ALL btw because grocery shopping is still very expensive even in government-affiliated supermarkets like Singapore - transport costs and import tariffs are insane. I think the cheap street food/hawker culture has simply taken root in Singapore permanently since coolie labourer times (when 90% of the population - an immigrant population -worked as dirt poor physical labourers).

[@CheeKiongYip-c3x]

The other benefits are keeping the food preparation hygienic and no dirtying the drains with waste food & dish washing water that will dirty our rivers.

[@lindc1070]

It isnt only Singapore. Cheap food is all over Asia. Also clearing your own table has nothing to do with it. Only in the past few years was this implemented but food has always been cheap. Food is cheap, good and safe to eat in food centres in Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia too. This can only work in countries with similar culture as Singapore. Citizens need the same mindset to cooperate

[@explorewithkojo]

I visited Kuala Lumpur recently and noticed how cheap the food was there compared to other places. However, I realized that for the locals, it wasn’t actually that cheap-it’s only affordable if you go there with a stronger currency.

[@lindc1070]

@explorewithkojo I agree food in Kuala Lumpur isnt cheap for locals. But in other cities/ towns in Malaysia it is much cheaper. Aldo there are Apps for food delivery that make ordering food much cheaper. I can get Nasi goreng( fried rice) in Johor Bahru for 5 Ringgit. Rice with egg, veg and chicken or pork.

[@Peter-pe6pp]

​@@explorewithkojoI wonder where you ate as a foreigner. Did you eat in food halls in malls? If so , that isnt a good way to bench mark what locals pay. For daily food , cheap options would be warungs( roadside stalls) and pasar malams) also local coffee shops. Foreigners would have language problems . But these places sell the best and cheapest food.Probably half the price of mall food courts. Look up a KZbin short video 2 Ringgit Mixed Rice in KL. There are shops selling meals as low as 2 to 5 Ringgit. Locals know where these places are. Many office workers buy and pack from near their homes to avoid paying CBD prices.

[@keeyanho]

Thank you for your video. It's one of the very few I've watched till the rnd, AND posted a comment. You explain everything that many take for granted including negative calls. Hope you enjoyed your stay in SG and do re-visit.

[@Spyduck]

While the issue about prices is unfortunately not in a favourable outcome, the tray clearing helps with the systemic turnover of tables, and indirectly increase a bit of hawker income. As we know, the cleaners are mainly senior citizen folk, who surely aren't the most agile or dextrous at their age. They can only do so much. Clearing the trays, though still not perfect, help ensure that a degree of cleanliness can be expected for the next diner and this speeds up the turnover of tables for the next batch to settle down. You could say that takeaway is an option, but remember that not everyone entertains the idea of takeaway, especially in business/industrial/office districts where colleagues typically eat in and would rather not take food back. So a readily available and hopefully clean table, will bring in potential diners instead of turning them away. More potential diners, more income at the very least. That I think, is the greater aspect of table clearing, and I myself appreciate the cleaner state of my own local hawker centre after Covid, when this action/law became mandatory enough.

[@explorewithkojo]

I agree. When we clear our trays at hawker centers, this not only supports the elderly cleaners but also improves table turnover and cleanliness, creating a better dining experience for everyone. Fantastic!

[@bensgoodeats1493]

Before they had this clear the table law , food price at hawker centre was also $4 to $5. Go to South Korea and see how more advanced they are from food returning trays to washing

[@explorewithkojo]

I agree that prices have remained within that range, but the fines for not clearing tables have likely helped reduce operational costs. This ensures the prices stay low in a sustainable way, benefiting both diners and hawker stall owners in the long run (:

[@bensgoodeats1493]

@ operational cost reduced due to less workers clearing the tables probably is negligible. Singapore must learn more from South Korea how hawker centre should be designed to be more efficient. Only a few hawker centres follow the Korean concept a bit like Punggol north .

[@viralloger267]

Actually not true. Rental still keep rising and some hawker stall force to close down. They need to keep price low if not customer would run away. But rental keep rising

[@explorewithkojo]

Thanks for sharing your insight! I truly hope the operators of these hawker centers can come up with even more effective strategies to cut costs for the stall owners so that food prices can remain sustainably low for the long term. That’s exactly why I think initiatives like having diners clear their own tables are a great idea-it’s a small effort that could contribute to keeping costs down and supporting these iconic food hubs.

[@viralloger267]

@explorewithkojo u dont live in sg enough to understand how sg works. Clear table or pay fine is to help the coffee shop owner save cost and not help the hawkers stall. Food prices has been rising lately. Forcing hawkers to close down. U can do a research on alot of hawkers close down

[@paulrumohr]

I’m sure there are some cost savings, but there still must be enormous cost loading and unloading the dish washing machines and getting the clean dishes and utensils distributed back to the hawker stalls.

