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

If you've been searching for a straight answer to "how much does a maid cost in Singapore," you're not alone — it's one of the most common questions we get, and one of the most poorly explained online. The honest answer is that the monthly salary is only one piece of a larger picture that includes one-time setup costs, a monthly government levy, insurance, and ongoing living expenses.

Here's a clear breakdown, based on current 2026 figures.

One-time upfront costs

These are costs you'll typically pay before or shortly after your helper starts.

• Agency fee: roughly S$1,000–S$3,000 for a new hire from abroad, covering sourcing, screening, interviews, and paperwork. Transfer helpers (already in Singapore) are often somewhat cheaper on this specific line item, since there's no overseas recruitment involved.
• Work Permit application: S$35 when submitted, another S$35 when issued.
• Security bond: S$5,000, required by MOM for most helpers (Malaysian helpers are exempt). Most employers arrange this as an insurer's guarantee rather than depositing cash directly.
• Medical examination: typically S$50–S$80.
• Insurance: a standard plan covering the required duration typically costs S$400–S$800.
• Flight and incidentals (for new hires from abroad): roughly S$200–S$600 depending on the helper's home country, plus small setup costs like a SIM card and initial supplies.

Added together, most sources place total one-time costs for a new hire somewhere in the range of S$1,000 to S$4,000, with transfer placements often landing toward the lower end since some of these costs don't apply.

The monthly government levy

This is a mandatory monthly payment to MOM for every helper you employ, separate from her salary:

• Standard rate: S$300/month
• Concessionary rate: S$60/month — available if your household includes a Singapore citizen or PR child under 16, a senior aged 67 or above, or a person with disabilities

The concessionary rate makes a real difference — it works out to roughly S$2,880 in savings per year if you qualify. It's worth checking your eligibility on MOM's website rather than assuming you don't qualify.

Monthly salary — realistic ranges

Singapore doesn't set an official minimum wage for domestic helpers, so salary is ultimately negotiated between employer and helper, though many source countries set their own minimum guidelines. Based on current market data, typical monthly salary ranges look roughly like this:

• Filipino helpers: generally higher, often S$700–S$1,000+, partly reflecting the Philippines' own minimum wage requirement for its workers abroad
• Indonesian helpers: roughly S$600–S$900
• Myanmar helpers: roughly S$500–S$800, reflecting a newer, growing talent pool

Experience, specific skills (elderly care, infant care), and whether she's a transfer or new hire all affect where in the range a given helper's salary lands. These figures are market ranges reported across several current sources, not a fixed or official rate — always confirm current expectations directly during your hiring process.

Other recurring monthly costs

• Food and living expenses: a common rule of thumb is roughly S$120/month, covering groceries and a share of utilities
• Rest day compensation (if applicable): if your helper works on a rest day, MOM requires compensation of at least one day's wage for that day

Putting it all together

Rough monthly totals, once your helper has settled in and one-time costs are behind you:

• Concessionary-levy households: roughly S$830–S$1,270/month
• Standard-levy households: roughly S$1,070–S$1,510/month

Across a full two-year contract, most sources place the realistic total cost somewhere between S$22,000 and S$27,000, factoring in salary, levy, insurance, and the initial setup — though this varies meaningfully based on your specific helper's salary and whether you qualify for the concessionary levy.

Ways to manage the cost without cutting corners

• Check your levy concession eligibility — this is the single biggest lever most households overlook
• Consider a transfer helper — often faster and slightly cheaper on agency fees, since there's no overseas recruitment involved. See our guide on hiring a transfer maid in Singapore
• Ask for a fully itemised quote before committing — a reputable agency should be able to break down exactly what each fee covers, rather than giving you one bundled number
• Don't choose based on price alone — a mismatched placement that ends early costs more in the long run through repeat agency fees and disruption at home

A note on transparency

Costs shift over time, and your specific situation (levy eligibility, helper's nationality and experience, new hire vs. transfer) will affect where you land in these ranges. We're happy to walk through a clear, itemised estimate based on your actual household needs rather than a generic number — reach out and we'll give you a straight answer.