Cost of Hiring a Maid in Singapore: Full 2026 Breakdown

cost-of-hiring-a-maid-in-singapore-full-2026-breakdown
At a Glance
  1. First-year total for a new overseas helper: roughly S$14,000 to S$22,000 (indicative)
  2. Monthly running cost after setup: about S$950 to S$1,550 (indicative)
  3. MOM maid levy: S$300 a month, or S$60 with concession. A second helper is S$450 at the standard rate
  4. MOM security bond: S$5,000 per non-Malaysian helper, usually covered by insurance
  5. Medical insurance must have an annual claim limit of at least S$60,000, and you cannot pass the cost to your helper
  6. First-time helpers attend the Settling-in Programme within 7 days of arrival (from S$76.40)

Friends, how much does a maid really cost in Singapore?

More than the salary. Quite a bit more in year one.

There is the levy, the insurance, the agency fee, the flight, the medical checks, and her food.

So here is every line in plain SGD, with three worked budgets. No surprises later.

How much does it cost to hire a maid in Singapore in 2026?

S$950+
Every Month
Salary, levy and food. Up to about S$1,550 depending on nationality, experience and levy rate.
S$4,000+
Upfront, Overseas Hire
Agency fee, insurance, medical, SIP, work permit and airfare. Up to about S$8,000.
S$2,000+
Upfront, Transfer
A helper already in Singapore. No flight, no SIP. Up to about S$4,000.

Ranges are indicative, based on licensed agencies' rate cards. MOM figures (levy, bond, SIP, insurance minimums) are fixed rules.

What is the monthly maid salary in Singapore by nationality?

Singapore has no minimum wage for domestic helpers. You agree the salary with her. Source countries and the market set the floor in practice.

Swipe left or right to see the full table on mobile.

Nationality Fresh (S$/month) Experienced or transfer
Filipino From 650 From 750
Indonesian From 550 From 600
Myanmar From 500 From 600
Sri Lankan From 450 From 550

Indicative starting bands from agency rate cards, 2026.

  • Experienced helpers usually ask S$100 to S$200 more than the fresh band.
  • Transfer helpers can negotiate more. Her Singapore record is checkable and you can meet her first.
  • Budget on the experienced band if you are open to a transfer.

Who qualifies for the S$60 maid levy concession?

You pay the levy to MOM every month the work permit is active. It is never deducted from her pay.

You may pay S$60 instead of S$300 if the household has, living with you:

  • A Singapore Citizen child or grandchild below 16
  • A family member aged 67 or older (you, your spouse, a parent or parent-in-law)
  • A person with disabilities who needs help with at least one activity of daily living
Worth S$2,880 a year
The concession saves S$240 a month. Check your eligibility on the MOM levy concession page before you budget. A second helper costs S$450 a month at the standard rate.

What are the upfront costs of hiring a maid?

Swipe left or right to see the full table on mobile.

Item Cost (S$) Notes
Agency fee 800 to 2,000 Indicative. Filipino hires sit higher
Work permit 70 S$35 application + S$35 issuance
Security bond 5,000 Usually covered by a bond-waiver policy bundled with insurance
Maid insurance 200 to 400 / yr Indicative. Medical (S$60,000 limit) + personal accident (S$60,000)
Medical exam 80 to 100 Indicative clinic price, on arrival
Settling-in Programme 76.40 to 92.65 First-timers only, within 7 days of arrival
Airfare 350 to 700 Indicative. Overseas hires only

SIP fees are MOM's listed provider prices, inclusive of GST.

  • Ask the agency for a written breakdown of what its fee covers.
  • A low fee that leaves out the permit, insurance or flight often costs more in the end.
  • You cannot pass insurance costs on to your helper. MOM says so plainly.

What does a realistic first-year maid budget look like?

Three worked examples. Food and upkeep assumed at S$400 a month, insurance S$300, bond policy S$70, medical S$90, SIP S$77.

Swipe left or right to see the full table on mobile.

