| Nationality | Central estimate, all-in | Full range (standard levy) | With levy concession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indonesian helper | S$1,305 / month | S$1,106 to S$1,486 | S$865 to S$1,246 |
| Filipino helper | S$1,430 / month | S$1,206 to S$1,636 | S$966 to S$1,396 |
| Myanmar helper | S$1,205 / month | S$1,006 to S$1,386 | S$766 to S$1,146 |
The levy concession (S$60 instead of S$300) applies where a Singapore-citizen child under 16, a household member aged 67 or above, or a certified person with disabilities lives at the address, per MOM. That single line moves every number down by S$240 a month.
The line items
1. Salary, the only line that differs by nationality
Singapore sets no minimum wage for migrant domestic workers, so floors come from the source countries. The Philippine DMW raised its minimum for newly hired domestic workers to US$500 for contracts processed on or after 21 October 2025, roughly S$640 to S$660. Indonesia's long-standing floor is S$550 and Myanmar's S$450. Published 2026 Singapore market ranges sit at S$670 to S$850 for Filipino, S$560 to S$700 for Indonesian, and S$450 to S$600 for Myanmar helpers. Index inputs use the mid-points: S$625, S$750, and S$525 respectively. See our maid salary guide for the full breakdown.
2. Levy: S$300, or S$60 with a concession
MOM's published rates: S$300 a month for the first helper, S$450 for each subsequent helper, S$60 concessionary, due by the 17th of the following month. Full detail in our levy guide.
3. Insurance: about S$20 to S$23 a month, amortised
MOM requires at least S$60,000 of annual medical cover and S$60,000 personal accident cover, paid by the employer. The two cheapest published 26-month premiums for a helper aged 50 and below: HL Assurance Maid Protect360 PRO Basic at S$507.00 including GST (S$19.50 a month) and MSIG MaidPlus Standard at S$585.33 including GST (S$22.51 a month). Premiums for helpers over 50 are materially higher.
4. Security bond: S$5,000 liability, near-zero cash cost
The S$5,000 bond for non-Malaysian helpers is furnished as an insurer guarantee inside the policies above, so the typical cash outlay is S$0. It is a contingent liability, not a payment. See our security bond guide.
5. Food and utilities: S$180 to S$300 a month
MOM requires adequate food and accommodation but sets no dollar figure. Published 2026 estimates run S$150 to S$250 for food plus S$30 to S$50 of added utilities. The index uses S$250 as the mid-point, matching the common S$250 food allowance convention.
6. Six-monthly medical screening: about S$7 to S$25 a month
Required every six months, at a published S$40 to S$150 per screening depending on the clinic.
7. One-off hiring costs, spread over 24 months
Agency fee S$1,000 to S$3,000 (market range), work permit application and issuance S$70, Settling-in Programme S$76.40 to S$92.65 for first-time helpers, pre-employment medical S$40 to S$150. Total one-off: S$1,186 to S$3,313, or S$49 to S$138 a month amortised over a 24-month contract.
Methodology
- Every figure is taken from the cited source as published in August 2026. Nothing is estimated from private data.
- Where only a market range exists (salary, agency fee, food), the index shows the full range and uses the mid-point for the central estimate.
- One-off costs are amortised straight-line over 24 months, the standard contract cycle.
- Central estimate arithmetic, Indonesian: 625 salary + 300 levy + 250 food and utilities + 21.01 insurance + 15.83 medical screening + 93.73 amortised one-offs = S$1,305.57, shown as S$1,305. Filipino substitutes 750; Myanmar substitutes 525.
- Next scheduled update: February 2027, or earlier if MOM, the DMW, or a source country changes a published rate.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions and answers
Sources
Every figure above, with the page it came from. Verified 28-29 August 2026. Corrections are welcome and credited.
| Figure | Source |
|---|---|
| Levy: S$300 first helper / S$450 subsequent / S$60 concessionary; daily S$9.87 / S$1.98; due by the 17th of the following month | MOM, paying the levy |
| Concession eligibility: Singapore-citizen child under 16, household member 67 or above, or certified person with disabilities | MOM, levy concession |
| Medical insurance minimum S$60,000 a year, personal accident minimum S$60,000; cost cannot be passed to the helper | MOM, insurance requirements |
| Security bond S$5,000 for non-Malaysian helpers, furnished as a guarantee | MOM, security bond |
| Settling-in Programme S$76.40 to S$92.65 including GST, borne by the employer, first-time helpers | MOM, Settling-in Programme |
| HL Assurance Maid Protect360 PRO Basic, 26 months, helper aged 50 and below: S$507.00 including GST (S$19.50 a month) | HL Assurance published premiums |
| MSIG MaidPlus Standard, 26 months, helper aged 50 and below: S$585.33 including GST (S$22.51 a month) | MSIG published premiums |
| Philippine DMW minimum for newly hired domestic workers raised from US$400 to US$500, contracts processed on or after 21 October 2025 (roughly S$640 to S$660) | People Matters, DMW announcement |
| Source-country salary floors: Indonesia S$550, Myanmar S$450 | MSIG, helper salary guide |
| 2026 market ranges: salaries by nationality, food S$150 to S$250, utilities S$30 to S$50, medical screening S$40 to S$150, agency fee S$1,000 to S$3,000, work permit fees S$70 | SingSaver cost guide, updated 30 July 2026 |
| Corroborating line items: agency fees, living expenses, salary ranges | Income, helper costs guide |
Published by Upwill Employment Services, MOM EA Licence 24C2628. This index cites only public primary sources. Media and publishers may cite these figures with attribution and a link to this page.
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