How much does it cost for a family to live in Singapore?
Planning estimates put a family with local-style spending and no international school at about S$7,000–S$14,000 a month, and a family using international school and private housing at S$12,000–S$25,000+, before one-off moving costs.
Our cost of living guide gives planning estimates rather than fixed figures. A family with local-style spending and no international school can plan around S$7,000–S$14,000 a month, driven by larger housing, childcare, groceries, healthcare, transport and utilities. A family using international school and private housing can easily need S$12,000–S$25,000+ a month, with rent, tuition, school application fees, transport, a helper or childcare and insurance as the main drivers. Rent and schooling are the biggest swing factors: your choice of district and school can move a family budget by thousands of Singapore dollars a month. These monthly figures exclude one-off moving costs, which can make the first three months noticeably more expensive.
| Household | Indicative monthly budget | Main cost drivers |
|---|---|---|
| Couple without children | S$5,500–S$10,000 | One- or two-bedroom rent, groceries, utilities, healthcare, entertainment, travel |
| Family, local-style spending, no international school | S$7,000–S$14,000 | Larger housing, childcare, groceries, healthcare, transport, utilities |
| Family with international school and private housing | S$12,000–S$25,000+ | Rent, school tuition, application fees, transport, helper or childcare, insurance |
Treat these as starting points and check them against live rent listings, school fee schedules, insurer quotes and your employer's benefits.
What changes the answer
- Housing type and location: an HDB flat, a condo and a landed home differ sharply, as do MRT access, property age and furnishing.
- Schooling: international school tuition, and housing near the chosen school, usually matter far more than grocery or transport estimates.
- Help at home: a domestic helper or childcare adds a recurring monthly cost.
- Employer package: housing, schooling or medical benefits change what you actually pay.
- Currency: if income or savings come from overseas, exchange rates and transfer fees affect deposits and school fees.
What to check before you decide
- Choose a housing scenario first and test listings against HDB rental statistics or URA private residential rental data for the same area.
- Budget separately for one-off costs: flights, shipping, temporary accommodation, rental deposit, stamp duty where applicable, furniture, school application fees and medical checks.
- Convert salary into post-tax cash flow, using IRAS rules and CPF where relevant, before setting lifestyle spending.
- Redo the budget once you have chosen a district and school.