Maid agency fees in Singapore start from about S$388 for the agency service alone, with direct-hire processing from S$669; all-in packages run from about S$1,188 to S$3,492 in 2026. On top of that, MOM sets a monthly levy of S$300 (S$60 at the concessionary rate), a S$5,000 security bond and minimum insurance. Nationality, fresh versus transfer hire and what is bundled change the total.
Every figure on this page comes from a published price list or an MOM page, checked on 3 October 2026. Agency prices change often, so confirm the current quote in writing before you pay a deposit.
How much do maid agencies charge in Singapore?
Published agency packages for Indonesian and Myanmar helpers sit between roughly S$1,188 and S$2,093, while Filipino helpers cost more, at about S$3,188 to S$3,492, because of Philippine-side fees. A bare agency fee can be as low as S$388.
The headline number means different things at different agencies. Some quote the agency fee only. Others quote a package that already includes the MOM permit fees, medical check, air ticket, Settling-In Programme and sometimes insurance. Compare like with like.
| Agency | Package | Published price | Source, checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sapphire Maids | Agency fee | From S$388 | sapphiremaids.com.sg, 3 Oct 2026 |
| Craft A Maid | Direct hire (you found the helper) | S$669 | craftamaid.com.sg, 3 Oct 2026 |
| Craft A Maid | Indonesian or Myanmar, fresh | S$1,188 | craftamaid.com.sg, 3 Oct 2026 |
| Craft A Maid | Transfer helper | S$1,288 | craftamaid.com.sg, 3 Oct 2026 |
| Hire A Maid | Myanmar, fresh | S$1,590 nett | hireamaid.sg, 3 Oct 2026 |
| Hire A Maid | Indonesian, fresh | S$1,990 nett | hireamaid.sg, 3 Oct 2026 |
| Honest Recruiter | Indonesian or Myanmar (incl. insurance and bond) | S$1,942 incl. GST | honestrecruiter.com.sg, 3 Oct 2026 |
| Honest Recruiter | Philippine helper | S$3,492 incl. GST | honestrecruiter.com.sg, 3 Oct 2026 |
What government costs does MOM add on top of agency fees?
MOM sets the levy, security bond, insurance minimums and permit fees, and these apply whichever agency you use. The levy is S$300 a month for your first helper, or S$60 if you qualify for the concessionary rate. The employer pays all of these, not the helper.
| MOM item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly levy, first helper | S$300 (S$9.87 a day) | Normal rate |
| Monthly levy, subsequent helpers | S$450 (S$14.80 a day) | Normal rate |
| Concessionary levy | S$60 (S$1.98 a day) | Households with a young child, elderly member or person with disability |
| Security bond | S$5,000 | Banker's or insurer's guarantee; not needed for Malaysian helpers |
| Medical insurance | At least S$60,000 a year | Inpatient and day surgery; employer co-pays 25% of claims above S$15,000 |
| Personal accident insurance | At least S$60,000 sum assured | Covers permanent disability or death |
| Work permit | S$35 application + S$35 issuance | Per helper |
| Settling-In Programme | S$76.40 to S$92.65 incl. GST | First-time helpers only, within 7 days of arrival |
| Employers' Orientation Programme | About S$30 to S$76 incl. GST | First-time employers only; online or classroom |
The bond is usually bought as a guarantee bundled with the helper's insurance, so you pay a premium rather than S$5,000 in cash. Honest Recruiter, for example, lists insurance and bond together at S$643 in its packages. MOM states you cannot ask your helper to pay for the bond or the insurance.
What changes the agency fee?
The biggest factors are the helper's nationality, whether she is fresh, ex-Singapore or a transfer, and what the agency bundles. Filipino helpers add embassy and Philippine-side fees, which is why their packages run about S$1,500 to S$2,000 higher than Indonesian or Myanmar helpers at the same agencies.
- Nationality. Craft A Maid lists an embassy fee of S$500 and a POEA fee of S$1,500 for Filipino helpers, which do not apply to Indonesian or Myanmar hires.
- Fresh, ex-Singapore or transfer. Fresh helpers need an air ticket, medical and the Settling-In Programme. Transfer helpers are already in Singapore, so those items drop out, but some agencies charge a processing fee instead.
- What is bundled. Hire A Maid and Honest Recruiter include insurance in their packages. Craft A Maid states insurance is not included in its transfer package.
