Whether you live in the North, South, East, or West of Singapore, you’ll have heard of Mustafa Centre. The supermarket in Little India is one-of-a-kind. Stepping in, visitors enter a maze of clothes, groceries, jewellery, fragrances, and even electrical appliances. Heck, they even have vinyl records and a money changer to boot.
The 6-storey store – basements included – is overwhelming to say the least, but we’ve got you covered with a 101 guide for a productive visit. After 3 hours and 9,000+ steps clocked within the store, we’ve sussed out some of the most unique and worth it products to fill your baskets with.
P.S. There’s even a cafe with drinks from $1.50 you can rest at once you’re done shopping.
Table of Contents
You may come in thinking you can haggle your way to dirt cheap prices, but save yourself the trouble. The prices here are strictly fixed and have always been that way. Besides, the prices are already super affordable compared to many other retailers, so bargaining will just be a waste of energy.
It’s natural to think that considering how affordable things are at Mustafa, even their name-brand perfumes, that the products sold may not be original. But, customers will be glad to know that everything sold at Mustafa is legit. If you’re in doubt, you can check the distributor stickers and official websites that list Mustafa as licensed distributors.
For example, Fujifilm’s website lists Mustafa Centre as the authorised dealer for their products under the registered name “Mohamed Mustafa and Samsuddin”
Yes, Mustafa Centre is open 24/7.
If you’re looking to shop till you drop, set aside at least 3-4 hours of your time to explore what Mustafa Centre has to offer. If you want to avoid the crowds, come on weekdays in the afternoons or after 8pm. It is busiest on weekends, around 4pm. The only catch is that sales for the gold section will take in final transactions at 9.45pm, before closing properly at 10pm.
The centre is made up of 2 separate buildings, split by a road and connected via a bridge on level 2. Use our table below to see a quick breakdown of what goods are sold on what floor.
There is also a separate jewellery shop, just a minute walk away and a cafe along the same stretch where Mustafa Centre is located.
Just note that your shopping bags will be zip-tied once you’re done shopping, which is mainly to prevent theft. You might also be asked to secure your bags before you enter the shopping centre as well.
| Floor | Goods | Estimated price range |
| Basement 2 |
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| Basement 1 |
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| Level 1 |
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| Level 2 |
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| Level 3 |
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| Level 4 |
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On one half of the floor, you can find all things related to children’s entertainment including scooters, Barbie dolls, and remote control cars. We even found a handful of Disney plushies in case you need a quick and easy gift for a friend’s baby shower.
Image credit: Kezia Tan
Right next to the children’s section is the adventure and sports section where you can find plenty of stuff for camping, travelling, and outdoor sports. If you love being out and about, grab your sports shoes, Adidas bags, protective gear for skating, and even inflatable kayaks here.
New BTO owners, take note: home accessories, kitchen fixtures, and appliances take up the right corner of Basement 2. Whether you’re looking for garment steamers or television screens, everything you need to turn your house into a home can be found on these shelves. There are even affordably priced smart TVs and laptops here too.
Don’t miss the corner at the escalator where they have stoves and cooker hoods – some of which come with free installations. IKEA, who?
Most of us dream of camping in Singapore but will realistically only do so once or twice in our lives. We spotted a tent here that can fit 3 from $39 so you can enjoy the experience without feeling like you’re overspending.
Inflatable sleeping mats can also be purchased here, if sleeping on the cold hard floor triggers BMT memories.
Who needs to go to South Korea for athleisure products when you have Under Armour, Adidas, and Puma bags here at a discount? Not just stocked with old models, they’ve got relatively recent designs sold in outlet stores, like the Puma TeamGoal 23 Backpack.
Mustafa may be no Yamaha, but they do have a selection of affordably priced guitars for beginners. Prices that start from $69 to learn some chords and impress your crush with Wonderwall is a good deal in our books.
At this point, the Philips ComfortTouch (from $199) should be recognisable to most of us who’ve had to shop for a garment steamer. The popular model comes equipped with 3 intensities of steam, a cushioned board, and a non-drip feature so there’s no risk of getting burnt by accident.
If you enjoy shopping in Bangkok, you can’t miss Basement 1. It’s filled with plenty of clothing and accessories. Refresh your wardrobe with essentials here, from denim jeans stacked up in piles, to suits displayed on hangers.
