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Maid levy calculator: your levy and the full cost of a helper
Tell us who lives with you and what you'll pay her. You'll see whether you get the $60 concession, your monthly bill, what you pay upfront and the total over a 2-year contract.
Figures checked 3 Oct 2026 against official government sources · Fussy Mama
Your monthly levy
Maid levy rates in 2026
The levy is a monthly tax you pay MOM for every helper you employ. MOM now calls helpers migrant domestic workers, or MDWs. You don't pay CPF for her, but you do pay the levy.
| Type of levy | Monthly rate | Daily rate | Over a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal, first helper | $300 | $9.87 | $3,600 |
| Normal, second and later helpers | $450 | $14.80 | $5,400 |
| Concessionary | $60 | $1.98 | $720 |
The daily rate is used when she hasn't worked a full calendar month. Source: MOM, Paying levy for a migrant domestic worker, updated 8 July 2026.
The bill for each month is due by the 17th of the next month. Most people set up GIRO so it's deducted on the 17th. Miss two months in a row and MOM revokes her Work Permit.
Nothing in Budget 2026 or the National Day Rally on 23 Aug 2026 changed these rates.
Who gets the $60 maid levy concession
You pay $60 a month if an eligible person lives in your household. The concession covers 1 helper per eligible person, up to 2 helpers per household. So a second helper only gets the $60 rate if you have 2 eligible people at home.
| Eligible person | Rule | When it starts |
|---|---|---|
| Young child | Singapore citizen, below 16 years old | From the child's birth date if you're the parent. If you're not the parent, from the day you add the child as a household member on FDW eService |
| Senior, citizen | Singapore citizen, 67 or older | When you or your spouse turn 67. For anyone else, both NRICs must show the same address and you list them on FDW eService |
| Senior, PR | Permanent resident, 67 or older, and you or your spouse is a citizen | Same as above |
| Person with disabilities | Certified by a Singapore-registered doctor as needing help with at least 1 activity of daily living. A citizen, or a PR with a citizen parent, spouse or child | Once the NRIC addresses match and you've listed them on FDW eService |
Source: MOM, Levy concession for a migrant domestic worker, updated 7 July 2026.
Most parents don't have to do anything, because if your baby is a citizen the lower rate is backdated to the birth date and shows up within your next 2 levy bills. When your youngest turns 16, the levy goes back to $300 straight away.
If your helper cares for someone who needs help with 3 or more daily activities, look at the Home Caregiving Grant too. MOM's page says it pays up to $400 a month, and you apply through AIC.
What else MOM makes you pay for
| Item | Official figure | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Work Permit fees | $35 + $35 | $35 when you apply and $35 when the pass is issued |
| Security bond | $5,000 bond | A guarantee from a bank or insurer that you can't make her pay for. Malaysian helpers don't need one |
| Medical insurance | At least $60,000 a year | Covers inpatient care and day surgery. For claims above $15,000 the insurer pays 75% and you pay 25% |
| Personal accident insurance | At least $60,000 | Pays her or her family if she's permanently disabled or dies in an accident |
| Settling-In Programme | $76.40 to $92.65 | For first-time helpers, within 7 days of arrival. You pay |
| Employers' Orientation Programme | $29.98 to $76.30 | For first-time employers. Online is cheapest |
| 6-monthly medical check | Clinic's price | Every 6 months. You pay for it and for all her medical costs |
| Rest day pay | Salary divided by 26 | For each rest day she agrees to work. At least 1 rest day a month can't be bought out |
Sources: MOM pages on applying for a Work Permit, security bond, insurance requirements, Settling-In Programme, Employers' Orientation Programme, 6-monthly medical examination and rest days. Checked 3 Oct 2026.
Salary and agency fees
MOM sets no minimum salary for helpers. You agree it with her, declare it to MOM and can't pay less than you declared. Pay her within 7 days of the end of each month.
