S$3,636/mth for a 1-bedroom: How S’pore became the world’s most expensive city to rent in
Renting a home has become increasingly challenging worldwide, with Singapore emerging as the most expensive city for renters.
According to the online cost-of-living database Numbeo, a one-bedroom apartment in the Lion City now costs $3,636 per month, reported The Independent Singapore.
This dramatic surge in rental prices is sparking global conversations about housing affordability and the pressures faced by renters.
Singapore’s rising rent: What’s driving the hike?
Singapore’s growing population and limited housing supply are the main culprits behind skyrocketing rental prices.
While the government provides affordable housing options for locals through the Housing Development Board (HDB), expats are left grappling with a hyper-competitive rental market. Expats face particular challenges because they lack access to subsidised HDB flats and are reliant on private rentals.
With Singapore increasingly becoming a magnet for global talent and businesses, demand for rental housing has surged, leaving supply far behind. This demand has pushed prices to record highs, with no immediate signs of relief.
The high cost of renting in Singapore might reflect its success as an economic powerhouse, but it also reveals the city’s Achilles’ heel: housing affordability. If unaddressed, it risks alienating the very talent that fuels its growth.
Not just Singapore: A global housing crisis
Singapore’s housing woes are not unique. Hong Kong, another densely populated city, ranks second on the list of most expensive rental markets, with one-bedroom apartments averaging S$2,911 per month.
Similarly, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and the UAE are grappling with surging rents due to a mix of high demand and limited housing stock.
Across Europe and the Americas, renters are feeling the pinch. In cities like New York, London, and Toronto, rents have risen sharply due to inflation, supply chain disruptions, and post-pandemic urban migration.
It’s a perfect storm of economic and demographic factors making it harder for renters everywhere to find affordable housing.
The human cost of rising rents
The housing crisis doesn’t just impact renters’ wallets—it shapes their lives. In Singapore, the financial burden of renting has far-reaching consequences.
A study conducted in May by Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Research Network revealed that high living costs, particularly housing, are a significant barrier to parenthood for young Singaporeans.
The study, which surveyed 230 participants aged 18 to 30, found that 70% cited financial concerns, including high rents, as the main reason for delaying or forgoing having children.
The findings were detailed in the report Young Singaporeans’ Attitudes Toward Parenthood: Key Findings and Policy Implications.
Using artificial intelligence to conduct interviews, the study uncovered candid insights into the fears and hopes of young Singaporeans. The results paint a sobering picture: The high cost of living is shaping not just where people live, but how they envision their futures.
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Singapore’s status as the world’s most expensive city for renters is a wake-up call for policymakers and city planners everywhere. As cities grow and evolve, they must not lose sight of the fundamental need for accessible and affordable housing.
The housing crisis isn’t just an economic issue—it’s a social one, affecting everything from mental health to family planning. But with collective effort and innovative thinking, I believe cities can rise to the challenge and create environments where everyone can thrive.
Also Read: Mega sales are coming up in M’sia, here’s how to ensure that your parcels don’t go missing
Featured Image Credit: EdgeProp
Club Med Cherating launches refreshed nature activities, we travelled 280km to find out why
45 years after opening their resort to the public in 1979, Club Med Cherating has introduced some new nature-focused offerings to their Gentils Membres—or guests, for those unfamiliar with the resort group’s terminology.
Called “Journey into the Wild,” this is Club Med’s response to travel enthusiasts’ desire for more “enriching and experiential getaways.” Promised to be immersive and educational, their new programmes are thus designed to “deepen one’s connection to nature.”
But enough of this PR talk. What’s the real reason for releasing these activities, and do the refreshed experiences actually deliver?
Luckily for you, we were invited to try out some of the new offerings ourselves.
Nature’s calling
After four hours on the road, the first sighting of the glistening South China Sea was nothing short of breathtaking.
It’s my third time at the resort, but arriving on the 80-hectare property doesn’t get old.
From the friendly double-handed wave from the Gentile Organisateur (Gentle Organisers) to the distant sound of the beckoning waves, a laidback vibe permeates the ambience—an ambience that just screams: “Your holiday has begun.”
