Singapore Trash Collection Fee & Maid Insurance Tracker 2026 — MOM FDW Levy, Helper Salary, NEA Refuse & First-Year Cost Calculator

The total monthly cost of employing a foreign domestic worker in Singapore ranges from 1,050 to 1,600 dollars. This includes salary of 550 to 1,000 dollars, MOM levy of 60 to 300 dollars, insurance amortised at approximately 19 to 29 dollars per month, food and living expenses of 200 to 300 dollars, and medical costs amortised at approximately 13 dollars per month. The exact amount depends on the helper nationality, your levy eligibility, and the living standards you provide.

The MOM Foreign Domestic Worker levy is a mandatory monthly tax paid by the employer. The standard rate is 300 dollars per month. The concessionary rate is 60 dollars per month for households with a child under 16, a person aged 67 or older, or a person with disabilities. The levy for a second FDW in the same household is 450 dollars per month at the standard rate. The levy cannot be deducted from the helper salary.

MOM requires employers to purchase a medical insurance plan with at least 15,000 dollars coverage for inpatient care and day surgery, plus a personal accident insurance plan with at least 60,000 dollars coverage. Most insurers bundle these into a single domestic helper insurance policy costing 486 to 750 dollars for a 26-month coverage period. NTUC Income, FWD, MSIG, Great Eastern, and Etiqa are the main providers.

The concessionary levy rate of 60 dollars per month (versus the standard 300 dollars) is available to households where the employer lives with a Singaporean child under 16 years old, a person aged 67 or older, or a person with disabilities certified by a registered doctor to need help with at least one activity of daily living. The concession is applied automatically for children and elderly but requires an application through AIC for PWD dependants.

For HDB flats, the refuse collection fee is approximately 9.63 dollars per month and is included in your Service and Conservancy Charges (S&CC). For private residential properties, refuse collection fees range from 25 to 35 dollars per month depending on the number of collections per week and the waste management company. Commercial properties pay higher rates based on volume.

First-year one-time costs typically range from 1,300 to 3,500 dollars. These include the agency fee (1,000 to 3,000 dollars), work permit application and issuance (70 dollars), security bond insurance (approximately 50 dollars), the Settling-In Programme for new helpers (75 dollars), the Employer Orientation Programme for first-time employers (35 dollars), and the initial medical examination (approximately 80 dollars). Return airfare at end of contract (200 to 600 dollars) is an additional cost.

Yes. You can hire a transfer maid (one already in Singapore transferring from another employer) directly through platforms like HelperGo, MyMaidOnline, or word of mouth. This saves the agency fee of 1,000 to 3,000 dollars. However, you must handle all MOM paperwork, insurance purchase, and medical arrangements yourself. For first-time employers, using an agency is recommended to avoid compliance errors.

MOM requires a 5,000 dollar security bond for each non-Malaysian FDW. This is not a cash deposit but is covered through insurance at approximately 50 dollars. The bond ensures the employer complies with MOM conditions such as providing adequate food, rest, and proper accommodation. If the bond is called due to violations, the employer must pay up to 5,000 dollars.

Employers are legally required to provide adequate meals for their helper. The typical monthly food cost is 200 to 300 dollars, covering three meals per day plus snacks. Some employers provide a food allowance instead. MOM guidelines state that meals must be adequate and the helper should have access to three meals a day. Skimping on food quality is both a legal risk and an ethical concern.

No. The Foreign Domestic Worker Levy Relief was discontinued from Year of Assessment 2025 onwards. Previously, working married women could claim up to twice the annual levy as a tax deduction. This relief is no longer available for income earned in 2024, 2025, or 2026. The MOM concessionary levy rate of 60 dollars per month remains active and is separate from the discontinued IRAS tax relief.

MOM requires foreign domestic workers to undergo a medical examination every 6 months during their first year of employment, then annually thereafter. Each examination costs approximately 60 to 100 dollars and is paid by the employer. The examination includes a general health check, pregnancy test, and screening for infectious diseases.

Late payment of the maid levy results in a 2 percent monthly late payment charge. Continued non-payment can lead to the work permit being revoked and the employer being barred from hiring future foreign domestic workers. The levy is due by the 17th of the following month. Most employers pay by GIRO to avoid missing payments.

No. It is illegal to deduct the levy or any part of it from the helper salary. The levy is entirely the employer responsibility. MOM actively investigates reports of levy deduction and can revoke work permits, impose fines, and ban employers from future hiring if violations are found.

Filipino helpers typically command higher salaries of 700 to 1,000 dollars per month due to better English proficiency and government-mandated minimum salaries from the Philippine Overseas Labor Office. Indonesian and Myanmar helpers typically cost 550 to 800 dollars per month. The levy, insurance, and food costs are the same regardless of nationality, so the salary difference is the main cost variable.

The Agency for Integrated Care Home Caregiving Grant provides 600 dollars per month to Singapore citizens with moderate to severe disability who require daily assistance with activities of daily living and who are cared for at home. This grant can significantly offset the cost of hiring a helper for elderly or disabled care, effectively reducing the net maid cost by 600 dollars per month for eligible families.

The tracker combines all maid-related costs (salary, MOM levy, insurance amortised monthly, food expenses, and medical costs amortised over 6 months) with the NEA refuse collection fee for your property type. For first-time employers, it adds one-time costs including agency fees, work permit fees, security bond insurance, and mandatory courses. It shows the monthly recurring cost, annual total, and highlights the concessionary levy saving opportunity for eligible households.