Grab a Marvel superhero tee here to thrill your kids. For the men, you can easily find a formal button-down for under $15 to wear to the office. Belts, bangles, and bras? You name it, they have it.
Ladies can also find a huge section of saris here, from just $13.50. You’ll be drowning in garb of all materials, rolled up in shelves, or hanging from the ceiling, so you can bet this is a one-stop-shop for Deepavali celebrations.
With pretty frocks from under $30 here, you don’t have to feel the financial pain when your little princess inadvertently outgrows her current wardrobe. They have poofy cuts in pink, purple, and white, making this a great place to shop for budget-friendly flower girl dresses. No one will guess you grabbed it from Mustafa instead of an atas boutique.
If you’re looking for something branded without ending up with a triple-digit receipt, trawl through the many shelves stuffed with shoes here. Most of the kicks are older models with slightly dated designs, but if you search hard enough, you’ll be able to snag a pretty pair between $50-$100.
Puma Softride Enzo NXT Women’s Running Shoes .
Look up Mustafa Centre on Google and you’ll see that one of the most discussed products of theirs is jewellery. You’ll find many tourists here since Mustafa’s gold is known to be cheaper than in India. On top of that, tourists can get a GST refund from shopping here so it’s no surprise that the section is well-patronised.
That being said, locals looking to upgrade their jewellery collection can also swing by to check out their collection of bracelets, necklaces, and earrings mostly priced from $200.
Level 1 should be a 2022 hit movie since you can get everything, everywhere all at once. Depending on which of the 6 entrances you choose to enter the building from, you could be greeted with watches, perfumes, health products, or cosmetics. Heck, there’s even a money changer station here, if you want a quick pit stop before heading off for a short day trip to JB.
Hair accessories, old-school clocks, and even a section just for vinyl discs can all be found as part of the hodgepodge. Our favourite picks were in the perfume and cosmetic sections, where we found plenty of products for cheap.
Tip: While most of the products are slightly cheaper than other retailers here, some are priced higher. Come equipped with a full battery charge on your phone so you can do price comparisons as you go along.
The budget-savvy folks shop at Duty-Free. The extra budget-savvy folks get their perfume from Mustafa. Fragrances here go at a small fraction of prices elsewhere and they aren’t any rando brands as well – we’re talking big names like Coach, Jean Paul, Anna Sui, Hugo Boss, and Elizabth Arden.
You won’t feel the pinch when you splurge on cleansers at Mustafa, with the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water priced affordably. For instance, their All-In-1 cleansing water starts from $11.40 for a 400ml bottle.
They also have makeup products from brands like L’oreal and Maybelline. However, those are priced roughly the same as the average drugstore; ensure you have your phone on hand to compare prices on-site.
Health is wealth, and not all of us have 20/20 eyesight, but you don’t need to break the bank here when looking out on your myopic needs. The Opti-Free Puremoist Disinfecting Solution is $30 for a 3-pack bundle here.
Lightweight, non-sticky, and suitable as a makeup base, the cult-favourite Skin Aqua (from $14.50) is a great essential to combat Singapore’s blazing sun.
Read our guide to Mustafa makeup and skincare products for more good deals.
Yes, 2024 is coming to a close, but it’s still not too late to start your fitness transformation with the help of an accountability tool like an Apple Watch. It’s priced around $20 cheaper than the official retailers, with the latest Series 9 starting from $588. If you don’t need all the newest bells and whistles, Series 7 and 8 start from $459 and $499 respectively.
Foodies will miss out if they don’t spend an hour or so on Level 2, essentially your average Giant or FairPrice, but with a handful of unique products to boot.
Apart from offering competitive prices on regular supermarket goods like fruits and frozen meat, they also have a range of imported goods that are hard to find elsewhere in Singapore. We’ve spotted products from Europe, Thailand, and India, among many other countries.
Take your time exploring the ghee section. They offer at least 10 varieties of the healthier, butter-based alternative to cooking oil that you can purchase for your next MasterChef dish.
If you’re in the area and need a drink, their Switzer bottled water here is super cheap – just $0.25 for a cup or $0.70 for 1.5L. To stock up for guests, grab a carton of 24 cans of Coca-Cola priced at $14.