Agency fees are a private quote, so compare a few. Two official rules help you. An agency can't charge the helper more than 1 month of her salary per year of contract, capped at 2 months. And if her employment ends within the first 6 months, the agency must offer you a refund of at least 50% of the service fee, as long as the refund conditions are met.
Worked example
First helper, a citizen toddler at home, $650 salary. The levy is $60. With $250 for food and upkeep and two $40 check-ups a year (about $7 a month), the running cost is $967 a month.
Before she starts you pay $70 in Work Permit fees, $77 for the Settling-In Programme, $35.65 for your own orientation, about $500 for insurance and the bond, and a $1,500 agency fee. That's $2,183 upfront. Over the 2-year contract the total is $25,383.
Without a child or senior at home, the levy would be $300. That's $240 more a month, or $5,760 more over 2 years.
Is a helper cheaper than infant care?
For one baby, often not. A working mum pays at most $746 a month for an Anchor Operator infant care place after the Basic Subsidy, and lower-income families pay much less. A helper at the concession levy runs close to $1,000 a month. The helper wins when you have 2 or more children, need evenings covered, or have a grandparent to look after as well.
Compare both with your own numbers in our infant care vs nanny calculator, and read infant care vs helper vs grandparents for the non-money side.
Questions parents ask
How much is the maid levy in Singapore?
The normal levy is $300 a month for your first helper and $450 a month for each helper after that. If you qualify for the concession it's $60 a month.
Who qualifies for the maid levy concession?
You do if a Singapore citizen child under 16 lives with you, or a senior aged 67 or older, or a person with disabilities who needs help with at least 1 daily activity. Each eligible person covers 1 helper, up to 2 helpers per household.
Do I need to apply for the levy concession?
Usually not. If you're the parent of a citizen child, MOM applies it automatically from the birth date. For a grandparent or other relative, make sure your NRIC addresses match and add them as a household member on FDW eService.
Can I still claim tax relief on the maid levy?
No. IRAS discontinued Foreign Domestic Worker Levy Relief from Year of Assessment 2025. The last year you could claim it was YA 2024.
What is the total cost of hiring a maid in Singapore?
With our example numbers ($650 salary, $60 levy, $250 food) it's about $967 a month, plus roughly $2,200 upfront for fees, insurance and the agency. That's around $25,400 over 2 years. At the $300 levy add $240 a month.
Is there a minimum salary for helpers?
MOM doesn't set one. You agree the salary with your helper and declare it in the Work Permit application. You can't pay her less than what you declared.
How much is the security bond?
It's a $5,000 bond for each helper who isn't Malaysian. You buy it as a guarantee from a bank or insurer, usually bundled with her insurance, so you pay a premium and not the full $5,000. You could lose the $5,000 if you or she break the Work Permit conditions.
Do I pay the levy when she goes on home leave?
You can get it waived if she's overseas for at least 7 days in a row, up to 60 days per calendar year. Apply on the MOM site after you get the levy bill for that period, and within 1 year of that bill. The same 60-day waiver exists for hospitalisation leave.
What happens when my child turns 16?
You stop qualifying through that child, and the levy goes up to the normal rate right away. If another eligible person lives with you, such as a parent aged 67 or older, the concession can continue through them.
Sources (Figures checked 3 Oct 2026)
- MOM - Paying levy for a migrant domestic worker
- MOM - Levy concession for a migrant domestic worker
- MOM - Security bond requirements
- MOM - Insurance requirements
- MOM - Apply for a Work Permit for a migrant domestic worker
- MOM - Apply for levy waiver
- MOM - Rest days and well-being
- MOM - How to calculate pay in lieu of a rest day
- MOM - Settling-In Programme
- MOM - Employers' Orientation Programme
- MOM - Work Permit for migrant domestic worker: key facts
- MOM - Agencies must refund service fees if employment ends early (26 Jun 2025)
- IRAS - Foreign Domestic Worker Levy Relief (discontinued)
