Throwaway account for obvious reasons. Just needed to get this off my chest because if I tell my real-life friends, they will definitely judge me, but I’m just being 100% realistic about how relationships work in modern Singapore.
Me (32M) and my GF (26F) have been together for about 8 months. I’m not blind or naive—I know for a fact she’s with me mainly because I clear a decent monthly income and pay for almost everything when we go out. On paper, it sounds like I’m getting taken for a ride, right? But if you sit down and actually calculate the ROI, it’s a total win-win situation for both sides.
Here’s the breakdown:
We go out and eat somewhere good—like nice hotpot, high-end sushi, or nice bistro bars—maybe once a week or twice a month max. Total spending on fine dining/date nights comes up to around $400 a month. Add in occasional bubble tea, grab rides, or small random gifts, let’s say another $100-$200. Total monthly investment: maybe $500 to $600 max.
In return? I get piak practically daily, if you know what I mean.
So the other day, I actually opened Excel and did the math. Doing it daily means around 25 to 30 times a month. At a total cost of ~$500, my average cost works out to about $16 to $20 per time. Even on a slow month where it’s only 15 times, it works out to ~$33 to $40 per time.
Compare that to Geylang or freelancers in SG. Easily $100 to $150 minimum per session, zero emotional connection, super rushed, and you still have to worry about hygiene or getting caught. Here, I get a cute, clean, well-dressed partner who holds my hand in public, accompanies me to events, listena to my day, and provides daily physical benefits for a fraction of the market rate.
Sorry to say, but this world is realistic like that. She is here for the money and the lifestyle I can provide, and I am here for whatever physical and companionship benefits she can offer. It’s basically a transaction wrapped in a standard Singaporean dating format. No high expectations, no heartbreak, just pure mutual benefit.
Am I cynical? Maybe. But mathematically speaking, it’s the most cost-effective arrangement I’ve ever had. Anyone else running these kinds of numbers, or am I the only one who views dating like an ops manager?