Indian Tourist Compares Dining Costs in Mumbai and Singapore, Shocked by Similar Prices

Mumbai, 16th November 2024: Singapore, often recognized as one of the world’s most expensive cities, is famous for its high living costs, well-maintained public spaces, and efficient public transport. However, an Indian tourist visiting the city was taken aback to discover that dining prices in cafes and restaurants there were similar to those in Mumbai.

The tourist, who goes by the name Subi on X (formerly Twitter), expressed shock at how costly Mumbai has become in terms of dining out, especially when comparing it to Singapore. She noted that despite the vast economic differences between the two cities, the cost of eating out in Mumbai mirrored that of Singapore, which she found “insane.”

“Spent a week in Singapore and was stunned by how expensive Mumbai is for cafes, restaurants, and going out. The prices for most restaurants in Bandra were nearly identical to Singapore, which is crazy,” she shared on X.

Singapore has long been ranked at the top of global cost-of-living surveys, alongside cities like New York and London, with soaring real estate prices, steep car ownership costs, and luxury dining options. These factors contribute to its reputation as a city where luxury comes with a hefty price tag.

In contrast, while Mumbai isn’t known for being affordable, a significant difference between the two cities, as noted by several X users, lies in purchasing power parity.

“It’s the inequality that makes even simple things like a cup of coffee at a cafe a ‘luxury’ costing 450 rupees, while most people can’t earn as much as their counterparts in developed countries to justify such expenses,” Subi remarked.

Some users attributed the high cost of dining in Indian cities to classism. One user explained, “Indian cities are insanely overpriced for everything. It’s a mix of sky-high rents inflating costs and classism, where people want to be segregated from the rest of society.”

Another user, Sharan Gaba, pointed out that Mumbai’s real estate prices increase restaurant costs, which owners offset by overcharging customers. Subi responded, “I agree, but it’s not just that. Singapore rents are 20 times higher than Mumbai’s, and they still charge the same for coffee. In India, everything is premium-priced because of classism, and there’s a desire to keep certain people away.”