Part-Time Cleaner vs Maid in Singapore: An Honest Cost Comparison

For most households that only need the home kept clean, a part-time cleaner costs far less than a full-time live-in maid. The levy alone on a first foreign domestic worker is $300 a month at the normal rate, before salary, insurance, food or lodging, while a fortnightly part-time clean for a typical HDB flat often comes in under that. But cost is not the only question. If your family needs childcare, eldercare or someone in the home every day, a live-in helper may be the better fit even though it costs more.

Here is how the two options compare, line by line.

What a full-time live-in helper actually costs

Hiring a migrant domestic worker (MDW) in Singapore involves several costs that people often forget to add up. Figures below are from the Ministry of Manpower where stated; salary and agency fees vary too much to give a single number.

Recurring monthly costs

• Salary. Negotiated between you and the helper, usually influenced by nationality and experience. There is no minimum wage set by MOM for MDWs.
• MOM levy. $300 a month for your first helper at the normal rate, $450 for each subsequent helper. A concessionary rate of $60 applies to eligible households with a young child, an elderly member or a person with disabilities. You can check the current rates on the MOM levy page.
• Food and lodging. You must provide adequate food and acceptable accommodation. In a smaller flat, that often means giving up a room or the household shelter space.
• Rest days. Helpers are entitled to a weekly rest day, which can be compensated with pay by agreement, though at least one rest day a month cannot be bought out.

Insurance and one-off costs

• Mandatory insurance. Employers must buy medical insurance and personal accident insurance for the helper.
• Security bond. A $5,000 bond is required for non-Malaysian helpers, usually bought as an insurance-backed bond rather than paid in cash.
• Medical costs. You are responsible for the helper's medical care, plus the regular medical examinations MOM requires.
• Agency fees. Optional, but most first-time employers use an agency. Fees vary widely.
• Programmes and travel. First-time employers attend an orientation programme, and first-time helpers attend a settling-in programme. Many contracts also include airfare for home leave.

Add these together and a live-in helper is a significant monthly commitment, even before the cost of the room she occupies.

What a part-time cleaner costs

A part-time cleaner is paid by the hour, only for the time spent cleaning. With Cleaning Assistant:

• $20/hr for your first ad-hoc trial
• $23/hr for weekly or fortnightly recurring cleaning
• $26/hr for on-demand ad-hoc sessions, including same-day

No levy, no security bond, no insurance to buy, no agency fee and no contract. Our cleaners are trained, background-checked and insured, and the business is NEA-approved and fully insured, so that risk sits with us, not you. You do provide your own cleaning supplies, which keeps the hourly rate free of product mark-ups.

For worked examples by flat size, see our full guide to part-time cleaning cost in Singapore.

Side by side

When a live-in helper is the better choice

It would be unfair to pretend part-time cleaning suits everyone. A full-time helper often makes more sense if:

• You need care, not just cleaning. Supervising young children after school, or helping an elderly parent with bathing, meals and medication, is caregiving. A cleaner does not do this.
• Someone must be home all day. For a relative with dementia or limited mobility, constant presence matters more than cost.
• You qualify for the concessionary levy and have the space. The $60 levy narrows the gap considerably.
• Your household is large and the daily workload of cooking, laundry and cleaning is heavy.

When a part-time cleaner is the better choice

• You mainly need the home cleaned. Floors, bathrooms, kitchen and dusting are exactly what a part-time cleaner is for.
• You live in a smaller flat. Many 3-room and 4-room flats do not have a spare room to give up.
• You value privacy. Your home is your own outside the session.
• Your needs change. Part-time help scales up before Chinese New Year or a move, and down when you travel, without paperwork.
• You do not want employer responsibilities. No permit renewals, medical checks, levy payments or rest-day arrangements.

Some families combine both approaches over time. A couple might use part-time help while their children are young enough for infant care, then reconsider when caring needs grow. If you are weighing it up, our guide on how often you really need a cleaner helps you size the part-time option properly, and how to book a reliable part-time cleaner covers what to check before you start.

If your situation is about an ageing parent who lives independently, a part-time cleaner can be useful alongside other support. We cover that in part-time cleaning for elderly parents. More on how recurring help works is on our part-time cleaning page.

Frequently asked questions

Is a part-time cleaner cheaper than a maid in Singapore?

For cleaning alone, usually yes. The first-helper levy at the normal rate is $300 a month before salary, insurance, food and lodging, whereas a fortnightly part-time clean for a typical HDB flat often costs less than the levy by itself.

Does the maid levy apply to part-time cleaners?

No. The MDW levy applies to employers of live-in migrant domestic workers. When you book a part-time cleaner through a cleaning company, you are buying a service, so there is no levy, bond or insurance for you to arrange.

Can a part-time cleaner look after my kids or elderly parent?

No. A part-time cleaner cleans the home and does not provide childcare or caregiving. If you need care, a live-in helper or a dedicated eldercare service is the right route.

What is the concessionary maid levy?

MOM offers a lower levy of $60 a month for eligible households, for example those with a young child, an elderly member or a person with disabilities. Check MOM's website for the current eligibility rules before you plan around it.

Not ready for a live-in helper? Try a part-time clean at our $20/hr first-session rate, or message +65 8166 0891 to talk through which option suits your household.