Hey Singapore, guess what? We're first at something again. For the second year running, we’ve topped the Economist Intelligence Unit's (EIU) Worldwide Cost of Living report. If you think Paris is costly, well, think again. The City of Lights is one rung below us, and even Tokyo and New York are far away at 11th and 22nd places, respectively. One more feather in the cap for SG50, eh?
Still, it's worth remembering that the EIU's bi-annual survey is intended to help multi-national companies plan compensation packages for expatriates and corporate jetsetters to keep up with the Joneses. So you can imagine that the survey’s perception of 'essential' items might be rather different from what the rest of us ordinary folks purchase. Think condominium rentals, gourmet groceries such as French wine and cheeses, and other atas pursuits.
What this really means is that Singapore can be straight up affordable: you just gotta know where to drop your dollars. And of course, we've got the deets here on where to shop, eat, drink and get artsy on the cheap.