[@explorewithkojo]

You're absolutely right, Paul! Cutting down costs significantly is crucial to maintaining the low food prices at hawker centers. I believe the managers of these centers are constantly thinking of creative ways to streamline operations and reduce expenses, in addition to initiatives like having diners clear their own tables.

[@SuccessforLifester]

Actually your theory may not be so. The clear table law came into play I think in 2022. The food prices were already low before that. Prices have been rising, especially after the Covid. I think there is something going on where business people are pushing up the prices

[@explorewithkojo]

@@SuccessforLifester Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I completely agree with you that food prices were already low before the clear table law came into play, and it’s likely that other factors, like rising costs post-COVID, are pushing prices up. However, I think it’s also worth noting that having customers clear their own tables automatically reduces operational costs for hawker centres. This helps to keep food prices lower, even if other factors are at play. I’ve been to many major cities across Europe and Asia, including Berlin, Geneva, and Dubai, and I have to say, food in Singapore isn’t just richer in quality-it’s also significantly more affordable than in those places. I also believe the Singapore government plays a role in maintaining these affordable prices through subsidies, which further supports the hawker culture. It’s such a well-thought-out system, but like you said, there’s definitely more going on behind the scenes!

[@noorirwan686]

​@@explorewithkojoyup the law of clearing was recently implemented 2-3years ago.. before the prices were still around $5 per meal too. Its the rent, the rent are around 3-5x cheaper in hawkers because its non AC n many food stalls under one building.. But in europe there are non AC street food too selling $10-20 meals.. its their tradition or custom maybe food must cost that much even streetfood? 😅

[@RyuUzu-pg1uy]

​@@noorirwan686I'm temporarily living in France and can't wait to leave this country. There is NO AC in many restaurants (or the restaurants do not turn their AC on), except fine dining restaurants where you could dine at easily €150 to €500 per pax. For normal cheap restaurants around €30 to €70 per pax including alcohol and dessert (to us it is still a whopping SGD 100 to SGD 200 per couple) that I go to, there was NO AC and everyone was so hot we are literally dripping in sweat in the summer heat, they were completely unbearable experiences where we need to pay the owner to make us suffer, so we didn't bother to go back during summer. One restaurant definitely had AC, the owner turned it on for around 5 minutes then turned it off again, letting all the customers suffer. Here customer's comfort is not prioritised even though we personally can easily spend SGD 200 per visit, so we just don't go back. Even after summer is over, we find ourselves patronising these restaurants a lot less often, knowing how awful the owners are, if they don't care about us, we don't want to give them business. In France, many people do not approve of AC. Here AC is not only a luxury, people really are ok to suffer without AC, they can have heat stroke and deaths and they don't even have desire for AC. It is very difficult to understand this country. The death rate from heat strokes in the last year tripled if I remember correctly over the previous year, so it is likely to continue to get much worse every year going forward, yet French are not even rushing or have the desire or starting to initiate any long term plan to install/ use AC, even though the death rates will continue to increase due to rising temperatures in summer in future years. My forecast is that death rates increase by at least 2000% over the next 10 years and 20000% over the next 30 years, and heat injuries which could lead to permanent disabilities increase by much more, e.g. heat stroke that doesn't cause death cause stroke or heart attack but the person is saved in time. But French really don't care to take care of and protect themselves. Asians really value our lives and at least some comfort is closer to a basic necessity for us, but French and Caucasians in general do not really value or treasure their body, health and lives.

[@marketgarden8910]

Wages for hawker workers are also very low. Also cleaning ones plates only started in 2020 during Covid.

[@explorewithkojo]

Thanks for sharing this insight! I honestly didn’t know about the low pay hawker workers receive, and as you said, it’s another factor that helps keep food prices at hawker centers low. It really gives me a deeper appreciation for the effort and sacrifices that go into maintaining this system.