Down the left end of Level 2, there’s also a luggage section with brands like Swiss Polo, Samsonite, and American Tourister, all competitively priced. Travel accessories such as TSA locks can also be found in this section of the late-night supermarket, so you can grab everything you need before rushing off for a flight.
Need we say more? Nutella Biscuits (from $7.50) will have every kid and adult alike screaming in delight. Within a thin layer of biscuits lies a thick and rich coating of hazelnut chocolate, ready to be munched on. The best part? The bag is resealable.
Yes – Mars, Milky Way, M&M, and Bounty beverages exist. Avid travellers may have spotted them across Europe, while nifty shoppers may already know they can be often found in Mustafa.
A bottle of Bounty drink is just $1. It’s sweet, creamy, and tastes just like the original coconut chocolate. For sport buffs, you can even find PRIME here, starting from as low as $2.
We’re no strangers to the pantry staple brand, Lays, but you won’t be the only one who hasn’t heard of India’s Magic Masala potato chips. From just $1.50 for a medium-sized bag, this packs a punch of flavour, with a distinct kick of cardamom and cumin.
Sure, it’s hard to imagine going to an Indian supermarket with pasta as the first item on your shopping list. But that may change when you see the long row of Italian noodles near the mall’s connecting bridge, with all shapes and colours
Make your next culinary endeavour fantastico with the twisty Sicily-originated Trofie Casareccia (from $3.50), best served with a cream base and seafood. The kids will have fun with the Armoniche Casarecce (from $3.50), a rare find in Singapore, featuring a ruffled-cut surface that’ll scoop up plenty of sauce with each bite.
Read our Mustafa snack guide for a deeper dive into the unique food.
Whatever you can’t find on the other floors of the retail giant, you can probably find on Levels 3 and 4.
Home essentials like crockery, washing liquid, and clothes drying stands can be found on Level 3, which is much like the “utility” section of a Giant hypermart. Stocked with paper plates, curtains, and crockery, it’ll be an easy one-stop-shop to find items to restyle your home for special occasions like Chinese New Year and Hari Raya.
Meanwhile, Level 4 resembles a budget Art Friend with back-to-school essentials like mathematical instrument kits, files, and colour pencils, among other stationery. They also have a well-stocked section of artificial plants and flowers for those who just cannot keep their greens alive.
The many carpet designs at Mustafa are an easy way to make your BTO scream less “run-of-the-mill” and more “cultural chic”. They start from just $6 for a small carpet that you can place under your desk, to $19 for a medium one to elevate your living room space.
It’s time to stop Googling “easy hardy plants” and head straight for artificial potted plants instead. There’s a large assortment of artificial flowers ($5-$6) here that won’t perish when you inevitably forget to water them.
In the next aisle, decorative flowers of all shapes and sizes are stuffed into the shelves, which would be a nifty budget DIY idea for parties or wedding venues. They have flowers in all colours of the rainbow, as well as decor taller than myself.
Masala tea, ginger tea, and BRU coffee from $1.50 await at the Mustafa Cafe once you’re done with your shopping spree. The cafe is located just outside the supermarket, with a handful of seats to rest your tired legs on.
If you’re hungry, order some potato tapas (from $2.50), naan (from $1.80), or some popcorn chicken ($3.50) to snack on with your supermarket gang gang. They also have burgers and hotdogs from $3.50 for the ravenous.
If you’re going via MRT, just take the Downtown Line to Little India MRT station. Mustafa Centre is a 7-minute walk from there, or an 8-minute walk from Jalan Besar MRT station. For a shorter walk, make your way to the North-East Line and drop at Farrer Park MRT station. Mustafa Centre is only 5 minutes away.
Alternatively, you can hop on any of these buses: 21, 125, 130, and 141. Alight at ‘Before Tai Hoe Hotel’ bus stop, which is just a 3-minute walk from Mustafa Centre.
Fill your basket up for cheap at Mustafa Centre Singapore
If you’re anything like me, you can probably count the number of times you’ve visited Mustafa Centre on just 1 hand – too few, if this latest visit has anything to say about it. There are just so many exciting gems around every corner, and you’ll never know what fun items you’ll end up heading home with.
For more shopping guides:
Photography by Gavin Chua.
Last updated by Syahiran Sean on 14th August 2024.
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