Singapore is well-known for a lot of things, and one of these is its high cost of living. In 2018, the city-state bagged the world record for being the most expensive city to buy a car. Then, in 2022, it tied with New York at the top of the list of cities where rent has skyrocketed the most.
The fact that Singapore is one of the most expensive places to live in is not lost on its people. To keep up with the still-rising cost of living in the country, many locals are re-evaluating their budgets and the factors that affect their purchasing decisions. It’s a good start, and doing so will make you a more informed consumer with a greater level of control over your finances.
Aside from that, you can also opt to omit the following items from your to-buy list and save yourself from spending money on things that you don’t really need in Singapore.
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A Mobile Plan When You Have a Perfectly Working Phone
Singapore has a tech-savvy population, a high mobile penetration rate, and an affluent consumer market. At the same time, the city’s strategic location makes it an ideal place to include in a company’s distribution network to other countries in Asia.
It’s no surprise, then, that smartphone brands make every effort to bring their latest products to the local market. If you’re looking for a place where you can buy the latest smartphones, you won’t go wrong here.
If you’re keeping your expenses down, though, it’s a good idea to keep your current smartphone with you until it actually needs replacing. If your phone is still working as it should but you need more data or a better mobile plan, then it’s recommended that you check out replacement SIMs instead.
You can use a metasearch engine to look for the best SIM only plan Singapore carriers have to offer. By going this route, you can improve the level of service you can access without necessarily shelling out money to replace your phone.
Fine Dining Experiences When There Are Affordable Options Nearby
Singapore has a lot of Michelin-starred restaurants—52 to date, and 1 is even a street food outlet. Also, many people living in the city enjoy eating out and exploring the vibrant food scene around them.
However, you don’t have to spend a lot of money or travel far to eat good food. Even the hawker centres and food courts in the city offer authentic culinary options.
If you don’t feel like cooking, opt to look for affordable yet healthy and delicious food from these budget-friendly places near you. You can save more money if you choose to reserve the pricier and fancier food options for special occasions.
A Water Purification System for Your Drinking Water at Home
There are households in Singapore that continue to use and maintain personal water purification systems. It’s worth noting that this is not necessary.
Singapore has strict water safety regulations and employs rigorous water treatment and monitoring processes to ensure the safety of the tap water supplied to its people. The water from Singapore’s taps also meets the international standards set by the World Health Organization.
It’s safe to drink straight from the tap, and it’s also safe to drink from the public taps found around the city. If you want to spend less on beverages while on the go, bring a tumbler with you and fill it up when you find a filling station.
There are different reasons why people choose to filter water that is already deemed safe. Some like the quality and consistency of water that has passed through their personal filtering system, for example.
If you feel the same, then buying a water purification system might be of some benefit to you. However, if you’re perfectly fine with the taste and feel of water running from your taps, you can skip this expense.
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Humidifiers to Control Indoor Air Quality
Humidifiers have proven to be quite useful in improving indoor air quality in other places, especially during cold and dry seasons. Singapore, however, is a tropical country, and the humidity levels in the tropics typically hover between 60 and 90 per cent.
Using a humidifier, which increases the moisture in the air by releasing steam or water vapour, will not exactly alleviate the sticky feeling during warm and humid days.
In fact, adding moisture to the air can increase the heat and make you feel more uncomfortable. If you have an air conditioner, though, and you feel that it’s making the indoor air too dry, then that can be a practical reason for adding a humidifier to your list of home appliances.
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Over to You
There are plenty of factors that can affect a person’s cost of living. By choosing goods and services that suit your budget and needs and being more discriminating with how you spend your money, you’ll be able to keep your expenses down while living in one of the most expensive cities on earth.
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