How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Maid in Singapore in 2026? (Real Breakdown)

TL;DR: The all-in cost to hire a maid in Singapore in 2026 runs about S$11,500-S$14,000 in Year 1 and S$22,000-S$27,000 across a full two-year contract, covering salary, FDW levy, insurance, agency fees and one-time setup. Concessionary-levy households save up to S$5,760.

If you have been quietly Googling how much does a helper cost in Singapore at 11pm, you are not alone. The honest answer is that maid cost in Singapore is not just the monthly salary on the contract. It is a layered mix of one-time, monthly, and annual line items that most agencies bury in the fine print. This guide gives you every 2026 figure in one place, three real worked examples, and a clear answer to the question every employer actually wants answered: how much will I spend in Year 1, and how much across the full two-year contract?

All figures below reflect 2026 rates verified against MOM guidance and current market data from licensed Singapore agencies. Where rates vary by provider, we give a realistic range.

The Total: How Much You'll Really Spend on a Helper in 2026 (Year 1 and Year 2 Numbers)

Here is the short answer most readers come for. For a typical Singapore household hiring a new overseas helper in 2026, the total cost of hiring a helper in Singapore looks like this:

• Year 1 (all-in): S$11,500 - S$14,000
• Year 2 (all-in): S$10,500 - S$13,000
• Full 2-year contract: S$22,000 - S$27,000

Concessionary levy households (with a child under 16, a senior 67+, or a person with disabilities) save roughly S$2,880 per year on levy alone, a meaningful difference across a two-year contract. Transfer helpers (already in Singapore) shave a further S$900-S$1,300 off Year 1 by reducing agency fees and skipping certain one-time charges. We'll break each line item down below, then put it all together in three real household scenarios. If you'd rather plug in your own numbers, our cost calculators do the math for you.

One-Time Costs at the Start

These are the costs you pay once when bringing a helper on. Most are settled before she starts work or within her first month.

• Agency fee (new placement): S$1,500 - S$2,500. This covers sourcing, biodata screening, interviews, paperwork, and airport pickup. Transfer helpers cost less, typically S$600 - S$1,200, because there's no overseas recruitment involved. See our transfer helper service for transfer-specific pricing.
• Work Permit application fee: S$35 (issuance) plus S$35 (renewal every 2 years).
• Settling-In Programme (SIP): S$76.40 (Absolute Kinetics) to S$92.65 (premium providers). Mandatory one-day orientation for all first-time helpers in Singapore. Transfer helpers who have done it before are exempt.
• FDW insurance (26-month policy): from S$566.80 (Standard tier) up to S$730.30 (Premier tier). This bundles the mandatory medical insurance, personal accident cover, and security bond insurance. Browse plans on our helper insurance page.
• Security bond: S$5,000, but you do not pay this in cash. It's purchased as a bond insurance policy for around S$50 - S$80 per year, usually bundled into your FDW insurance package.
• Pre-employment medical exam: S$100 - S$200 (mandatory for first-time helpers; transfers may have a valid one already).
• Flight ticket and miscellaneous (luggage, SIM card, initial supplies): S$300 - S$600 if not absorbed by the agency.

One-time total (new hire): roughly S$2,600 - S$4,200. For a transfer helper, expect S$1,400 - S$2,200.

Monthly Recurring Costs

These are the predictable bills you'll see every month for the life of the contract.

• Helper salary: varies by nationality and experience. Our 2026 salary index tracks live ranges:
  • Filipino: S$620 - S$850/month
  • Indonesian: S$570 - S$780/month
  • Myanmar: S$550 - S$750/month
• FDW levy: S$300/month (standard) or S$60/month (concessionary). A second helper is levied at S$450/month. Full eligibility rules are on our FDW levy reference page.
• Food and utilities allowance: ~S$120/month rule of thumb (groceries portion attributable to the helper, plus a sliver of utilities and toiletries).
• Off-day in-lieu pay (if applicable): if your helper works on a rest day, MOM requires extra compensation of at least one day's salary.

Monthly total: roughly S$830 - S$1,270 for concessionary-levy households and S$1,070 - S$1,510 for standard-levy households.

