If you're thinking, "Singapore is a rich country, technology must be cheap there," well, I thought so too. Along with my Korean friend Hyeyeon and two Turkish friends, we went to an electronics mall and an Apple Store in Singapore and checked the prices of phones, computers, and GoPros one by one. The result surprised me. In this post, I explain whether you should buy electronics in Singapore, how tax refunds work, and what is logical to buy where. At the end, there's that famous Daiso where everything is sold for the same price.
Watch the Video: Phone Prices in Singapore
Short Answer: Should You Buy Electronics in Singapore?
My answer: No, for Apple products and new flagship phones. The same products we saw were cheaper in both Hong Kong and Malaysia. We did, however, find reasonable prices for mid-segment laptops and second-hand phones in small shops.
The prices below are from 2019, when we filmed the video. They are not exactly the same today, but the price difference between the countries still shows a similar picture. Be sure to check current prices before shopping.
Prices We Saw in 2019
| Product | Price in Singapore | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Lenovo i7, 8 GB RAM laptop | 539 SGD | In a small shop; reasonable |
| Samsung Galaxy J8 | 368 SGD | Mid-segment |
| Second-hand iPhone 6, 64 GB | approx. 250 SGD | At a second-hand stall |
| MacBook Pro 13" | around 1,400 USD | The same was cheaper in Hong Kong |
| iPhone XS Max | 1,648 SGD | Much cheaper in Hong Kong |
| Galaxy S10, 128 GB | 1,298 SGD | Very little difference between it and the Plus |
| GoPro Hero 7 Black | 595 SGD | We found it cheaper online |
| iMac | 2,588 SGD | Very expensive |
At that time, 1 US dollar was approximately 1.3 Singapore dollars. If you want to calculate roughly, divide the SGD price by 1.3.
Why Is It So Expensive?
The cost of living in Singapore is high, and salaries are high. Stores set their prices accordingly. On top of that, there is a sales tax (GST). In Hong Kong, there is no sales tax; you can find the same iPhone much cheaper there. This was the biggest difference we saw.
How to Get a Tourist Tax Refund (GST Refund) in Singapore?
In Singapore, tourists can get back a portion of the sales tax they paid on purchases made at participating stores when leaving the country. The system generally works like this:
- Make your purchase at a store with the "Tourist Refund Scheme" logo.
- You need to spend over a certain amount at the same store (at the time of writing, 100 SGD on a single receipt).
- Show your passport at the checkout and have your electronic tax refund (eTRS) registered.
- Request your refund at the eTRS kiosks at Changi Airport before or after check-in. You may be asked to show the product, so complete the refund process before putting it in your suitcase.
Remember that a service fee is deducted from the refund. We also calculated it in the video: even after the refund, the iPhone price in Singapore remained well above Hong Kong's.
Things to Watch Out For in Electronics Malls
- Get the price in writing before paying, and watch out for additions like "warranty" and "extra packages."
- Check the price of the same product online and at the official store first.
- Check the contents of the box and whether the warranty is international.
- If you are pressured, walk away without buying.
The Real Cheap Place: Daiso, Where Everything is the Same Price
When we got discouraged by the high cost of electronics, we went into the Japanese chain store Daiso. In the Daisos in Korea, prices varied by product, but in Singapore, at the time, everything was 2 dollars. Wet wipes, packs of pens, cutlery sets, glasses, slippers, sunglasses, even a strange tool that looks like a sickle... The price is fixed, the quantity of the product changes: you don't buy a single pen, a 4-pack is still 2 dollars.
Prices have increased slightly over time, check the current price before you go. Still, it is one of the places where you can meet your small needs for a trip in Singapore at the lowest cost.
We also found an interesting product unique to Asia: transparent tapes that are stuck on the eyelid to make the eyes look bigger. It turns out my Korean girlfriend uses them too. The story is in the video.
My Shopping Tips for Singapore
- Do not buy Apple products in Singapore. Wait for Hong Kong or Malaysia.
- Go to Daiso for small needs.
- Check online prices for cameras and accessories. The store price for the GoPro was higher than the price online.
- Do not go to a store for a phone line. Set up an eSIM before you leave so you have internet when you land at the airport. You can check out Yırtık eSIM's Singapore and Asia packages here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the iPhone cheap in Singapore?
Based on the prices we saw, no. The same model was much cheaper in Hong Kong because there is no sales tax in Hong Kong.
Can I get a tax refund in Singapore?
Yes. You can request a refund at the eTRS kiosks at Changi Airport for purchases over a certain amount at participating stores. A service fee is deducted from the refund.
How much is everything at Singapore Daiso?
When we went, everything was 2 SGD. The price has increased a bit since then, check the current price before you go.
Singapore or Hong Kong for buying electronics?
Hong Kong. Because there is no sales tax, it is cheaper, especially for phones and Apple products.
The high cost of Singapore drained the last of the money in our pockets. Our next stop was Hong Kong. I explain how we flew out of Changi Airport and where we spent our first night in Hong Kong in my next post. If you haven't read about Singapore's rules, check out my post on things that are forbidden in Singapore.
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