- Replacements. Craft A Maid includes two free replacements within 12 months on its main packages. Ask every agency how many replacements you get and for how long.
- Helper loans. Some packages note a separate placement loan that the helper repays from her salary over several months. Ask how long it runs, as it affects her take-home pay.
How much is a helper's monthly salary?
Salary is agreed between you and the helper and is not set by MOM. Agency guides published in 2026 put Indonesian helpers at about S$550 to S$780 a month and Myanmar helpers from about S$500, with Filipino helpers from about S$650.
These figures come from Upwill, which quotes S$550 to S$780 for Indonesian helpers, and First Maid, which quotes about S$500 for Myanmar, S$550 for Indonesian and S$650 for Filipino helpers. Experience, language skills and caregiving duties all push the figure up.
What should I check before signing with an agency?
Check the agency's MOM licence number, ask for an itemised breakdown in writing, and confirm what happens if the placement does not work out. A low headline fee is only useful if you know what is excluded.
- The MOM employment agency licence number, which you can check on MOM's EA directory.
- Whether the quote includes the S$70 permit fees, medical, air ticket, Settling-In Programme, insurance and bond.
- The replacement policy and refund terms.
- Whether you qualify for the concessionary levy, which cuts the monthly levy from S$300 to S$60.
Which maid agencies publish their prices?
The agencies below either publish prices online or are licensed agencies you can request a quote from. Where an agency does not publish a figure, we say so rather than estimate one.
At a glance
| Business | Best known for | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Sapphire Maids | Agency fee from S$388, with MOM levy, bond and insurance set out separately | S$388 |
| Hire A Maid | Nett packages from S$1,590 for a fresh Myanmar helper, work permit and insurance included | S$1,590 |
| Craft A Maid | Itemised packages from S$669 for direct hire to S$3,288 for Filipino helpers | S$669 |
| Honest Recruiter | GST-inclusive packages from S$1,801 with insurance and bond already included | S$913 |
| First Maid | Domestic helper placement, with a guide putting Singapore agency fees at S$1,000 to S$3,000 | On enquiry |
| Upwill | Indonesian helper placement, stating a total fresh-hire cost of about S$4,000 to S$6,000 | On enquiry |
| JayaMaids | Full-time Indonesian and Myanmar helpers from offices in Hougang, Bedok and Bukit Timah | On enquiry |
Sapphire Maids
Maid agencies · Downtown Core
Best known for: Agency fee from S$388, with MOM levy, bond and insurance set out separately
Sapphire Maids (MOM EA licence 25C2987) places helpers from Indonesia and Myanmar, including fresh, transfer and ex-Singapore helpers, and runs an in-house training centre. It publishes an agency fee from S$388 and sets out the MOM levy, bond and insurance as separate costs on its homepage, which makes budgeting simpler. Its office is at Shenton House, 3 Shenton Way.
- Services
- Indonesian and Myanmar helpers, fresh, transfer and ex-Singapore helpers, in-house training, post-deployment support
- Credentials
- MOM Employment Agency Licence 25C2987
- Address
- 3 Shenton Way, #14-06, Shenton House, Singapore 068805
- Price
- From S$388 Agency fee from S$388. MOM levy, security bond, insurance, salary and medical examination are separate. Source
Visit website: Sapphire MaidsCall +65 8949 5542Full profile: Sapphire Maids
Hire A Maid
Maid agencies
Best known for: Nett packages from S$1,590 for a fresh Myanmar helper, work permit and insurance included
Hire A Maid (MOM licence 23C1568, AEAS member) publishes nett packages: S$1,590 for a fresh Myanmar helper, S$1,990 for a fresh Indonesian helper and S$1,688 for a transfer. Packages list the work permit, medical, Settling-In Programme and insurance as included.
- Services
- Myanmar and Indonesian helpers, fresh, ex-Singapore and transfer
- Credentials
- MOM Licence 23C1568; AEAS member
- Price
- S$1,590 to S$2,093 Nett packages: Myanmar fresh S$1,590, ex-Singapore S$1,693; Indonesian fresh S$1,990, ex-Singapore S$2,093; transfer S$1,688. Includes work permit, insurance and more. Source
Craft A Maid
Maid agencies · Downtown Core
Best known for: Itemised packages from S$669 for direct hire to S$3,288 for Filipino helpers
Craft A Maid is run by 12Hire Employment Agency (MOM licence 21C0450) at Suntec Tower Three. It itemises every package, from S$669 for direct hire to S$3,288 for an ex-Singapore Filipino helper, and lists add-on fees such as S$270 for a work permit renewal.
