There’s a really obvious difference between discussing money here and in the UK. We Britons, and in my experience most Europeans, won’t ask someone how much they paid for something except in somewhat limited circumstances – they might be a good friend or when the question is purely informative and the product is commodotized (e.g. “How much do you pay for bread in Tescos?”).
In Singapore, it’s perfectly acceptable for *anyone* to ask how much you paid for *anything*, including quite large things like your apartment. Given that rent is always a negotiation, this is somewhat embarrassing to my temperament since it would seem to be a reflection of one’s ability to haggle.
Perhaps I’m just oversensitive :)