Singapore’s Rising Costs: Your 2025 Survival Guide
Singapore has long been admired for its high quality of life, efficient infrastructure, and vibrant cultural tapestry. Yet, living in a top-tier city also means grappling with climbing prices for housing, food, transportation, and more.
With 2025 on the horizon, learning how to counter inflation effectively is critical—whether you’re a new arrival or a long-term resident. The following are the primary drivers of increasing costs and we present here real-life solutions to remain financially robust, drawing on the most recent research and findings.
Housing & Rent: Planning for Rising Costs
Housing continues to be the biggest cost for most Singaporeans, with rent and mortgage levels increasing. Here are some tips to control your housing budget:
Refinance Your Mortgage – If you already own a home mortgage, rate comparison and refinancing can reduce interest payments in the long term.
Think About a Roommate – Subletting some space or sharing an apartment can help offset the cost.
Negotiate Your Lease – Landlords might be able to provide longer fixed-rate leases, which can prevent you from paying more each year.
Food & Dining Strategies
Singapore offers countless dining options, but eating out too often can drain your budget. Here’s how to cut food costs without sacrificing quality:
Opt for Hawker Centres Over Restaurants – A hawker meal costs around S$5–8, while a restaurant meal can cost S$15–25.
Use Meal Subscription Services – Plans like GrabUnlimited, Foodpanda Pro, and Deliveroo Plus can save you S$30–45 monthly in delivery fees.
Cook More at Home – Preparing home-cooked meals can cut food expenses by 30–50%.
Pro Tip: Buy groceries in bulk and watch for seasonal discounts at supermarkets to save even more.
Cutting Transport Costs
Singapore’s public transport system is efficient, but costs can still add up, especially if you rely on ride-hailing:
Optimizing MRT & Buses
Off-Peak Commutes: Shifting your travel times could save you roughly S$20–22 monthly.
Cashback Options: Some credit cards offer 2–5% cashback when you tap with SimplyGo. Additionally, multi-transport apps can help you find the cheapest combination of MRT and buses, saving around S$0.30–0.50 per trip.
Alternative Ride-Hailing
RydePool and other carpooling services can be 20–30% cheaper than standard rides.
BlueSG car-sharing is ideal for shorter journeys at about S$0.33/min—much cheaper than owning a car.
Compare Gojek & Grab: Peak-hour rates vary between these apps by up to 25%. A quick check can yield significant savings.
Key Shopping Events to Leverage
Time your large buys during Singapore’s largest sale periods. Timing is everything:
Chinese New Year (January): 20–50% discount on some house items.
Great Singapore Sale (June): Apparel and electronics are discounted to 30–70%.
National Day (August): Locally made brands are discounted 15–40%.
11.11 & Black Friday (November): Online retailers typically offer 35% or more discount on different kinds of products.
By delaying the big buys to these months, you could save up to hundreds of dollars a year.
Optimizing Daily Payments
Choosing the right credit card or payment method can help you snag cashback or reward points:
DBS Live Fresh: 5% cashback on online spending.
OCBC 365: Up to 6% on dining and 3% on groceries.
Citi Cash Back: 8% cashback on groceries and dining.
If you’re a frequent shopper or dine out regularly, these percentages translate to tangible monthly savings.
Slashing Utility Bills & Household Expenses
Besides rent or mortgage payments, utilities and telecom fees also put a dent in monthly finances:
Cheaper Mobile Plans
Plans like Zero 1 Starter or VIVIFI Roam Starter can cost under S$8 per month yet offer large data bundles. Reassess your usage before committing to pricier packages.
Energy Conservation
Off-Peak Electricity: Using more power during off-peak hours can cut costs by as much as 23.95 cents per kWh.
Smart Air-Conditioning: Adjust timers or use eco modes to save S$15–25 monthly.
LED Lighting: Although upfront costs may be higher, monthly savings of S$10 or more often follow.
Water Efficiency
Install water-efficient shower heads (cuts usage by 50%) or NEA-approved washing machines (uses 25% less water). Even smart irrigation can reduce gardening water use by 30%.
Smart Investing: Protecting Your Wealth from Inflation
Investing is one of the best ways to preserve your wealth against inflation. Even beginner investors can benefit from low-risk financial instruments.
Pro Tip: Speak to a financial advisor before making large investments to align with your long-term goals.
Bringing It All Together
Living well in Singapore amidst escalating expenses does not always mean cutting little indulgences; it is more a matter of making smart decisions. Begin by breaking down your monthly expenditure, knowing your largest expenditures (shelter, food, and transport for the majority), and then strategizing how to stretch.
Whether it’s mapping out your next shopping spree during major sales, choosing cheap meal options, using ride-hailing services, or overhauling your credit card strategy, small changes can make a huge difference in the long term.
The report was first released by ROSHI, one of Southeast Asia’s top fintech firms. With its digital financial services orientation, ROSHI has emerged as a top platform for Singaporeans seeking consumer lending services. From comparing mortgage interest rates to finding an instant loan in Singapore, ROSHI products are a testament to the company’s dedication to meeting the varied financial needs of consumers