- Services
- Indonesian, Myanmar and Filipino helpers, transfer helpers, direct hire processing
- Credentials
- Operated by 12Hire Employment Agency, MOM Licence 21C0450
- Address
- Level 42, Suntec Tower Three, #42-02, 8 Temasek Boulevard, Singapore 038988
- Price
- S$669 to S$3,288 Direct hire S$669; Indonesian/Myanmar fresh S$1,188, ex-Singapore S$1,288; transfer S$1,288; Filipino S$3,188 to S$3,288. Insurance not included in transfer package. Source
Honest Recruiter
Maid agencies · Orchard
Best known for: GST-inclusive packages from S$1,801 with insurance and bond already included
Honest Recruiter (MOM licence 20C0398) at Far East Shopping Centre publishes GST-inclusive packages that already include insurance and bond: S$1,801 for a transfer, S$1,942 for Indonesian or Myanmar helpers and S$3,492 for Filipino helpers. Direct hire packages start at S$913.
- Services
- Transfer, Indonesian, Myanmar and Filipino helpers, direct hire, renewals
- Credentials
- MOM EA Licence 20C0398
- Address
- 545 Orchard Rd, #04-04 Far East Shopping Centre, Singapore 238882
- Price
- S$913 to S$3,492 Prices include GST. Transfer S$1,801; Indonesian or Myanmar S$1,942; Filipino S$3,492 (all include insurance and bond). Direct hire S$913 to S$2,604. Renewal S$738. Source
Visit website: Honest RecruiterFull profile: Honest Recruiter
First Maid
Maid agencies
Best known for: Domestic helper placement, with a guide putting Singapore agency fees at S$1,000 to S$3,000
First Maid (MOM licence 20C0141) does not publish its own package prices. Price on enquiry. Its fee guide says agency fees in Singapore usually run from S$1,000 to S$3,000.
- Services
- Domestic helper placement
- Credentials
- MOM Licence 20C0141
Upwill
Maid agencies
Best known for: Indonesian helper placement, stating a total fresh-hire cost of about S$4,000 to S$6,000
Upwill (MOM licence EA 24C2628) focuses on Indonesian helpers. It does not publish an itemised agency fee (price on enquiry) but states a total hiring cost of about S$4,000 to S$6,000 for a fresh hire.
- Services
- Indonesian helpers
- Credentials
- MOM EA Licence 24C2628
JayaMaids
Maid agencies · Hougang
Best known for: Full-time Indonesian and Myanmar helpers from offices in Hougang, Bedok and Bukit Timah
JayaMaids places full-time Indonesian and Myanmar helpers from offices in Hougang, Bedok and Bukit Timah. Price on enquiry; it does not publish package prices.
- Services
- Full-time Indonesian and Myanmar helpers; outlets in Hougang, Bedok and Bukit Timah
- Address
- 21 Hougang St 51, #01-14, Hougang Green Shopping Mall, Singapore 538719
Visit website: JayaMaidsCall +65 6387 0900Full profile: JayaMaids
Frequently asked questions
How much is the maid levy in Singapore in 2026?
S$300 a month for your first helper and S$450 for each additional helper. Households with a young child, an elderly member or a person with disability may qualify for the S$60 concessionary rate, according to MOM.
Do I have to pay the S$5,000 security bond in cash?
No. MOM accepts a banker's or insurer's guarantee, which most employers buy together with the helper's insurance. Malaysian helpers do not need a bond.
What insurance must I buy for my helper?
Medical insurance of at least S$60,000 a year for inpatient care and day surgery, and personal accident insurance with at least S$60,000 sum assured. You cannot pass the cost to your helper.
Is a transfer maid cheaper than a fresh maid?
Not always. Craft A Maid lists S$1,288 for a transfer against S$1,188 for a fresh Indonesian or Myanmar helper, even though a transfer needs no air ticket or Settling-In Programme. It depends on the agency, so compare itemised quotes.
Why do Filipino helpers cost more to hire?
Philippine-side fees. Craft A Maid lists a S$500 embassy fee and a S$1,500 POEA fee, and Honest Recruiter adds a S$1,100 Philippines agency fee and S$250 documentation.
