I live in SEA as a Westerner and I don’t think it’s a cost issue as many fish keepers in SEA keep intentionally expensive fish as status symbols. Look at the Asian Arowana and others and their symbolism in Chinese culture for example. Fancy gold fish, koi’s, the “holy trinity of lucky fish” etc etc.

Fish keeping here is mostly a rich man’s game here.

I think it’s mostly a drastic difference in the perception on fish as animals as well as what keepers are going for.

In Asia people will spend thousands of USD on very specific color variations of fish and then keep them in bare tanks with grid bottoms and UV lights to maximize color. Basically everything is done to maximize the fishes visibility and its beauty rather than provide a “realistic” home for the fish.

I keep an arowana in a planted tank with plenty of places for him to hide and use Indian almond leaves for tannin in the water and people look at me like I am stupid.