Quick answer: what is the cost of living in Singapore for a family? A family of four with two children at an international school should budget about S$165,000 a year: roughly S$88,000 in 2026-27 fees at Dover Court International School, S$54,000 for a five-room HDB flat in Queenstown, about S$17,000 for food, plus transport and a helper's levy.
Last reviewed: November 2026 by Emma from ISA. Fee ranges are indicative; always confirm with the school.
Key takeaways
- Tanglin Trust School charges S$47,490 for Years 3 to 6 in 2026/27, including GST and building fund, plus S$10,000 in one-off application, enrolment and capital levy charges for a new pupil.
- The median rent for a five-room HDB flat in Queenstown was S$4,500 a month in the third quarter of 2026, according to HDB data.
- A non-ASEAN international student pays S$1,049.17 a month in a government primary school in 2026, school and miscellaneous fees included (MOE).
- Most expat families pay the full S$300 monthly levy for a domestic helper; the S$60 concession applies to households with a Singapore citizen child under 16 or an eligible elderly or disabled member (MOM).
- A Category A certificate of entitlement closed at S$132,004 in the second October 2026 bidding exercise (LTA data).
The cost of living in Singapore for a family is driven by two bills that dwarf the rest: school fees and housing. Food, public transport and healthcare are manageable by comparison, while owning a car is the one optional cost that can rival a year's tuition. This guide builds a realistic 2026-27 budget in Singapore dollars, using fee schedules published by the schools and official data from HDB, URA, MOE, MOM and LTA.
It is written for expat parents comparing offers or planning a move, and it ends with the items to negotiate in an employment package before you sign.
How much does a family need to live in Singapore?
About S$165,000 a year for a mid-range set-up, plus S$8,950 in one-off school charges in the first year. The example below assumes two children, aged about 8 and 12, at Dover Court International School and a five-room HDB flat in Queenstown, near the school.
- School fees: S$38,106 (Year 3) plus S$43,245 (Year 7), plus S$3,189 building fund each = S$87,729.
- One-off school charges: application S$920 and registration S$3,555 per child = S$8,950 in year one.
- Rent: S$4,500 a month (Queenstown five-room median, Q3 2026) = S$54,000.
- Food: about S$1,422 a month, or S$17,064 a year, an estimate from the average household (see below).
- Transport: two adult monthly travel passes at S$122 = S$2,928.
- Helper levy: S$300 a month = S$3,600, before her salary and insurance.
- Total: about S$165,300 a year, or S$174,300 in the first year.
Swap Dover Court for OWIS Nanyang and the school line drops to S$51,932; swap it for Tanglin Trust School and it rises to S$101,025, before Tanglin's one-off charges.
Singapore international school fees compared
Singapore international school fees for 2026-27 range from about S$24,000 to S$58,000 a year at the three schools below, and the one-off charges vary even more.
| School (area) | Year 3 fee 2026-27 | Year 7 fee 2026-27 | One-off charges, new pupil | Nearby 5-room HDB rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tanglin Trust School (Queenstown) | S$47,490 | S$53,535 | S$10,000 | S$4,500 a month |
| Dover Court International School (Queenstown) | S$41,295 | S$46,434 | S$4,475 | S$4,500 a month |
| OWIS Nanyang (Jurong West) | S$24,158 | S$27,774 | S$1,420 | S$3,900 a month |
| Government school, non-ASEAN student | S$1,049.17 a month | S$2,211.80 a month | AEIS test route | Varies by school |
Fees include 9% GST and, at Tanglin and Dover Court, the building fund (Dover Court lists it separately at S$3,189 a year). OWIS figures are its Grade 3 and Grade 7 fees. Rents are HDB medians for the third quarter of 2026; MOE fees are 2026 monthly rates.
Tanglin Trust School
Tanglin, on Portsdown Road, offers a British-based education from age 3 to 18. Its 2026/27 schedule lists S$45,375 for Years 1 and 2, S$47,490 for Years 3 to 6, S$53,535 for Years 7 to 9 and S$58,080 in the sixth form. New pupils pay a S$1,000 application fee, a S$4,500 enrolment fee and a S$4,500 capital levy, and two terms of fees are due before the first day. External exams (GCSE, IGCSE, A level or IB Diploma) are billed separately, so budget for them in Years 11 and 13.
Dover Court International School
Dover Court, on Dover Road, teaches ages 3 to 18 and describes itself as non-selective and inclusive. Tuition for 2026-27 is S$36,324 from Reception to Year 2, S$38,106 for Years 3 to 6 and S$43,245 for Years 7 and 8, plus a S$3,189 annual building fund. The application fee is S$920 and the one-time registration fee S$3,555. If a child is invited to a multidisciplinary assessment, a refundable S$1,308 placement fee applies, which is worth knowing for children with learning support needs.
