A lot of Malaysians have chosen to work in Singapore to secure better livelihoods and support their families. But is it really true that living and working in Singapore is cheaper compared to Malaysia?
Photo via Facebook Group (Complaint Singapore - Nizam Nizam)
This question sparked debate when a Malaysian man, Nizam Nizam, shared his experience in the Complaint Singapore Facebook group. Now working in Singapore, Nizam revealed that he finds life in the neighbouring country much more affordable than in Kuala Lumpur.
“When I was living in KL, with a local’s spending power, I often spent RM30 to RM60 for meals and snacks every time I went out. Even at a cheap eatery, it cost me RM12 for chicken rice,” he wrote.
He compared this to his current situation in Singapore, where he earns in Singapore dollars. “Now, I’ve come to Singapore and am earning (their) local money. Everything in Singapore is really cheap, cheap, cheap. Fast food, hawker centres, and restaurants are all affordable with (their) local spending power,” he added.
Nizam also mentioned feeling puzzled when his Singaporean colleagues complain about rising costs. “I cringe when my [Singaporean] colleagues complain that GST has gone up and everything is ‘expensive.’”
Photo via Wise
He went on to argue that, apart from cars, many aspects of life in Singapore are reasonably priced, especially when earning in the local currency. “Only cars here are expensive. I would argue that, as long as you meet the requirements, housing is cheap despite it being a shoebox. Travel a little bit and you will see that your government has done a great job in keeping costs affordable for middle-income families. It’s not easy to do that for Singapore,” he explained.
Nizam’s perspective highlights the significant impact of earning in a stronger currency, but it also raises questions about cost-of-living perceptions in different countries.
What do you guys think? Is life in Singapore really cheaper when you factor in the local earning power, or does the grass just seem greener on the other side?
