Just two years ago, a bowl of fishball noodle costs $2.50. Today, it costs $3.00 or even $3.50 in residential coffee shop at Tampines. A typical data plan for mobile is now more expensive today. Just two years ago, a 12 Gbyte mobile data costs about $24.00. Today 5 Gbyte mobile data plan costs $19.00 with addition $5 for each 1Gbyte data excess. When my data plan expires, I'm not going to renew it.
Bus fares also increase. Next year CPF minimum sum will be increased to about $166k. Looking at the rate of increases, I doubt my saving will be sufficient for my retirement in Singapore. Looking at Taiwan, their public transport and food price are reasonable. Of course, it's not perfect what with the dirty oil. Well, at least the culprits are jailed now. I might just retire in Taiwan since things are much cheaper compared to Singapore.
I'm just wondering if all these costs for basic necessities like transport and food justifiable? I don't see our salary at the same rate. I reckon besides the increase of CPF minimum sum, the increasing cost of living in Singapore could drive Singaporeans to vote for the oppositions. Seriously the government must do something with the rocket high rental cost.
When I read that the monthly rental for a stall in hawker center is $6000.00, I was shocked. I mean if I'm the hawker, I kinda lose the motivation to sell as I need to sell 1500 bowls of noodles which cost $4 before I can even recoup the rental cost. High rental cost is bad for the future of Singapore hawker and something must be done. Else people frustrated with the high cost of living in Singapore could just vote the oppositions for a change.
Jacky
*The writer blogs at http://happyartfood.blogspot.sg/