If you’re hiring a domestic helper in Singapore for the first time, the total cost isn’t just one number — it’s a combination of a few separate, mostly fixed components. Here’s exactly what you’re paying for, broken down piece by piece, with figures confirmed directly against MOM’s current requirements rather than rough estimates.
The Five Cost Components
1. Agency or Placement Fee
This is the one part of the cost that isn’t fixed by MOM. Agencies set their own placement fees, which typically vary by the helper’s nationality, experience level, and whether she’s a new hire or already in Singapore (transfer). What is regulated is how much an agency can charge the helper herself — capped at one month’s salary per year of Work Permit validity, up to a maximum of two months’ total. That cap protects her, not you, so it’s worth asking any agency directly for their fee schedule before committing.
[Insert your actual fee range here once finalised.]
2. Monthly Foreign Domestic Worker (FDW) Levy
This is a monthly payment made to MOM by the employer, not the helper.
- Standard rate: $300/month
- Concessionary rate: $60/month, if you have an eligible household member
You qualify for the concessionary rate if your household includes a Singapore Citizen child under 16, a Singapore Citizen or PR aged 67 or above, or a person with disabilities requiring assistance with daily living, certified by a Singapore-registered doctor. The concession applies to one helper per eligible person, capped at two helpers per household.
3. Mandatory Insurance
Two policies (normally packaged as one) are required before your helper’s Work Permit is approved:
- Medical insurance: minimum $60,000/year claim limit for inpatient care and day surgery
- Personal accident insurance: minimum $60,000 sum assured
Neither cost can be passed on to your helper — both are entirely the employer’s responsibility.
4. External Parties
A $5,000 security bond is required for every helper, with one exception: Malaysian helpers are exempt. This isn’t cash you hand over and lose — most employers fulfil it through an insurance bond bundled with their medical/personal accident insurance package, rather than a separate cash deposit.
5. Settling-In Programme (SIP)
A mandatory one-day orientation course for every first-time helper, which must be completed within 7 days of her arrival in Singapore. Cost ranges from $76.40 to $92.65 (GST inclusive), depending on the training provider, and is paid entirely by the employer.
Putting It All Together
| Cost Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Agency/placement fee | [Varies — confirm with your agency] |
| Monthly levy | $300/month (or $60/month with concession) |
| Medical/Personal accident insurance (26months) | $400~$700 (depending on coverage) |
| External Parties (Runner pickup, WP issuance, Medical Checkup, Air Ticket etc) | $500-$700 |
| Settling-In Programme | $76.40–$92.65 (one-time) |
The levy is the one ongoing monthly cost in this list — everything else is either one-time or an annual insurance premium. If you’re budgeting, the levy concession is worth checking first, since it can cut your single largest recurring cost by $240 a month.
A Few Things Worth Knowing Before You Commit
Ask for the breakdown in writing. A transparent agency will give you a clear, itemised quote before you sign anything — if a quote seems unusually low, check what’s actually included, since insurance and the security bond aren’t optional extras an agency can skip.
The levy is owed regardless of whether your helper is working. Even during her notice period or if she’s between assignments while still under your Work Permit, the levy obligation continues until the permit is cancelled.
Costs can change. MOM periodically reviews levy rates and insurance minimums — the most recent insurance change took effect 1 July 2023, raising the medical insurance minimum from a lower figure to the current $60,000. Always confirm current rates directly with MOM or your agency before finalising a budget.
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