Singapore tops list of costliest cities for goods, services aimed at the wealthy


SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Singapore for the first time became the most expensive city for goods and services for wealthy people, overtaking Hong Kong, London and New York, according to a report on Tuesday.
SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Singapore for the first time became the most expensive city for goods and services for wealthy people, overtaking Hong Kong, London and New York, according to a report on Tuesday.
Cars and essential health insurance in Singapore are 133% and 109% more expensive than the global average, among 12 consumer goods and eight services that reflect the spending patterns of high-net-worth individuals, according to Julius Baer’s Global Wealth and Lifestyle report this year.
The politically stable and tax-friendly city-state was one of the first Asian cities to significantly ease pandemic restrictions, and has started to see an influx of wealth.
Demand for accommodation is high, school places are at a premium, and the general cost of living for everyone is high in Singapore, the report added.
Shanghai, in first place last year, fell to second. Possible factors include longer pandemic restrictions than in other cities, the report said. Hong Kong was ranked third.
Johannesburg was at the bottom of the list, which covered 25 cities across the world.
(Reporting by Chen Lin in Singapore. Editing by Gerry Doyle)
A high-net-worth individual (HNWI) is a person with liquid assets above a certain threshold, usually defined as $1 million or more, excluding primary residence.
Consumer perception is how consumers view and interpret a brand, product, or service, which can significantly influence their purchasing decisions.
A global wealth report analyzes the distribution of wealth across different regions and demographics, providing insights into economic trends and consumer behavior.
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