Cook vs Eat Out: Does meal prepping save you more in Singapore

Cook at home or eat out in Singapore? Meal prepping can save you money, but is it worth the time? Discover the cost breakdown & factors to consider here.

Cook at home or eat out in Singapore? Meal prepping can save you money, but is it worth the time? Discover the cost breakdown & factors to consider here.

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Let’s face it, between that killer avo toast habit and the never-ending bubble tea obsession, eating out in Singapore can drain your bank account faster than you can say “payday”-even more so after the GST hike last year.

But here’s the question: is preparing your own food the holy grail of cutting down your spending?

We break down the cost of prepping your meal versus eating out in Singapore.

How Much Does Meal Prep Costs in Singapore

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Here’s a budget breakdown for the week using ingredients from a neighborhood grocery store in Singapore.

MealBudget IngredientsMid-Range IngredientsPremium Ingredients
Breakfast (x7)
  • Rolled oats (S$5/kg)
  • Milk (S$3/L)
  • Cost per serving: ~S$1.14
  • Rolled oats (S$5/kg)
  • Bananas x 2 (S$4/kg)
  • Milk (S$3/L)
  • Cost per serving: ~S$2.29
  • Rolled oats (S$5/kg)
  • Bananas x 2 (S$4/kg)
  • Blueberries (S$7)
  • Oat milk (S$6.10/L)
  • Cost per serving: ~S$3.73
Lunch (x7)
  • Rice (S$1.58/kg)
  • Frozen chicken drumsticks (S$11/kg)
  • Carrots (S$0.95)
  • Condiments (S$5)
  • Cost per serving: ~S$2.65
  • Brown rice (S$4.50/kg)
  • Frozen chicken drumsticks (S$11/kg)
  • Carrots (S$0.95)
  • Broccoli (S$3.50)
  • Mid-range condiments (S$8)
  • Cost per serving: ~S$3.99
  • Basmati rice (S$6/kg)
  • Frozen chicken drumsticks (S$11/kg)
  • Carrots (S$0.95)
  • Broccoli (S$3.50)
  • Lettuce (S$1.90)
  • Premium condiments (S$10)
  • Cost per serving: ~S$4.76
Snacks (x2/day x7)
  • Grapes x2 (S$6)
  • Fairprice potato chips x 4 (S$1.20/pack)
  • Ice cream (S$3.99/pack)
  • Apples (S$6/pack)
  • Cost per serving: ~S$1.91
  • Grapes x2 (S$6)
  • Lays potato chips x 4 (S$3.50/pack)
  • F&N Magnolia ice cream (S$8.15/pack)
  • Apples (S$6/pack)
  • Greek yoghurt (S$9.50/tub)
  • Cost per serving: ~S$3.55
  • Grapes x2 (S$6)
  • Ruffles potato chips x 4 (S$4.95/pack)
  • Haagen-Dazs ice cream (S$14.77/tub)
  • Apples (S$6/pack)
  • Greek yoghurt (S$9.50/tub)
  • Granola (S$18/kg)
  • Cost per serving: ~S$5.72
Dinner (x7)
  • Frozen salmon x2 (S$13/pack)
  • Corn (S$3/pack)
  • Leftovers from lunch (S$0)
  • Cost per serving: ~S$4.14
  • Frozen salmon x2 (S$13/pack)
  • Corn (S$3/pack)
  • Quinoa (S$18/kg)
  • Leftovers from lunch (S$0)
  • Cost per serving: ~S$6.71
  • Frozen salmon x2 (S$13/pack)
  • Corn (S$3/pack)
  • Leftovers from lunch (S$0)
  • Quinoa (S$18/kg)
  • Broccoli x3 (S$3.15)
  • Cost per serving: ~S$8.06
Cost per dayS$9.84S$16.54S$22.27

At roughly S$10-S$22 for three meals and two snacks a day, the cost of meal prepping in Singapore is definitely reasonable. The biggest reason? Buying ingredients in bulk. Also, you buy exactly what’s needed when you meal prep, reducing the chance of grabbing more than you need.

Hidden Costs of Meal Prep in Singapore

But, meal prepping isn’t exactly all sunshine and rainbows. Here’s the thing: It takes time, and time is money. You gotta plan, shop, cook, and wash which can be a struggle if you’re constantly on-the-go. Let’s be honest, sticking to your lunchboxes also requires serious willpower. That trending cafe on TikTok might be calling to you, but you gotta resist the urge to splurge! Additionally, eating the same thing every day can get boring, fast. Meal prepping requires creativity to keep your meal times exciting.

How Much it Costs to Eat Out in Singapore

So, how much does it costs if you prefer to eat out in Singapore throughout the week? Here’s a breakdown of the estimated costs.

Meal CategoryBudget OptionMid-Range OptionPremium Option
Breakfast (x7)
  • Bakery shop bread x7 (S$1.50/piece)
  • Hawker centre soya milk x7 (S$1.20/cup)
  • Total cost per meal: S$2.70
  • Bakery shop waffle x7 (S$3/piece)
  • Mr Bean soya milk x7 (S$1.50)
  • Total cost per meal: S$4.50
  • Yakun breakfast set x7 (S$6.30)
  • Total cost per meal: S$6.30
Lunch (x7)
  • Hawker centre food (S$5/dish)
  • Total cost per meal: S$5
  • Hawker centre food x5 (S$7/dish)
  • Cafe food x2 (S$18/meal)
  • Total cost per meal: S$10.14
  • Acai bowl x3 (S$10/bowl)
  • Salad bowl x2 (S$12/bowl)
  • Cafe food x2 (S$20)
  • Total cost per meal: S$13.43
Snacks (x2/day x7)
  • Hawker centre coffee x7 (S$2/cup)
  • Hawker centre muffin x7 (S$2/piece)
  • Total cost per meal: S$4
  • Starbucks coffee x7 (S$7/cup)
  • Starbucks bagel x7 (S$4.50/piece)
  • Total cost per meal: S$11.50
  • Kyo coffee x7 (S$9/cup)
  • Artisan cake x7 (S$5/slice)
  • Total cost per meal: S$14
Dinner (x7)
  • Hawker centre food x7 (S$5/meal)
  • Total cost per meal: S$5
  • Hawker centre food x5 (S$7/meal)
  • Cafe food x2 (S$18/meal)
  • Total cost per meal: S$10.14
  • Cafe food x5 (S$25/meal)
  • Restaurant food x2 (S$50/meal)
  • Total cost per meal: S$32.14
Cost per dayS$20.70S$47.78S$79.87

We can see that the eating out using the budget option costs roughly 2x more than preparing your own food. Meanwhile, the budget rises 3x and 3.6x more for the mid-range and premium options respectively.

Cooking vs Eating Out: Which Should You Choose

So, what’s the verdict between cooking vs eating out? Meal prepping in Singapore can be a great way to save money. If you’re looking to tighten your budget and have a little time on your hands, give cooking your own meals a shot! There are tons of meal prep ideas online (hello, #FoodTok!), so you can find something that fits your taste and budget. But, if you’re constantly swamped and don’t mind spending a bit more, then eating out everyday isn’t the worst thing in the world. Remember, it’s not all or nothing. Life’s about finding the right balance that gives you the best contentment.