[@marketgarden8910]

@@explorewithkojo yup most are foreigners and the Singaporeans working in Hawking are paid below liveable wages.😊. A more accurate gage on hawker food with regards to PPP is Malaysia, has better hawker food than SG, it is really cheap for Singaporeans to eatvin Malaysian hawkers but if you are Malaysian earning in Ringgits, the food is actually rather pricy. 🙃

[@lindc1070]

But hawkers make a lot of money. They arent poor. The workers get paid low but thr bosses run successful businesses

[@CraigStGeorge]

Also as the rent is from the government some stalls get cheaper rent if they offer some food at or below a certain price

[@DaveeeDavee]

Food being affordable has nothing to do with us cleaning our own plates. Infact prices has risen a little since this rule has been implemented. I dare say that not a single hawker vendor in the entire singapore had lower the price of their food even by a few cents since day 1 when this rule was implemented. Some people may think not having cleaners will result in lower rental which also result in lower food pricing but that was not the case because prices has always been affordable(excluding inflation) regardless whether the cleaners being there or not. And yes you may be right that hawker centres might have operational costs lowered but who owes the hawker centre? Not us and definitely not the vendors. At this point i have gotten used to doing it so it's kind of whatever but think about this, how many hawkers are there in Singapore? How many cleaners are there in each one? How many people could have possibility lost their jobs over this one rule? Maybe they got referred to another job? maybe they're still there? we don't know but the matter of fact is that those jobs used to be there is no longer there for people that might actually need them.

[@erth2877]

As a singaporean myself, Singapore is a fine city.

[@explorewithkojo]

SG is indeed a very fine city (:

[@SuzieSimSG]

The other reason is consideration to leave the table clean and empty for the next diners. Save time especially for office workers on an hour lunch break.

[@explorewithkojo]

That’s such a great point I hadn’t thought about how clearing the table quickly can be a huge help, especially for office workers on tight lunch breaks. It makes so much sense to keep things moving smoothly for everyone, and it’s also just considerate for the next diners.

[@WeAretheWorld89]

Try mee hoon or kuey teoe fish balls soup $2.80, Mixed vege rice or porridge $3.50 etc. Chose your food. Give you same protein and vege for less than $5 a meals inclue a cup of tea or coffee.. 1 day about $15 - 20. 1 month $600. . No cigarette, beer or lottery and you will live comfortably.

[@tkyap2524]

Yes, this country is a 'fined' city. But it works somewhat. This is an informative vlog. Cheers, man.

[@explorewithkojo]

Thanks so much for watching and for the kind words! 😊 Singapore may be a ‘fined’ city, but it’s amazing how well it works to keep everything in order. Glad you found the vlog informative-cheers, man!

[@Peter-pe6pp]

Have you been to Thailand? Their street food is even cheaper and better. Generally in most of SE Asia you get good, cheap food. But not everywhere is it safe to eat. In Indonesia one has to be careful. Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam are ok.

[@Eugene_es_nk]

clear your own plates initiative campaign started in 2018 in the 90s' Singapore having cleaning staff to clear the plates/ utensils and clean the tables unlike Japanese they are taught to clear their plates / utensils from young age

[@sj2642]

It was great catching up with you yesterday, Kojo! Hope you enjoyed the yummy local foods at Maxwell! Next stop: East Coast Lagoon 🎉

[@explorewithkojo]

Thanks so much! It was awesome catching up with you too! The food at Maxwell was amazing - you definitely know the good spots. East Coast Lagoon sounds like a fantastic idea for the next stop! 🎉

[@limsiewyew6164]

Sorry to say, our hawker centre foods since from the start been cheap like $2 a chicken rice in the 90s. It not that the food is cheap is because we return the tray ourselves which this rules just start during covid times. The big main reason why now our hawker centre food price are increasing is more due to rental of the stall where the landlord keep increasing a lot without any restrictions. 1 pc of chicken wing used to be $1. Then slowly increase $1.10 to 1.20. Now 1 pc chicken wing cost $1.80. Some bbq chicken wing stalls are quite greedy. Last time early 2000s 1 bbq stingray big size is $15. Now is $21 to $26 ( Shocking). Lucky chicken rice n fishball noodles didn't increase that much. Currently is $4. In the 90s used to be $2.

[@explorewithkojo]

Thanks for sharing this perspective! It’s really interesting to hear about how food prices have changed over time, and the impact of rising rents on hawker stalls. That said, I’m a bit confused because another Singaporean commenter mentioned that the stalls are actually rented directly from the government at subsidized prices. Do you think the subsidies only apply to certain stalls or first-generation hawkers? It would be great to understand this better because rent definitely seems like a key factor in keeping prices low-or causing them to rise. Thanks for shedding light on this!

[@nvdrzym]

There's actually a bidding system. If no other vendor bids for that stall. Rent can go as low as $1 per month.

[@explorewithkojo]

@@nvdrzym wow! I never knew! It makes more sense now. Thanks.