One World International School (OWIS) Nanyang
OWIS Nanyang, on Jurong West Street 81, says it is accredited for the IB Primary Years Programme, Cambridge IGCSE and the IB Diploma. Its 2026-27 fees are S$24,158 for Grades 1 to 6 and S$27,774 for Grades 7 to 12, including GST, and cover two sets of uniforms, textbooks and academic field trips. The application fee is S$1,420. The school bus adds S$4,296 to S$5,257 a year, depending on distance, so check your address before you compare it with schools in the centre.
For more schools and payment terms, see our guide to international school fees in Singapore.
What does housing cost for a family?
HDB flats give the clearest official benchmark for family rents. HDB's third-quarter 2026 medians were S$4,500 a month for a five-room flat in Queenstown or Bukit Merah, S$3,900 in Jurong West and S$3,300 in Punggol or Sengkang. URA does not publish a single median condominium rent in its quarterly release, but it reports that private residential rents rose 1.3% in the third quarter of 2026, with non-landed rents in the Core Central Region down 0.3%. Before you agree a housing allowance, compare actual listings in the area of your chosen school.
Food, transport, healthcare and help at home
Food. SingStat's Household Expenditure Survey 2023 found resident households spent an average of S$1,422 a month on food, of which S$966, or 67.9%, went on food and beverage serving services. We use that average as a working estimate; a family of four may spend more.
Transport. Public Transport Council fares start at S$1.28 per adult card journey, and an adult monthly travel pass costs S$122. A car is a different scale of cost: Category A certificates of entitlement closed at S$132,004 and Category B at S$131,901 in the second October 2026 exercise, before the price of the car itself.
Healthcare. Ask whether your package includes family health insurance with outpatient and dental cover, and check the limits for maternity and pre-existing conditions before you arrive.
A domestic helper. MOM sets the levy at S$300 a month for the first helper. The S$60 concession applies to households with a Singapore citizen child under 16 or an eligible elderly or disabled member, so most expat families pay the full rate. Employers must also buy a S$5,000 security bond (except for Malaysian helpers) and medical and personal accident insurance.
Is a local school an option for foreign children?
Yes, if a place is available, and it costs far less. MOE's 2026 rates for a non-ASEAN international student are S$1,049.17 a month in primary school and S$2,211.80 in secondary school, including miscellaneous fees and GST; ASEAN students pay S$609.17 and S$1,111.80. International students seeking places in Primary 2 to 5 or Secondary 1 to 3 apply through the Admissions Exercise for International Students (AEIS). The 2026 tests ran from 1 to 3 September and successful pupils start in January. Our guide to international school admissions in Singapore sets out the private-school timeline.
What to negotiate in your relocation package
- Dependant's Pass threshold. MOM requires a fixed monthly salary of at least S$6,000 for an Employment Pass or S Pass holder to bring family. Check the fixed salary, not allowances, meets it.
- The full school bill. A school fees allowance for expats in Singapore should name application, enrolment or registration fees, capital levy and building fund, exam fees and the bus, not only tuition.
- Timing. Ask the employer to pay advance terms directly, as Tanglin requires two terms before a new pupil starts.
- Housing. Tie the allowance to listings near the school and agree a review if rents rise.
- Health and home leave. Price family health insurance and home leave flights before you compare offers.
Compare schools before you choose an area
Fees and commute decide where many families live, so pick a shortlist first. Our ranking of the best international schools in Singapore compares curricula, fees and locations across the island.
Sources: 2026-27 fee schedules of Tanglin Trust School, Dover Court International School and OWIS; HDB median rents via data.gov.sg (Q3 2026); URA third-quarter 2026 release; MOE school fees and AEIS pages; MOM levy, security bond and Dependant's Pass pages; Public Transport Council fares; LTA COE results via data.gov.sg; SingStat Household Expenditure Survey 2023.
More guides to schools in Singapore
- Best international schools in Singapore
- Bilingual schools in Singapore
- How to choose an international school in Singapore
- International school admissions in Singapore
- International school fees in Singapore
- best international schools in Singapore
Frequently asked questions
How much does a family need to live in Singapore?
Our 2026-27 example for a family of four, with two children at Dover Court International School and a five-room HDB flat in Queenstown, comes to about S$165,000 a year: S$87,729 in school fees, S$54,000 in rent, about S$17,000 for food, S$2,928 for transport passes and S$3,600 in helper levy, plus S$8,950 in one-off school charges in the first year.
What school fees allowance should an expat in Singapore ask for?
Ask for the full school bill, not only tuition. At Tanglin Trust School a new Year 3 pupil faces S$47,490 in 2026/27 fees plus S$10,000 in application, enrolment and capital levy charges, and two terms are payable before the child starts. Make sure the allowance also covers external exam fees and the school bus.
Can foreign children attend local schools in Singapore?
Yes, if places are available. International students seeking places in Primary 2 to 5 or Secondary 1 to 3 apply through MOE's AEIS; the 2026 tests ran from 1 to 3 September and successful pupils start in January. In 2026 a non-ASEAN student pays S$1,049.17 a month in a government primary school and S$2,211.80 in secondary.