But of course, we’re not just here for any holiday. We’re here on a mission—to experience the new activities available.
Namely, there were six new programmes. The first is the Nature Quest Programme. Dubbed a favourite among families, this multi-day programme is designed by experts from Shanghai Chen Shan Botanical Garden.
Essentially, this programme turns the jungle into a vast, interactive classroom where children and families can embark on a series of challenges.
These challenges teach useful outdoor skills like building a water filtration system and recognising first-aid kit elements, as well as how to orient yourself in nature, amongst other things.
Unfortunately, we weren’t able to build upon our outdoor skills this visit, which was quite the shame.
Next up, there’s the Wildlife Discovery Trail that lets visitors explore Malaysia’s biodiversity. Leveraging Cherating’s lush rainforest, this nature trail is designed for both adults and children over 8.
Throughout this “moderately challenging” trail, we got to spot animals such as monkeys, snakes, and monitor lizards. We also learnt a lot about indigenous plants found in the rainforest.
Overall, it was quite a rewarding experience, though at one point I might’ve been a bit too winded to really appreciate my surroundings.
Another activity is The Botanist Adventure, which is a bit more specific to the 3,000+ plant species in Malaysia’s rainforests.
Unlike the previous trail, this one is a self guided trail, equipped with a booklet and a map that reveals the medicinal and ecological importance of the local flora.
Next up is the Turtle Scavenger Hunt, a family-friendly scavenger hunt that’s supposed to simulate the search and rescue of turtle eggs. If you really want to see real turtles, March to September will be the best season for you.
With various puzzles and activities incorporated into this experience, there’s no real turtle egg to be found at the end of the hunt. It’s more of a metaphorical thing.
There’s also an all-new Stargazing Experience available, where guests are invited to gather around as they’re guided through constellations, lunar landscapes, as well as folklores and myths of the night sky.
Sounds magical, right? Unfortunately, this experience wasn’t ready for us during our visit, either.
Finally, check in at The Insect Hotel. For budding entomologists and nature lovers, the “hotel” is created using natural, sustainable materials like twigs, bamboo, and leaves that are supposed to attract bugs.
Emphasis on “supposed.” During our visit, we were told by our guide that the current design is a bit too Western to really work in our local context. As such, occupancy rates were at an all-time low. Hopefully, they’ll give that hotel a well-needed renovation soon.
We also caught wind about some activities that we were super excited about, such as paddle yoga. Sadly, we were told it’s not quite ready yet.
All walks of life
All along, Club Med has been presented as a family holiday destination. With it being all-inclusive, it’s ideal for the elderly as well as children, especially with the Mini Club Med offerings that helps parents take care of and engage with their little ones while still enjoying their vacay.
However, there’s typically been a kind of division between adults and children. As mentioned, kids can be sent off to the Mini Club Med to hang out with their peers, while the parents can head off to suntan at the adult-only Zen Pool.
While this sounds like a win-win opportunity, it may be counterintuitive for a family trip at times.
Thus, this new Journey into the Wild programme brings a reinvigorated attempt to get adults and children engaged in mutually enriching activities.
But, we have to admit, some activities did feel a little too… youthful. While great to engage with the childlike wonder, for us childfree visitors, it was a bit too kid-centric for our liking. (We’re looking at you, Turtle Scavenger Hunt…)
Honestly, though, the myriad of other activities offered at Club Med kept us super engaged and entertained. From sailing on a windy day to playing beach tennis through a light drizzle, we didn’t have any complaints about not having enough fun things to do during our 3D2N stay.
Refreshed and relevant
Still, though. While the beautiful views and exciting activities from trapeze to kayaking are oh-so fun, there comes a time when regular visitors exhaust all entertainment options at Club Med Cherating.
Perhaps that’s one reason why these refreshed nature-centric activities have been introduced at the resort.
While these outdoorsy experiences might not be for everyone, it was a welcome reprieve for us city folks who spend too much time sitting down in front of a computer. It makes sense why corporates choose Club Med Cherating as a team-bonding getaway.
