Is Singapore expensive? Yes but travelers visit for other reasons

British national Tony Cross first set foot in Singapore in 1992, when the city-state’s main draws were its glitzy malls, the pulsating Zouk nightclub and the renowned Singapore Zoo.

Today, shopping has taken a backseat, as prices for goods have climbed alongside commercial rents in a city where space is scarce. And, Singapore’s once-thriving clubbing industry is facing tough times, hurt by high costs and shifting alcohol consumption habits.

Competition from other Southeast Asian cities, which are far cheaper to visit, is heating up too.

Rather than competing on…