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).