To be candid, with Club Med Cherating being over four decades old, certain parts of the stay have become rather rundown. The rooms, for one, are clearly on the older side. With monkeys and critters abound, opulence and luxury are not key words I’d use to describe this resort.
However, these new activities actually lean into that. Instead of trying to offer some luxe, five-star experience, these nature programmes tap into the strengths of Club Med Cherating. Just keep that in mind when you’re thinking of booking a stay.
A club unlike any other
Founded by a former Belgian water polo champion Gérard Blitz, Club Med was established in 1950. It’s considered a pioneer of the all-inclusive resort model. And yes, all-inclusive means activities as well as food and drinks (including alcoholic beverages) are all covered.
Club Med Cherating, in particular, is a pioneer by its own right too. It was the very first Club Med resort in Asia.
“At Club Med Cherating, our connection to the unique biodiversity of Malaysia’s rainforest runs deep,” said Olivier Monceau, General Manager of Club Med’s Singapore and Malaysia markets.
“Our founder discovered this hidden gem during one of his journeys to Southeast Asia and was immediately captivated by its beauty. He founded the resort here in 1979, creating a place where guests could fully immerse themselves in nature.”
Guided by Club Med’s Happy to Care ethos, the Cherating resort strives to integrate sustainability into every facet of its operations. For instance, they use chemical-free mosquito treatment, reuse wastewater for irrigation, and compost garden waste.
Plus, guests can enjoy sustainably sourced seafood, cage-free eggs, and local produce at the buffet. Food waste is monitored with Winnow Solutions, a commercial food waste management solution.
Having maintained its Green Globe certification for 10 years, Club Med Cherating got its Green Globe Platinum accreditation this year.
All this is to say that the new range of activities isn’t just some ploy to tap into the eco-tourism industry—rather, it’s something that Club Med has been doing all along.
This effort to pay homage to Mother Nature is something that the resort will likely continue to do. So more than hoping that continues, we hope that modern travellers actually appreciate and engage with these offerings.
Also Read: Mega sales are coming up in M’sia, here’s how to ensure that your parcels don’t go missing
All Image Credits: Vulcan Post
A failed venture didn’t stop him from trying again, now he runs a premium patisserie in Melaka
Although I’m proudly from Melaka, I’m not usually up to speed with new brands and happenings back home.
So, when I first heard about a relatively new patisserie in the state, I felt surprised and impressed that there was such a refined-looking desserts spot in my hometown.
Called iVORi Pâtisserie (iVORi), this bakeshop and cafe in Taman Kota Syahbandar serves up some truly beautiful desserts that also look incredibly indulgent.
Behind the patisserie is Moses Ng, a pastry chef who is also from Melaka.
His love for baking started as a hobby during his secondary school years. What began as an interest in simple recipes later blossomed into a deeper passion for creating artful desserts that bring joy to others.
After gaining some experience in the industry, training at Hilton Singapore, Goodwood Park Hotel, Marche Restaurant, and more, he decided to start his own business.
“I believe that true fulfillment comes from doing something you love,” he shared with Vulcan Post. “While it was a leap of faith, my confidence stemmed from my passion for pastry-making and the support of friends and family.”
Determined to create unique desserts and sharing them with people, he officially launched iVORi Pâtisserie in 2023.
Failure is the mother of success
Before that, though, Moses had actually started a home-based business in 2020 which led to his first patisserie in 2021.
“Unfortunately, it came to an end in April 2023, due to some partnership issues,” he opened up. “It was a difficult time for me, a down time in my life.”
Thankfully, though, Moses had a lot of support from his friends and family. Instead of letting this get him down, he decided to view it as a challenge in life that would make him stronger.
“I can’t fail myself and those who believe in me,” he added.
Emboldened by this thought, he decided to refocus on his mission of crafting elegant desserts that not only taste exceptional but also tell a story. He wanted to create a space where people could enjoy fine pastries made with care and precision.
“The goal of having my own patisserie was always my first big step in my plan. I believe there are more possibilities to come.”
Offering something fine to Melakans
With Melaka being Moses’ hometown, he felt a calling to contribute to its culinary landscape. While the market there is smaller compared to Singapore where he previously trained, or even Kuala Lumpur, he saw it as an opportunity to stand out and build a loyal customer base.