[@chantalmonique2353]

It’s also not about rental, the price where they gets their ingredients from are also increasing as well. My dad used to owned a HK roasted stall years ago and he mentioned about how the chicken, ducks, pork and even the seasonings that he uses had been increasing prices over the years. He used to also only sell it at $2 but had no choice but to increasing the price to $3.50. Luckily all his regulars are understanding and still supports his stall until he retires

[@BHKG8818]

Well, technically he’s not wrong for the current low price because we have to clear our own trays. Sure, clearing your own tray started during Covid period. But if this wasn’t implemented, food at hawker would definitely increase. The hawkers would need to hire cleaners and that in turn, would force the vendors to increase the price of the food and customers would take the hit. But yeah, food at hawker has always been affordable and most importantly, delicious. I’d eat hawker food over restaurant or fine dining food all day everyday

[@hipposamadesu]

It's difficult to duplicate Singapore way of managing things. The root reason is the need to have discipline. Any countries can implement laws but they are as good as nothing when people don't have the discipline to follow it. When too many people broke the laws, the system will be overwhelmed like what's happening in the US where looters are simply ignored by the system. Singapore has a unique way of instilling discipline in the citizens, there is this mandatory National Service for every eligible males reaching 18.

[@explorewithkojo]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts with me. And you are right about Singaporeans. I completely agree laws alone don’t work without discipline. The first time I came to Singapore, I was honestly amazed at how exceptionally disciplined people were. It’s clear that this discipline plays a huge role in making systems like hawker centres so successful here. The mandatory National Service you mentioned is a great example of how Singapore instills discipline and responsibility early on.

[@lioncity-k2o]

True

[@vincentwong4718]

It’s hard to say whether the clearing of trays will work for other countries. For many years, the Singapore government encouraged the locals to clear their trays voluntarily but it didn’t work out. Children in schools were taught that it is a socially responsible behavior to clear trays but with the older generation not setting an example, it didn’t work out either. One of the reasons given was if we clear the trays, then we might put the workers who clear trays out of their jobs. Just like the other socially irresponsible behaviors such as littering, splitting, not flushing the toilet etc, it takes fines to nudge Singaporeans to change their behavior and remind us that we are a “fine” city! 😂

[@explorewithkojo]

Thanks, Vincent, for sharing such a detailed perspective! I find it fascinating seeing how much effort was put into encouraging the clearing of trays in Singapore, from educating children to eventually implementing fines. That being said, I agree-it’s hard to imagine this working in other countries. For example, in my home country, Ghana, this kind of system would probably never work. The idea of clearing trays might not resonate culturally, and there would likely be resistance to the concept, especially without enforcement like fines. It’s inspiring how SG has managed to implement such systems and turn them into a part of daily life!

[@RahimRahmat]

You got it right again! Yep.

[@explorewithkojo]

Thank you so much, Rahim.

[@kentang1528]

If you think that is cheap , in the past 10 years and before , the prices were even cheaper in the hawker centers and coffee shops

[@explorewithkojo]

Wow! That's even more amazing! I really love the whole hawker center model and the fact that everyone (regardless of who you are or where you come from) can get very good and quality food for such affordable prices.

[@BrianPatrick-s6b]

Of course our diet is different...but good for viewers what a plate of chicken rice equivalent cost, fish plus rice in your home country?😊

[@explorewithkojo]

Great point, Brian! In my home country of Ghana, an equivalent meal like chicken and rice with fish would actually cost significantly more. For example, a plate of chicken rice that costs around 4.5 Singaporean dollars in Singapore might cost around 80 Ghana cedis for the same quality in Ghana. But here’s the catch-the average Ghanaian worker doesn’t even earn up to 2,000 Ghana cedis a month. So, while it might seem extremely cheap to a foreigner with a stronger currency, it’s actually very expensive for locals when you factor in their income levels. This really highlights how affordability is relative to the local economy and earning power!

[@Worldly876]

That's pretty much the norm in the USA both at food courts in shopping malls and at fast casual and fast food restaurants. You clear your own table.

[@zanaros2606]

The average hawkers don't earn much at all and has very long working hours, probably only 50 cents to $1 per bowl sold, and a huge part of the profits goes to the rental. Some months you earn around 2-3k, some months even at a loss. That's why the food is so cheap for the common people...but at some expense of the hawkers. Only the very popular hawker stalls earn a lot. So the average hawkers here are kind of like 1st world country slaves, lol.

[@___Danny___]

Main reason is the stall owner are renting the stall directly from the owner which is our government.

[@explorewithkojo]

Hi Danny, I agree with you-renting the stalls directly from the government (which I had no idea about) is definitely a crucial factor in keeping food prices at hawker centres so affordable. The system just makes so much sense! I still remember the first time I visited a hawker centre-I was absolutely blown away by how ridiculously low the food prices were. I couldn’t believe you could get such rich, high-quality meals for just a few dollars. It’s honestly one of the most impressive things about Singapore’s food culture. The affordability and quality together are unmatched!

