What price will Singaporeans be willing to pay for good food brought back from overseas?

The answer: Very high.

According to Oriental Daily News, a Chinese-language Malaysian newspaper, Singaporeans are now paying more than double the price for Malaysia's local specialties by ordering via an app called Airfrov.

The app allows "requesters" to contribute to a list to food items to buy, and the task of purchasing the items will then be taken up by a "traveller" who provides the service, which includes sending them personally in bulk across the causeway to the buyers in Singapore.

Paying more

It was reported that Singaporeans are paying more for food such as Johor's curry fish head, banana cake and Shanghai mooncake, Malacca's nonya kuehs, Ipoh's charcoal heong peah (traditional caramel biscuits), and Penang's tau sar peah (tambun biscuits).

Here are some quoted prices and price differences:

• Kam Long Restaurant Curry Fish Head (Johor)

  • Actual price: 35 ringgit (S$11)
  • Price online: S$27
  • Price difference: S$16

• Hiap Joo Banana Cake (Johor)

  • Actual price: 10 ringgit (S$3)
  • Price online: S$10
  • Price difference: S$7

• Tambun Biscuits (Penang)

  • Actual price: 13 ringgit (S$4)
  • Price online: S$18
  • Price difference: S$14

• Yuen Fatt Bakery Shanghai Mooncake (Johor)

  • Actual price: 30.70 ringgit (S$9.90)
  • Price online: S$13
  • Price difference: S$3.10

• Charcoal Heong Peah (Ipoh)

  • Actual price: 10 ringgit (S$3)
  • Price online: $8
  • Price difference: $5

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A representative from Yuen Fatt Bakery told Oriental Daily News' that many of Johor's famous bread and cakes found in Singapore's cafes were most likely brought in through the same way.

Other than Malaysian food, the peer-to-peer shopping platform also offers products from "travellers" in other countries through similar group purchases.

Top image via here