“The challenge lies in educating the market about premium desserts, but it’s also rewarding to see growing appreciation,” he expressed.
Word of mouth has been playing a significant role, Moses shared, thanks to customers kindly sharing their experiences with others. Social media also helped the patisserie reach a wider audience, and collaborations with local businesses further boosted visibility.
Through his and other local bakers’ efforts, Moses believes that Melaka’s patisserie scene may be small compared to cities like KL, but it’s definitely growing.
With innovative techniques, premium ingredients, and impeccable presentation, iVORi has been catering to dessert enthusiasts who value quality and aesthetics. While this demographic is niche in Melaka, Moses said it’s steadily growing.
Plus, tourists also make up a portion of their customers.
“Through iVORi, I aim to introduce more people to the art of fine desserts, showcasing what’s possible when tradition meets creativity,” Moses said. “That is why I came back from Singapore to bring this concept to Melaka.”
Whisking up the future
Currently, iVORi comprises a dedicated team of seven. Moses handles most of the creative aspects of baking as well as quality control, while his team steps in with the production.
As this small but mighty team continues to establish their presence in Melaka through seasonal menus and unique offerings, Moses also hopes to expand to other locations and potentially explore other concepts.
Of course, there are many challenges that stand in the way, from rising costs and scaling production to talent and labour concerns.
But as Moses said, “Challenges are inevitable, but passion and persistence will keep you going.”
- Learn more about iVORi Pâtisserie here.
- Read other articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups here.
Also Read: Mega sales are coming up in M’sia, here’s how to ensure that your parcels don’t go missing
Featured Image Credit: iVORi Pâtisserie
How this S’porean ex-lawyer grew his matcha brand into a biz raking in 7-figure revenues
In 2013, Elias Tiong took what seemed like a pretty safe bet—he enrolled at law school at the National University of Singapore. A high-achieving student who breezed through his A-Levels, he was encouraged to pursue law as it could open doors in his career.
And it did—four years later, Elias found himself in training at a prominent law firm, fast-tracked on a career path that many would envy. Yet, something didn’t quite sit right with him.
“Some aspects of corporate legal work felt less meaningful, and left me feeling like a paper-pusher,” he admitted in an interview with The Straits Times. “Part of me felt that I wouldn’t be able to find meaning in this work in the long run.”
That’s when he discovered a different passion: craft matcha. During a trip to Japan, he frequented convenience stores and noticed that they carried a variety of healthy teas that weren’t available in Singapore.
He saw an opportunity to bring “healthier tea options” to the local market, so Elias took the plunge to start Crafti in 2019—and in the last 12 months, the business has surpassed seven figures in sales.
They started out selling bottled lattes
In the beginning, Crafti started out as a side hustle—something that Elias had worked on after hours and over the weekends. Then the pandemic happened, and with it came a surge in demand.
For him, this uptick was a sign that they were “on to something bigger,” and that Crafti had found “some level of product-market fit.”
By 2020, he made the decision to step away from his legal career and focus on Crafti full time. “There was always a limit to how much I could do while juggling a full-time job,” he shared.
Customers were relying on us to provide not just products but also a reliable, consistent experience—something that I had difficulty delivering while juggling this with a full-time role. While I saw that we could grow Crafti into something that could genuinely improve lives, I felt that it would require my full focus.
Elias Tiong, founder of Crafti
If you look at Crafti’s offerings today, you’d notice that they have significantly evolved from when the brand started out. Crafti, which, back then was known as Craft Tea Fox, started out by selling bottled lattes.
“[Our initial idea was] to create a healthy, sugar-free bottled tea beverage that would be different from the usual green tea options available [in Singapore],” he shared.
With no prior business experience, Elias shared that they wanted to move cautiously, so he started small by investing around S$1,200 to rent a pop-up space at an event, S$500 on glass bottles and matcha, and another S$100 to get certified for food handling. “This was our minimum viable product to test the waters.”
After gaining confidence from the pop-up, he worked with a food factory to produce small batches of 400 to 1,000 bottles, investing between S$2,000 to S$3,000 for R&D and initial production costs.
