Expat family living in Singapore
Moving to Singapore with kids? Know the real costs first.
Moving to Singapore with children? Compare international school fees, childcare fees for foreigners, helper costs and family-friendly neighbourhoods — with the real numbers, from official data.
- Official data (ECDA, MOM, school fee schedules)
- Foreigner rates, not citizen rates
- Free, no sign-up
What families ask first
- Full-day preschool, age 4 (median, foreigner)
- S$1,188 / month
- Preschools with published foreigner fees
- 1,792
- Districts covered
- 28
Source: ECDA via data.gov.sg
Start here
International school fees, side by side
Tuition, application fees and levies for 41 international schools — by grade, with sources.
CHILDCAREPreschool fees for foreigners, by district
1,792 licensed centres. Median full-day Nursery: S$1,188 a month for non-citizens.
HELPERThe true monthly cost of a helper
Salary, levy, insurance, bond and one-off costs — the expat rate, not the citizen concession.
NEIGHBOURHOODSWhere to live near your school
Every district with its international school campuses, preschools and typical foreigner fees.
Popular areas with expat families
Bukit Timah, Holland, Tanglin, Ardmore
48 preschools · median S$1,950/month
D09 · CentralOrchard, River Valley, Cairnhill
20 preschools · median S$2,200/month
D11 · CentralNovena, Newton, Thomson
28 preschools · median S$2,040/month
D15 · EastEast Coast, Katong, Joo Chiat, Marine Parade
70 preschools · median S$1,750/month
D21 · WestUpper Bukit Timah, Clementi Park, Ulu Pandan
25 preschools · median S$1,830/month
D05 · WestPasir Panjang, West Coast, Clementi
64 preschools · median S$1,588/month
D19 · North-EastSerangoon Gardens, Hougang, Sengkang, Punggol
281 preschools · median S$1,185/month
D28 · North-EastSeletar, Yio Chu Kang
36 preschools · median S$1,188/month
Choosing a neighbourhood?
See every district with its international school campuses, preschools and what they charge foreigners.
Questions
Do expat children get preschool subsidies in Singapore?
Generally no. Government preschool subsidies are for Singapore Citizen children. Children on a Dependant's Pass pay the centre's full listed fee, which is often higher than the citizen fee. Our childcare pages show the foreigner rate for every centre.
How much are international school fees in Singapore?
Annual tuition at the major international schools ranges from roughly the high teens to over S$50,000 a year depending on the school and grade, plus application, enrolment and development fees. See the schools page for each school's published fees.
Where do expat families usually live?
Most families choose the area around their school. Bukit Timah, Holland and Tanglin (D10), Orchard and River Valley (D09), Novena (D11), East Coast (D15), and Serangoon Gardens (D19) are common choices.
Is ŌRRA free to use?
Yes. The data and calculators are free, with no sign-up. ŌRRA is an information service and is not a property agency.