Why speculate? 
#!/usr/local/bin/perl -w

use Benchmark;

$count = 1_000_000;

print "Match eq => ", check_eq(), "\n";
print "Match rx => ", check_rx(), "\n";

timethese( $count, {
   'eq' => sub{ check_eq() },
   'rx' => sub{ check_rx() }
} );

sub check_eq {
   my $thing = "thing";
   my $i = 0;
   $i++ if( $thing eq "thing" );
   $i;
}

sub check_rx {
   my $thing = "thing";
   my $i = 0;
   $i++ if( $thing =~ /^thing$/ );
   $i;
}

[download]
reveals 
Match eq => 1
Match rx => 1
Benchmark: timing 1000000 iterations of eq, rx...
        eq: 15 wallclock secs (14.27 usr +  0.00 sys = 14.27 CPU) @ 70
+093.46/s (n=1000000)
        rx: 22 wallclock secs (21.08 usr +  0.00 sys = 21.08 CPU) @ 47
+430.83/s (n=1000000)

[download]

In reply to Re: Which is better when doing a simple match? by Anonymous Monk
in thread Which is better when doing a simple match? by mr.dunstan

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