Cost to Hire a Live-in Caregiver in Singapore (2026)
Hiring a first-time live-in caregiver from overseas through Top Faith typically costs about S$3,400 to S$3,900 upfront, before salary and any placement loan. Each month, an elderly-care household paying the S$60 concessionary levy can expect around S$900 to S$1,300 or more before any approved grant. The calculators below separate our S$2,600 service fee from official charges and household costs, so you can see where each figure comes from.
Upfront Cost Calculator
Top Faith service and placement fee S$2,600. Separate official charges and estimates include the MOM Work Permit fee, an insurance and security-bond package, medical examination, airfare, SIP and EOP where they apply. Any placement loan is excluded.
Monthly Cost Calculator
The monthly budget combines salary, the applicable MDW levy and S$200 to S$350 for food and household upkeep, before any approved Home Caregiving Grant.
Caregiver Salary in Singapore: What Families Typically Pay
A live-in caregiver's salary in Singapore is agreed between the employer and the caregiver, and our salary examples commonly fall around S$650 to S$850 a month. Where a caregiver sits in that range usually depends on the factors below rather than on nationality alone.
| Factor | How it can affect salary |
|---|---|
| Caregiving experience | Caregivers with more years of eldercare experience usually ask for a salary towards the higher end of the range. |
| Local eldercare experience | A transfer caregiver who has already cared for seniors in Singapore may expect a higher salary than a first-time caregiver. |
| Care complexity | Care needs such as dementia, stroke recovery or wheelchair transfers call for more skill and can raise the agreed salary. |
| Language skills | Caregivers who can communicate in the senior's language, such as English and Mandarin or dialect, may be offered more. |
Salary is only one part of the monthly cost. Rest days also matter: MOM requires employers to give migrant domestic workers rest days, and at least one rest day a month cannot be replaced with compensation. Agree the rest-day schedule and any compensation in writing before the caregiver starts.
Government Support: Check Eligibility First
Home Caregiving Grant
AIC's Home Caregiving Grant gives a monthly cash payout to families caring at home for someone who permanently needs help with at least three of the six activities of daily living. The care recipient must be a Singapore citizen, or a permanent resident with a Singapore citizen parent, child or spouse, and must not live in a residential long-term care institution. The payout depends on household income per person:
| Monthly household income per person | Monthly payout |
|---|---|
| S$0 to S$1,500 (or property annual value up to S$21,000 if no household income) | S$600 |
| S$1,501 to S$3,600 | S$400 |
| S$3,601 to S$4,800 | S$200 |
Households that own more than one property receive the S$200 tier. Apply through AIC and enter only the approved amount in the calculator above.
MDW Levy Concession
MOM's concessionary levy is S$60 a month, compared with S$300 for a first helper or S$450 for a subsequent helper at the standard rate. You may qualify when an eligible person lives in your household, for example:
- A Singapore citizen aged 67 or above whose NRIC shows the same address as yours and who is listed as a household member on MOM's FDW eService
- A person certified by a Singapore-registered doctor as needing help with at least one activity of daily living, with a recommendation from AIC
The concession is granted for one helper per eligible person, up to two helpers per household. Check MOM's criteria for permanent residents and other cases.
What the S$4,700 MOM Recruitment Cost Benchmark Means
In a January 2026 parliamentary answer, MOM said the market-wide median upfront recruitment outlay for a new MDW was around S$4,700, with roughly half being the placement loan employers subsequently recover. This is a market benchmark, not Top Faith's price, service fee or a quote for your case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a transfer caregiver cheaper to hire than one from overseas?
Upfront costs are usually lower, because there is no airfare and a caregiver who has worked in Singapore before does not need the Settling-In Programme again. Our fee includes the surcharge for a transfer caregiver. Salary may be higher if the caregiver has local eldercare experience, so compare the full monthly figure, not just the upfront saving. If you would like to see who is available, start with our live-in caregiver profiles.
Can I still claim tax relief on the MDW levy?
No. The Foreign Domestic Worker Levy Relief was discontinued from Year of Assessment 2025, so the last claim was for Year of Assessment 2024. Budget for the full levy amount after any concession.
Who pays for the caregiver's medical costs?
The employer does. MOM requires medical insurance with at least S$60,000 of annual coverage for inpatient care and day surgery, and the employer pays for outpatient visits and medicine that the insurance does not cover. It helps to set aside a small monthly amount for this.
Who pays for the six-monthly medical examination?
The employer arranges and pays for the six-monthly medical examination (6ME) at a registered clinic. Clinic fees vary, so ask the clinic for its current rate and add it to your yearly budget.
Does the levy concession apply if my elderly parent lives with me?
It can. For a parent who is a Singapore citizen aged 67 or above, both your NRIC and your parent's NRIC must show the same address, and your parent must be listed as a household member on MOM's FDW eService. The concession then applies automatically within the next two levy bills.
Can the Home Caregiving Grant be used to pay the caregiver's salary?
Yes. AIC states that the grant can be used for care needs, including hiring a helper, paying for home care services or buying healthcare items. The amount you receive depends on your household income per person, so enter only the amount AIC has approved when you plan your budget.