Swanston: Essentials store in Chinatown
There is nothing more Singaporean than our love for good lobang, so it comes as no surprise that Swanston, a decades-long cult favourite among bargain lovers, has slowly become an open secret amongst locals.
Often touted as the go-to essentials store located in Chinatown for budget-friendly options, this sprawling shop spans multiple lots and is packed with a wide variety of health, beauty, and household products. If you’re wondering whether it’s worth making the trip down, here’s a peek at the kind of steals you can expect to find here.
What to expect at Swanston in Chinatown?
Image credit: Elaine Tan via Google Maps
Tucked away in a corner of People’s Park Food Centre, Swanston is easy to miss for the regular tourist or passerby, but the shop has been a mainstay of the marketplace for close to 2 decades and a place of fond memories for long-time customers. Recently, Swanston’s been making the rounds on social media as an affordable haven, and for good reason, given the rising cost of basically everything nowadays.
Image adapted from Share Share via Google Maps
If its bright yellow price tags with unbelievably low prices aren’t enough to draw you in, then its wall-to-wall shelves stacked with products might do the trick. The decent-sized shop is stocked to the brim with household names, from Dove shampoos and L’Oreal skincare products to Cif surface cleaners and Dynamo laundry detergent. While their prices are on the lower end, they still carry local and foreign brands such as Bio Essence and Cotril, an Italian haircare line.
From your everyday necessities like toiletries, cosmetics, deodorants, sanitary products, and even baby bath wash, to household staples like detergent pods, toilet cleaners, and floor wipes, you can tick off virtually every box on your shopping list with just one trip here.
How much cheaper is it really?
You might be wondering if the prices are worth braving a busy area full of tourists and seniors, especially with some online chatter claiming that similar stores in the heartlands have equally competitive prices. So, being our naturally kiasu selves, we compared Swanston’s prices to other popular brick-and-mortar chain stores to see which items are most worth buying and whether the store lives up to its reputation.
*Prices are accurate at the time of writing but are subject to change.
Personal hygiene products
Screenshot from: @jamesdorigo via TikTok
Long-time customers have posted reviews raving about finding the cheapest toothbrushes at Swanston. A 3-pack of Colgate charcoal toothbrushes costs $5.50 at Swanston, which would cost almost double that at Watsons.
Screenshot from: @jamesdorigo via TikTok
But it’s not always the case. Sometimes, even a similar product from the same brand and category isn’t that much cheaper here than elsewhere. A tube of Colgate toothpaste from Swanston costs $2, comparable to the prices at Value Dollar and Venus, both of which hover around $1.90.
Screenshot from: @swizzyinsg via TikTok
One thing that sets Swanston apart is that they carry items you may not find in other shops. While NTUC FairPrice, Venus, Watsons, and Guardian all stock 200ml and 1L bottles of Listerine Original Mouthwash, it seems that only Swanston carries the 750ml version, priced at just $3.80 – that’s cheaper than some cai fan orders nowadays.
Household products
Screenshot from: @jamesdorigo via TikTok
If you’re the type to stock up on your monthly household needs in one single trip, Swanston has both full-sized bottles of laundry detergent from classic brands like Dynamo and Top, as well as refills for certain products.
A 2.6kg bottle of Dynamo Liquid Power Gel will cost you $8.50, a steal compared to the 2.7kg bottle sold by their neighbouring competitor, myCK, which retails for $13.95 (U.P. $15.95). Keep an eye out for bundle deals too, such as Softlan fabric softener refills sold in packs of 3 for $6.90.
How to get to Swanston in Chinatown?
Image credit: Paul Ciprian via Google Maps
Getting to Swanston is easier than it seems. Head to People’s Park Food Centre right across from Chinatown MRT Exit C, then take the escalator to the 2nd level. Turn right until you spot Ten Dollar.Com Salon. Make a left and head towards the end of the corridor, and you’ll find Swanston’s bright green banners.
Visit Swanston to stock up on everyday essentials
For a store right in the heart of a touristy area, Swanston’s prices are decently affordable. Although it only has 1 outlet in Singapore, the impressive range of brands stocked makes it worth checking out.
Customers suggest popping by on weekdays to avoid the hectic weekend crowd. But before heading down, be sure to make a shopping list so you can skip the hassle of squeezing between each narrow aisle to browse.
After you’ve secured your loot, drop by the food centre for a cheap but hearty meal to fuel up before the journey home. And if you’re in the mood for some extra retail therapy, cross the linkbridge to OG People’s Park, where you’ll find anything from housewares to apparel and more.
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Cover image adapted from: Swanston via Facebook, DORIS ANG via Google Maps