Key Highlights Hawker meals typically cost under S$5, with their prices seemingly affected by the number of ingredients it contains (e.g. nasi lemak is more expensive than fishball noodles). The ‘same meal’ at a restaurant can cost anywhere between 50% to 141% more than their hawker counterparts. Cooking the ‘same meal’ will always end up cheaper than if you ate at a hawker centre or restaurant. With Singaporean households spending an average of S$9,722, eating out in the city is an undeniably expensive affair. That’s why, for budget-conscious individuals, hawker centres – where comfortable, hearty meals can be had for under S$10 – is such a god-sent. However, it’s worth questioning the perception that hawker food is always the most affordable dining option, that it could even be cheaper than cooking at home. Below, we pit hawker food against other food options (i.e. restaurants,...