Annual Costs (Renewals, Medical Exams, Insurance)

A few line items only hit you once or twice a year, easy to forget when budgeting:

• 6-monthly medical examination: S$100 - S$200 each, twice a year (mandated by MOM). Annual total: S$200 - S$400.
• FDW insurance renewal: Insurance is purchased for 26 months at the start of each contract, so for a fresh 2-year contract you typically don't renew mid-cycle. If you extend, you'll repurchase the 26-month policy (S$566 - S$730).
• Work Permit renewal: S$35 every two years, plus a fresh medical exam.
• Bonus / ang bao (customary, not mandatory): most employers give 1 month's salary as a Chinese New Year or year-end bonus, budget S$600 - S$850.
• Home leave (optional, every 2 years): flight back to the home country for a visit, S$300 - S$700.

The Hidden Costs Most Employers Miss

This is where first-time employers blow their budget. Build a buffer for:

• Phone bill: many employers cover a basic mobile plan for the helper, S$15 - S$30/month.
• Replacement medical bills: insurance covers hospitalisation, but outpatient visits, dental, and over-the-counter medication often fall to the employer, budget S$200 - S$500/year.
• Training top-ups: infant care, elderly care, or cooking classes, S$200 - S$500 per course.
• Replacement helper fees: if a placement doesn't work out within the first 6 months, most agencies offer a partial replacement guarantee, but you'll still pay a top-up of S$500 - S$1,000.
• Repatriation flight at end of contract: S$300 - S$500, employer-funded.
• CPF, NOT required: good news, helpers are exempt from CPF.

Cost Difference: New Hire vs Transfer Helper

A transfer helper is already in Singapore on a valid work permit. She just changes employer. The savings are real:

• Agency fee: S$600 - S$1,200 (vs S$1,500 - S$2,500 for a new hire)
• SIP: not required (S$76.40+ saved)
• Flight ticket: not required (S$300 - S$600 saved)
• FDW insurance: still required, but may be prorated or carried over depending on her previous policy

Net saving in Year 1: roughly S$900 - S$1,300. You also typically see her work in person before hiring, which reduces mismatch risk. Trade-off: pool of available transfer helpers is smaller than overseas.

Cost Difference: Standard vs Concessionary Levy

The single biggest lever on your monthly bill is the levy concession. If your household includes a Singaporean citizen child under 16, a senior aged 67 or above, or a person with disabilities, you pay S$60/month instead of S$300, a saving of S$240/month or S$2,880/year.

Over a 2-year contract, concession saves you S$5,760. MOM auto-approves the concession based on your application info for child and elderly care; PWD cases require separate application.

Real Worked Examples: 3 Household Scenarios

Numbers are rounded to the nearest S$10. All scenarios assume Premier-tier insurance and mid-range salaries.

Scenario A: Young couple, no kids, Indonesian helper (overseas), standard levy

Scenario B: Family with 2 young kids, Filipino helper (overseas), concessionary levy

Scenario C: Family caring for elderly parent (67+), Myanmar transfer helper, concessionary levy

Scenario C shows why transfer + concessionary levy is the cheapest path: you save almost S$6,700 over two years compared to Scenario A. If cost matters and you qualify, this is the route worth exploring.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Filipino helper cost in Singapore in 2026?

All-in cost is around S$1,350 - S$1,650/month on standard levy or S$1,110 - S$1,410/month on concessionary levy, including salary (S$620 - S$850), levy, food, and a portion of one-time costs amortised across the contract.

What's the cheapest nationality to hire?

Myanmar helpers currently have the lowest salary band (S$550 - S$750), followed by Indonesian (S$570 - S$780). But salary is only one input: experience, language, and fit usually matter more than nationality.

Is the S$5,000 security bond paid in cash?

No. Almost every employer purchases a security bond insurance policy for S$50 - S$80/year, usually bundled with the FDW insurance package. You only pay out if there's a breach.

Can I claim tax relief on the FDW levy?

No. FDW Levy Relief lapsed from YA 2025 onwards. Employers cannot claim this relief on Year of Assessment 2025 or later.

How much should I budget for the first month?

For a new overseas hire on standard levy, budget around S$4,500 - S$5,500 for month one (one-time costs plus first month's salary, levy, and food). Transfer helpers run closer to S$3,000 - S$3,800.

Do I need to give a bonus?

Not legally required, but customary. Most employers in Singapore give 1 month's salary as a Chinese New Year or year-end bonus, plus small ang baos at festivals.