My Cantaloupe is More Expensive Than Yours

Singapore, the Lion City, has been named the Most Expensive City according to the Economist Intelligence Unit. Don’t take their word for it. Here’s a picture of a cantaloupe I snapped a few hours ago at the grocery store:  

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As tasty as this fruit appears, I can buy a round-trip ticket to a nearby destination for that price! (SG$129 is the equivalent of $102 USD.)

Having lived in Bangkok years ago, I was accustomed to Southeast Asia as being a destination where my dollar went a long way. But since being based in Singapore over the past few weeks, I have paid $7 for Ginger ale, $6.90 for a tall hot chocolate at Starbucks, and $25 now seems somewhat normal for a cocktail.

The prices here in Singapore were shocking at first. I’ve even had Europeans tell me this country is expensive – and usually, Europe is one of the most expensive places to live and visit!

Being a country that exports almost everything, the cost of living here should not be surprising. Of course, I’m always on the lookout for a good deal so it makes living here interesting.

I did pay $2.30 the other day for a bowl of Fish Ball Soup and $3 for a fresh coconut at a hawker stand – so those finds make it fun.