Item (S$) New Indonesian, S$550, standard levy Myanmar transfer, S$650, standard levy New Indonesian, S$550, S$60 levy
Salary x 12 6,600 7,800 6,600
Levy x 12 3,600 3,600 720
Agency fee 1,200 1,000 1,200
Insurance + bond policy 370 370 370
Medical, permit, SIP 237 160 (no SIP) 237
Airfare 500 0 500
Food and upkeep x 12 4,800 4,800 4,800
First-year total 17,307 17,730 14,427

Illustrative only. Six-monthly medical checks add roughly S$80 each on top. Your agency quote will differ.

How much does a maid cost per year after the first year?

Once setup is paid, most households spend about S$11,000 to S$17,000 a year (indicative).

  • Salary: S$6,000 to S$9,600
  • Levy: S$720 to S$3,600
  • Insurance and bond policy renewal: about S$260 to S$480
  • Six-monthly medical exam (6ME): two a year, screening for pregnancy and infectious diseases
  • Food and daily needs: S$3,600 to S$6,000
Often missed: the levy never pauses
It runs every month the permit is active, including when you travel or she is on home leave.
Often missed: her flight home
At contract end, the employer pays for her return. Set aside S$350 to S$700.
Often missed: the insurance co-pay
For medical claims above S$15,000, employers co-pay 25%. A wider policy can be worth the small extra.

How can I lower the cost of hiring a maid?

1
Check the concession
A child below 16 or a parent aged 67+ at home can save S$2,880 a year.
2
Consider a transfer
No flight, no SIP, often a lower agency fee. She can start sooner too.
3
Compare 2 or 3 agencies
Fees can differ by S$300 to S$500. Compare what each fee includes, line by line.
4
Keep insurance proper
A better policy often costs under S$100 more a year. One hospital stay makes it worth it.
Ready to compare real helpers and fees?
Browse helper profiles from MOM-licensed agencies. Filter by nationality, experience and transfer status, then talk to the agency directly.
Browse Searchmaid

P.S. Add up every line and a helper still costs less than the hours you would spend arguing about whose turn it is to do the dishes.

Frequently Asked Questions

The monthly running cost is typically SGD 950 to 1,550. That covers salary of SGD 500 to 800 depending on nationality and experience, the monthly levy of SGD 300 at the standard rate or SGD 60 with the concession, mandatory insurance, and food and daily upkeep. The levy concession saves SGD 2,880 a year for qualifying households.

Expect roughly SGD 14,000 to 22,000 in the first year for a new overseas hire, covering twelve months of salary and levy, the agency fee, security bond insurance, medical exam, Settling-In Programme, and airfare. A levy-concession household lands lower, closer to SGD 11,000 to 16,000. A transfer maid cuts the upfront cost, but the total still depends on the agreed salary.

The monthly maid levy is SGD 300 at the standard rate, or SGD 60 under the concession if your household has a child aged 16 or below, an elderly person aged 67 or older, or a person with disabilities. A second helper is levied at SGD 450 per month. The levy is paid by the employer, not deducted from the helper's salary.

Agency placement fees typically run SGD 800 to 2,000 depending on nationality and service level, with Filipino placements at the higher end. For a new overseas hire, the total upfront cost covering the agency fee, security bond insurance, mandatory insurance, medical exam, SIP, and airfare commonly reaches SGD 4,000 to 8,000.

Fresh helper salaries start from about SGD 450 to 650 per month depending on nationality. There is no single Singapore-wide minimum, but source countries set floors: the Philippines mandates around SGD 650 under DMW rules, while fresh Indonesian and Myanmar helpers start from SGD 550 and SGD 500, and Sri Lankans from SGD 450.

The security bond is SGD 5,000, lodged with MOM for every non-Malaysian helper. Most employers do not pay this in cash. They buy bond-waiver insurance for a small annual premium of around SGD 60 to 80, usually bundled with the required mandatory maid insurance. The bond obligation ends when the work permit is cancelled.

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