Launching products was “the easy part”
Looking back on the business’ early days, Elias recounted that it wasn’t all smooth sailing. “It was actually quite a challenge,” he shared, adding that he struggled with the shelf life of his first product. “It didn’t sell fast enough with our stockists to make any meaningful revenue.”
That was when I realised that creating and launching products was the easy part. The hard part was to pick up and learn marketing so that we could get people interested. Of course, the product has to be good first—effective marketing amplifies the performance of an already good product.
Elias Tiong, founder of Crafti
After launching some successful digital marketing campaigns, people gradually started taking an interest in the brand. Yet, it still wasn’t enough.
“We struggled to make any profit for the first two years because our business model wasn’t well thought out,” he candidly admitted.
“With our bottled drinks, we were manufacturing in tiny batches (really labour-intensive) and doing a lot of refrigerated home deliveries (really expensive), and there was just a lot of inefficiency.”
One of the lowest points of the business came during the launch of a new flavour, when an entire batch of 500 bottles “tasted flat”—completely different from the sample they had created.
We had to scramble to figure out what was the problem, conduct taste tests, and review the production process. Eventually, we realised that the tea powders weren’t being stored properly, causing them to lose their flavour and the resulting flat taste.
Elias Tiong, founder of Crafti
The brand ended up having to call every customer who had placed an order for the new flavour to inform them that they had to delay their delivery. The product was only shipped once Crafti had fixed the production process and conducted “rigorous checks” on their quality.
There was also another incident when a short circuit at Crafti’s warehouse over the weekend caused all of their refrigerators to shut down.
“All of our bottled drinks went bad—over a thousand bottles,” he shared. “When we returned to the warehouse on Monday morning, the entire warehouse smelled like milk gone bad. We had to discard all these bottles and manufacture replacements urgently.”
A variety of tea powders and teaware
To overcome these challenges, Elias pivoted Crafti’s business model away from ready-to-drink products to “products with longer shelf lives”—today, the brand offers a variety of tea powders and teaware, though they still specialise in craft matcha.
In 2023, they rebranded from Craft Tea Fox to Crafti, seeking a “simpler name to better capture their mission of crafting healthy products.” The brand now focuses on small-batch production and “crafting products with intention” to support their customers’ health and wellness journeys.
According to Elias, all of Crafti’s matcha are sourced directly from Japan. “We work with our network of partners in Uji and Wazuka (both in Kyoto), Nishio, and Shizuoka, and meet with them about once a year,” he shared.
The matcha harvest occurs once a year in early May, with the tea leaves stored in refrigerated warehouses prior to processing. The entire production process takes about one to two months, from securing the raw materials to processing the tea leaves and undergoing organic inspection before they are ready.
Each batch of Crafti’s matcha undergoes third-party lab screening in Japan, including microbial, fungal, heavy metal, and radiation tests before they are exported. These tests are essential as tea leaves are one of the few plants that cannot be washed before consumption.
“If it undergoes further processing in Singapore, it undergoes further tests here as well,” he added.
It’s “all about the long haul”
Over the past two years, the business has been growing profitably, scaling gradually by reinvesting their own capital. Though Crafti’s main source of revenue comes from the B2C front, they also supply to about 50 businesses, including An Açaí Affair and Udders.
Beyond Singapore, the brand ships its products to the US and is currently exploring expansion opportunities in other overseas markets.
Reflecting on his journey, Elias shared that the biggest lesson he’s learned is that entrepreneurship is “all about the long haul.”
Shifting his mindset from earning a monthly salary to focus on long-term value creation was challenging, but “staying focused on the bigger picture” has helped him keep moving forward.
Visiting and working closely with suppliers in Japan has also deepened his appreciation for the craft of matcha production.
It’s really important to know your product and the people you’re serving. Our suppliers take incredible pride in what they create—they’re basically artisans. That was deeply inspiring for me.
We’ve learnt to take this approach to the products we create, and this also motivates me to share what they do with more people.
Elias Tiong, founder of Crafti
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Featured Image Credit: Elias Tiong/ Crafti
