‘Visitors can become poor’: Chinese netizens debate whether Singapore is too costly to visit

Albert Shi (left) took public transport in Singapore, while Johnnie Zhu busted his budget by 30 per cent due to higher costs. - ALBERT SHI, JOHNNIE ZHU

BEIJING: When marketing planner Johnnie Zhu, 28, visited Singapore for a day over the New Year weekend, he blew his budget by 30 per cent on the back of higher-than-expected food and transport costs.

Zhu, who was in transit on his way to Mount Bromo in Indonesia’s East Java, spent about 1,500 yuan (S$280) in that one day in Singapore. In Indonesia, he spent 500 to 600 yuan a day.