New research from YouGov shows that while dining out remains a core part of Singaporean life, rising costs are prompting noticeable shifts in how often and where people choose to eat. According to the Singapore Dining Out Report 2025, one in three Singapore diners (32%) say they are eating out less frequently than they did a year ago, with this trend climbing to 37% among Gen X and Baby Boomers+.

Cost pressures are the clear driver. Among those dining out less, 65% mention rising restaurant prices as the main reason for eating out less frequently, while nearly three in five point to higher living costs (57%) and efforts to save money (57%).

The study also reveals that nearly nine in ten Singapore diners (89%) feel restaurant prices have risen in the past twelve months, with older diners (92%) even more likely to notice the increase.

Still, Singapore’s appetite for dining out remains strong: about four in ten Singaporeans (39%) dine out at least once a week, a figure that climbs to 50% among Gen Z and Millennials. However, most diners are adapting their behavior to stretch their budgets: 65% say they’ve changed their dining preferences to save money, primarily by choosing cheaper restaurants (71%). Interestingly, this is equally high across income groups.

Using discounts and coupons (60%) is another tactic, more common among high-income diners (at 67%). Gen X and Baby Boomers+ diners are more likely than their younger counterparts to say they use discounts or coupons to save on dining costs (63% vs 56%).

When it comes to incentives, Buy One, Get One (BOGO) offers and discounts are the strongest motivators, with nearly two-thirds of diners (65% each) saying such promotions would encourage them to dine out more often. Younger diners are also more drawn to free desserts or appetizers (25%), while older generations prefer BOGO deals (71%).

Among restaurant brands, McDonald’s leads as the most considered dining option in Singapore, with a score of 59%, followed by KFC (35.6%) and Burger King (31.4%). Subway (28.3%) and Ya Kun Kaya Toast (26.1%) round out the top five brands, reflecting the continued dominance of quick-service and familiar local favorites in the city’s dining landscape.

Download the full report here.

Methodology

Insights for this report are drawn from YouGov Surveys: Serviced, conducted between August 11 and September 2, 2025, among 1000 respondents in Singapore. Singapore diners are defined as those who answered with “Less than once a month” or more frequently to the question: “How often, if ever, do you eat out at restaurants (including cafés, pubs serving food, and fast-food joints)?”.

The brand rankings in this report are sourced from YouGov’s always-on brand tracker, YouGov BrandIndex.​ Consideration scores are based on respondents’ answers to “When you are in the market next to purchase food or drink, from which of the following would you consider purchasing?” Filtered by respondents who are likely or very likely to dine out at quick serve Restaurants/Cafes in next 30 days. ​To qualify as a top ranked brand, brands​ must have scores available for at least​ 183 days between October 1, 2024 – September 30, 2025.