Short answerHiring a maid in Singapore costs her monthly salary plus a monthly levy of SGD 300 (SGD 60 if you qualify for the concession), on top of one-off costs: SGD 35 to apply for and SGD 35 to issue her work permit, insurance, a security bond and any agency fee. You also pay for her food, accommodation, medical care and her ticket home, and none of these costs can be passed on to her.
MOM lists the costs of employing a helper as her monthly salary, agency fees, the monthly levy, medical and personal accident insurance, a security bond and the cost of sending her home, plus her meals and medical needs. This page sorts them by when you pay, separates what MOM fixes from what varies, and works through the MOM fees for a first year. For the hiring steps themselves, see how to hire a maid.
What you pay, and when
- Before she arrives: the Employers' Orientation Programme if you are a first-time employer (SGD 35 to 76 in a classroom, SGD 29 to 36 online); SGD 35 to apply for the work permit; the security bond and insurance; and any agency fee.
- In her first 2 weeks: the Settling-In Programme if she is a first-time helper (SGD 76.40, 77.00 or 92.65 depending on the provider, paid by you); her medical examination; and SGD 35 to issue the work permit.
- Every month: her salary and the levy, SGD 300 for your first helper, SGD 450 for each subsequent helper or SGD 60 at the concessionary rate. Plus her food, accommodation and any medical treatment.
- Every 6 months: her six-monthly medical examination at a clinic, and any medical costs arising from it.
- At renewal, usually every 2 years: SGD 35 to renew the permit, a new security bond, and extended or new insurance.
- When her employment ends: any salary still owed, and her air ticket home with check-in luggage, plus connecting transport to the port nearest her hometown. You pay this even if she is the one who resigns.
What MOM fixes, and what varies
| Cost | Amount | Set by |
|---|---|---|
| Work permit | SGD 35 to apply, SGD 35 to issue, SGD 35 to renew | MOM |
| Monthly levy | SGD 300, SGD 450 or SGD 60 | MOM |
| Employers' Orientation Programme | SGD 29 to 76 | MOM-appointed providers |
| Settling-In Programme | SGD 76.40 to 92.65 | MOM-appointed providers |
| Medical insurance | Price varies; cover must have an annual claim limit of at least SGD 60,000 | Insurer |
| Personal accident insurance | Price varies; sum assured of at least SGD 60,000 | Insurer |
| Security bond | Price varies; a SGD 5,000 guarantee for each non-Malaysian helper | Bank or insurer |
| Salary | No MOM minimum; the Philippines sets SGD 650 a month for Filipino helpers | You, in her contract |
| Agency fee | Not capped by MOM for employers | The agency |
| Medical exams and treatment | Clinic and hospital charges | Clinic or hospital |
The SGD 5,000 security bond is not paid to MOM as cash. You buy it from a bank or insurance company as a guarantee, alone or in a package with the insurance, and it may be forfeited if Work Permit or bond conditions are broken. See maid insurance and the bond.
A first-year example, MOM fees only
For a first-time employer hiring a first-time helper at the normal levy rate, the fees MOM and its appointed providers set come to:
- Employers' Orientation Programme: SGD 29 to 76
- Work permit: SGD 35 to apply and SGD 35 to issue, so SGD 70
- Settling-In Programme: SGD 76.40 to 92.65
- Levy for 12 months: 12 x SGD 300 = SGD 3,600
That is SGD 3,775.40 to 3,838.65 in the first year, before her salary, insurance, the bond, any agency fee, medical exams, food and her ticket home. At the SGD 60 concessionary rate the levy is SGD 720 for 12 months, and the same fees come to SGD 895.40 to 958.65. The levy for a first-time helper starts on the 5th day of her arrival, so a real first year may be slightly lower.
Salary is usually the largest cost. MOM does not set a minimum wage, but you must pay at least the salary you declared to MOM. As an example, at the SGD 650 monthly minimum the Philippines sets for Filipino helpers, a year's salary is 12 x SGD 650 = SGD 7,800.
Ways the cost can be lower
- Levy concession: SGD 60 a month instead of SGD 300 if you live with a Singapore citizen child below 16, an elderly person aged 67 or above, or a person with disabilities. See the levy guide.
- A transfer helper is already in Singapore, so there is no flight to bring her in, and the Settling-In Programme is only for first-time helpers. See transfer helpers.
- Hiring directly: MOM says this could be more affordable than using an agency, but takes more of your time.
- Comparing agencies: employer fees are not capped, so ask for an itemised quote. See agency fees and the refund rules.
Costs that are always yours
MOM's Work Permit conditions say the employer pays the salary and the cost of the worker's upkeep and maintenance, including medical treatment, and provides proper housing. The law says employers must not recover the levy or other employment-related costs from their workers, and MOM says you cannot make your helper pay any part of her medical expenses, including amounts above what the insurance pays. Pay her salary in full.
To find a licensed agency and ask for a quote, use our agency directory.
Sources, checked 15 Oct 2026: MOM, Thinking of hiring an MDW; MOM, Employers' Orientation Programme; MOM, Apply for a Work Permit; MOM, Settling-in Programme; MOM, Paying levy; MOM, Levy concession; MOM, Insurance requirements; MOM, Security bond; MOM, Six-monthly medical examination; MOM, Renew a Work Permit; MOM, Sending an MDW home; MOM FAQ, paying for her trip home; MOM FAQ on minimum wage; MOM FAQ, medical costs; MOM FAQ, passing on levy costs; MOM, Work Permit conditions; Philippine Migrant Workers Office.
Common questions
How much does it cost to hire a maid in Singapore?
MOM fees are SGD 35 to apply for and SGD 35 to issue the work permit, plus a monthly levy of SGD 300 (or SGD 60 with the concession). First-time employers and helpers also pay for two short programmes. Salary, insurance, the security bond and agency fees vary. For a first-time employer and helper at the normal levy rate, the MOM-set fees alone come to SGD 3,775.40 to 3,838.65 in the first year.
How much does a maid cost per month in Singapore?
Her salary plus the levy: SGD 300 for your first helper, SGD 450 for each subsequent helper or SGD 60 at the concessionary rate. You also provide her food, accommodation and medical care.
What are the one-off costs of hiring a maid?
The work permit (SGD 35 to apply, SGD 35 to issue), the Employers' Orientation Programme for first-time employers, the Settling-In Programme for first-time helpers, insurance, the security bond, her medical exam and any agency fee.
Who pays for my helper's flight home?
You do, even if she resigns. It must include check-in luggage and connecting transport to the port nearest her hometown.
Can I deduct the levy or insurance from her salary?
No. Employers must not recover the levy or other employment-related costs from their workers, and you cannot make her pay for her medical expenses.
Is the SGD 5,000 security bond paid in cash?
No. You buy it as a guarantee from a bank or insurer, for a price that varies. It may be forfeited if Work Permit or bond conditions are broken.
Does hiring directly or a transfer helper cost less?
MOM says hiring directly could be more affordable but takes more effort. A transfer helper is already in Singapore, so there is no flight to bring her in, and only first-time helpers attend the Settling-In Programme.