TikToker @withtawakkul recently shared a 51-second video about paying S$4 (US$3.15) for a packet of Burger King fries and S$20 for a 10-minute Grab ride during his trip to Singapore, ranked the world’s second richest by GDP per capita by the Economist, after Switzerland.
“Send me home,” he says in the video, which was recorded near Our Tampines Hub.
He shows the area, which he describes as “pretty nice but not worth the price,” and notices a Mercedes-Benz at a traffic junction before the video ends, Singaporean news site Stomp reported.
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People gather next to the Merlion statue in front of the Marina Bay Sands resort in Singapore on Dec. 2, 2024. Photo by AFP |
The video has racked up more than 300,000 views and hundreds of comments, drawing mixed reactions from netizens.
Several netizens agreed that Singapore is expensive, while others criticized him for not researching the cost of living before visiting.
“People say Singapore all expensive but I love Singapore for me the price still I can manage because I’m hard working,” a user said.
“Do you do your research before coming? It’s one of the expensive cities,” another wrote.
A third commented: “Bring more money next time.”
Some netizens criticized tourists who visit Singapore expecting prices to be similar to those in neighboring Southeast Asian countries.
“I’m sick of tourists coming here thinking just because it’s Southeast Asia, it’s gonna be cheap,” one user said. “Don’t come to Singapore expecting Southeast Asian prices. Try comparing Singapore costs to New York, Paris, and London,” another wrote.
Singapore is the world’s most expensive city for luxury living and high-net-worth individuals for the fourth consecutive year, according to the Julius Baer Global Wealth and Lifestyle Report 2026.
Many tourists have complained about high cost of living in Singapore and even claimed they only eat one meal a day to save costs.
However, Singapore’s safety, low crime rate and high quality of life continue making it an attractive destination.