The article is specifically about purchasing homes. Even the USA, it also is cheaper to rent than to buy. Buying a home in Singapore has a 6 year waiting list to access public housing with properties exceeding $1m SGD.
Taxes, Transportation and food costs are cheap, but property is not.
Singapore is not really typical of anything anywhere, it's a small island nation with insane population pressure with regards to housing.
Almost any other Asian city from Bangkok to Ha Noi has room to expand. In fact speaking of Bangkok buying a condo there is widely considered a bad investment because there is so much supply.
Taxes, Transportation and food costs are cheap, but property is not.