Why a Dedicated Cost Comparison, Beyond the General Overview (Transfer vs New Hire)
An earlier post in this series compared transfer maids and new hires broadly — timeline, work history, candidate pool. This one focuses specifically on where the dollar figures actually diverge, since the regulated costs are often assumed to be identical when there are a few genuine differences worth knowing before you commit to either path.
Costs That Are Identical Either Way
These don’t change based on how you found your helper:
- Monthly FDW levy — $300 standard, or $60 concessionary
- Medical insurance and personal accident insurance — same $60,000 minimums apply
- Security bond — same $5,000 pledge, same insurance-bond structure
- Work Permit application and issuance fees — same $70 total, paid to MOM
Where the Costs Actually Differ
The Settling-In Programme (SIP)
This is the clearest cost difference. SIP is only required for first-time helpers in Singapore. A transfer maid who has already completed it during a previous placement does not need to repeat it — saving you the $76.40–$92.65 cost outright. A new hire arriving for the first time will need it.
Pre-Employment Medical Examination Timing
A new hire needs this exam shortly after arrival, as part of getting her Work Permit issued for the first time. A transfer maid has typically already gone through this earlier in her time in Singapore — though she’ll still be subject to the recurring 6ME schedule going forward, same as any helper.
Agency or Placement Fee Structure
This varies by agency rather than by a fixed rule, but it’s worth asking about directly: some agencies structure their fees differently for transfer placements versus new overseas recruitment, since the recruitment effort involved genuinely differs. Don’t assume the fee is identical across both paths — confirm it specifically for each option you’re considering.
Time-Related Costs You Might Not Think to Count
A longer wait for a new hire to arrive from overseas can mean a longer gap without help at home — which has a real, if harder-to-quantify, cost if you end up paying for temporary alternatives (part-time cleaning help, additional childcare) while you wait. A transfer maid’s typically faster start can reduce this gap cost, even though it doesn’t show up as a line item on any invoice.
Transfer Maid vs. New Hire: Cost Snapshot
- Transfer maid: skips SIP cost, often faster start (less “gap cost”), agency fee structure varies
- New hire: SIP cost applies if first-time, potentially longer wait, wider candidate pool to weigh against the extra cost and time
Is a Transfer Maid Actually Cheaper Than a New Hire?
The dollar difference between the two paths is generally modest — the SIP cost is the clearest fixed difference, and it’s a relatively small one compared to your overall annual budget. The bigger financial consideration is usually less about which option costs more on paper, and more about the indirect cost of how long you’re without help while you wait, and whether the agency fee structure differs for the option you’re choosing.
As with every regulatory topic in this series: fee structures and SIP requirements are set by MOM and can be updated. Employers MUST check MOM’s official website directly for the latest figures before finalising any cost comparison.
We’ll Walk Through Both Options With Real Numbers
Rather than comparing in the abstract, we’ll give you an actual cost breakdown for both a transfer and a new-hire option based on your specific situation, so the decision is based on real figures, not estimates.
Get in touch for a side-by-side quote →
