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Do you have family or friends who regularly make the journey across the Causeway — whether driving or taking public transport — just to stock up on groceries and daily essentials? I’ve always heard from the people around me that supermarket products in JB are much cheaper than the stuff sold in Singapore. But is that really true?
What better way to test the theory than to check it out myself? I swung by NTUC FairPrice Xtra near my hood before making a trip down to Lotus’s at KSL City Mall, where I compared prices for 10 daily essentials that Singaporeans often purchase.
The exchange rate is S$1 = RM3.105 (at time of writing) — rate fluctuations may affect what you actually spend. To keep things simple and easy to compare, all JB grocery prices have been converted into Singapore Dollars (you’re welcome). Do note that the special prices at FairPrice end just 3 days after this article is published, so I’ll be using the original prices instead as a more accurate comparison.
Let’s see how much we can save on groceries if we take the time and effort to travel there.
| Item | FairPrice (S$) | Lotus’s (S$) |
|---|---|---|
| Antiseptic germicide | 17.90 | 18.65 |
| Eggs | 2.85 | 2.38 |
| Laundry powder | 7.60 | 4.61 |
| Instant noodles | 2.67 | 1.19 |
| Toilet paper | 6.45 | 2.32 |
| Sanitary pads | 6.27 | 4.20 |
| Cooking oil | 8.19 | 4.98 |
| White rice | 7.05 | 4.19 |
| Dishwashing liquid | 2.78 | 2.89 |
| Fresh milk | 3.56 | 2.54 |
Antiseptic germicide
My mum’s most beloved product (ahem, just saying), the 1-litre Dettol antiseptic germicide costs S$17.90 at FairPrice. On the other hand, the same bottle at Lotus’s costs RM57.90 (S$18.65).
To save even more, FairPrice also carries its own brand of antiseptic germicide, with its 2-litre bottle going for S$18.29.
Well, it seems like Dettol products are cheaper in Singapore — definitely not the result I expected for my very first item. But let’s carry on, shall we?
Winner: FairPrice
Eggs
The cheapest eggs I could find at FairPrice were the Pasar brand fresh eggs, which cost S$2.85 for a pack of 10. For Lotus’s, the most affordable option was the Nutriplus Omega-3 eggs, priced at RM7.40 (S$2.38) for 10.
Winner: Lotus’s
Laundry powder
The 2.3kg Top Super Colour laundry powder at FairPrice retails at S$7.60. Over at Lotus’s, I could only find the same brand and type, but in a smaller 2.1kg pack priced at RM14.30 (S$4.61).
Winner: Lotus’s
Instant noodles
A 5-pack Maggi curry instant noodles at FairPrice costs S$2.67 while the exact same product at Lotus’s is going for RM4.35 (S$1.40). For those who don’t mind trying Lotus’s house brand, the 5-pack curry flavour is selling for just RM3.69 (S$1.19).
Winner: Lotus’s
Toilet paper
Now, let’s talk about the most important item to have in the washroom — toilet paper. The house brand from FairPrice is 3-ply and it retails at S$6.45 while Lotus’s is only 2-ply and is sold for RM7.19 (S$2.32). If you think it’s not a fair comparison, then the Premier 3-ply Bathroom Tissue that costs RM11.80 (S$3.80) is a closer match.
Winner: Lotus’s
Sanitary pads
The Kotex Overnight Protection at FairPrice goes for S$6.27 while its identical sibling at Lotus’s is priced at RM13.05 (S$4.20).
Winner: Lotus’s
Cooking oil
A 2-litre Knife cooking oil at FairPrice costs S$8.19 while its twin sibling at Lotus’s is priced at RM15.45 (S$4.98). That’s quite a lot of savings, indeed.
Winner: Lotus’s
White Rice
At FairPrice, the prices for both its house-brand white rice are as follows: 1kg FairPrice Thai Hom Mali (S$3.90) and 5kg Smart Choice (S$7.05). While Lotus’s doesn’t carry its own brand, the cheapest option that I spotted was the 10kg Jati Signature that costs RM26 (S$8.37).
Winner: Lotus’s
Dishwashing liquid
Dishwashing liquids are great for removing grime and grease from your dirty dishes and cutlery. Those who support FairPrice’s house brand can get two 1-litre bottles for just S$5.55. Otherwise, At Lotus’s, I couldn’t find any house brand but managed to find Lonkey Dishwashing Liquid (1 litre) at a promotional price, which was the cheapest at RM8.99 (S$2.89).
Winner: FairPrice
Fresh milk
A 946ml Marigold HL fresh milk at FairPrice will set you back S$3.56 while the same product at Lotus’s costs RM7.90 (S$2.54).
Winner: Lotus’s
Verdict
Based on the results above, it’s clear that most of the groceries bought in JB are cheaper, with only a couple of exceptions. No wonder so many Singaporeans head there!
Have any of you visited the other supermarkets in JB like Village Grocer or Jaya Grocer? Are their items also priced lower than in Singapore? Do let me know in the comments.
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