[@Coz131]

The cost of hiring someone to pick up plates are miniscule compared to the cost overall. The reason why food is cheap is because the rent is subsidized by the government and Singapore buys most foods from neighbouring counties and their currency is very strong. Culturally people also expect food at hawker centre to be cheap. Many shops get backlash for raising prices.

[@japonesque]

try working in sg then say... every where you go is the same. its always cheaper as a tourist but never when you start working here for a few years..

[@explorewithkojo]

Hi Japonesque, you’ve got a good point there! I get that it’s a whole different story when you’re actually living and working somewhere compared to just visiting as a tourist. Things can definitely feel a lot less “affordable” once you’re earning and spending in the local currency. That being said, I’ve been to places like Dubai and Geneva in Switzerland, and I noticed that food of the same quality there costs significantly more than in SG. So, in comparison to cities of a similar caliber, Singapore still feels more reasonable. Appreciate you sharing your perspective. It’s always interesting to hear how things feel for people actually living it day-to-day! 😊

[@BenjaminElijah-yq2wx]

And subsidised rent.. We can bid for a lot lower rent than the market rate. 😉

[@kokboontan3895]

👍👍👍👏👏👏

[@sihanchen7552]

That is because everything else is priced excessively expensive there. People there are taxed outrageously high in other aspects, and the government there knows that you had to at least allow people to afford food, if not they will revolt.

[@explorewithkojo]

I actually never thought of it that way. Thanks for shedding more light on this topic.

[@sihanchen7552]

@@explorewithkojo I am an ex-Singaporean, and I have to tell you, Singapore is the modern day Potemkin village. Everything is painted rosy and gleamy to portray a fake rosy image for foreigners to see. Case in point, when Prince William and his wife visited Singapore some years back, they got old folks to practise Taichi, children playing at an area they were visiting, which is usually quiet and deserted, to put up a fake narrative to the royal couple. The locals even have a term for this phenomenon, they call it Wayang.

[@deebusoh9023]

$4 yes but a little bit..

[@JH-kv8mt]

Not really.

[@hipposamadesu]

That $300 fine is worth 60 to 70 servings of chicken rice ☺️

[@explorewithkojo]

That’s some expensive chicken rice math! 😅 Better clear that tray before it costs a whole buffet!

[@rockmanxvenus2581]

Try India. 😅

[@explorewithkojo]

I actually plan visiting India in 2024. Really looking forward to that (:

[@kelvgan]

Don't say cheap. Say affordable

[@explorewithkojo]

Good point-'affordable' definitely sounds better! Thanks for the suggestion!

[@alvinandzin1982]

Don't say cheap.

[@explorewithkojo]

* Affordable (:

[@corgansow6173]

You've never been to Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand don't you?

[@explorewithkojo]

Actually, I was in Kuala Lumpur earlier this year, and I noticed that food there is indeed quite affordable. However, when I mentioned Singapore being relatively cheaper, I was comparing it to other cities of its caliber, like Dubai, Geneva, or London, where food tends to be extremely expensive. It's also worth noting that while food in KL might seem cheap if you're holding a stronger currency like the dollar, it's not necessarily as affordable for locals.

[@Lu5ck]

Definitely cheaper than amercia.

[@explorewithkojo]

@Lu5ck Absolutely, and what surprises me the most is that Singapore is often called the world’s most expensive city, yet it has some of the cheapest-or most affordable-meals anywhere. For example, I recently traveled to Geneva in Switzerland and was completely stunned by the cost of eating out. Food of the same quality that you can get for about $4 at a hawker center in Singapore would easily cost at least two times that in Geneva or Dubai. These hawker centers are beyond helpful to the ordinary person visiting or living in SG.

[@RonLarhz]

This is a pretty recent thing.

[@explorewithkojo]

Wow, I’m honestly surprised to learn that these fines were only introduced recently-I would’ve thought they’d been around for a long time! That said, I still believe that having diners participate in clearing their tables significantly helps cut down on operational costs. This small act makes a huge difference in creating a sustainable way to keep hawker centre food prices affordable for everyone. It’s such a smart system that balances efficiency with affordability!

[@RonLarhz]

@@explorewithkojo As a local, it doesn't make sense how in school we are expected to return utensils but outside, people just make a mess. So this policy comes in time of declining manpower. Now hawkers feel cleaner.

[@landebadalge2641]

What.? We locals want it to be cheaper.!

[@explorewithkojo]

The cheaper the better. But so far so fantastic (: