- Country Guide
- Singapore
Singapore
Last Update by Phil, 28 Nov 2024
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Exchange Rate
22 Jan 2025
Cost of Living
Indicative value for a working adult in a city: Singapore
Publicly available data (Numbeo, etc..), verified by Marco’s in-country staff
| Living Requirement | Indicative Amount (SGD) |
|---|---|
| McDonalds Set Meal | 9.50 |
| Monthly Train and Bus Tickets | 140 |
| 3 Bedrooms Rental (City Center) | 8,000 |
| 3 Bedrooms Rental (Outskirt) | 4,800 |
Current Inflation Rate
3.6%
Wage
Minimum Wages
- No statutory minimum wage
- Typical practice: No lower than SGD2,600
Median Salary
Estimated based on general positions such as HR, Accounting, Admin roles, in tier one cities.
| Job Level | Monthly Salary (SGD) |
|---|---|
|
Entry-Level
Fresh Graduate
|
3,300 |
|
Mid-Level
5 Years
|
5,500 |
|
Experienced & Managerial Level
10 Years
|
11,000 |
|
Specialized & Senior-Level
15 Years
|
> 15,000 |
Annual Salary Growth
4%
Statutory Contribution
Country Level
| Type | Employer Rates | Employee Rates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Provident Fund (CPF) | 17%, capped at salary SGD6,800 | 20%, capped at salary SGD6,800 | Citizens and Permanent Residents |
| Skills Development Levy (SDL) | 0.25%, between 2 - SGD 11.25, capped at salary SGD4,500 | - | Citizens, Permanent Residents, and all Passes holders |
| Foreign Worker Levy (FWL) | From SGD 250 - SGD 900/ month | - |
Apply to Skilled Pass/Work Pass holders only No levy for Employment Pass holder |
| Self-Help Group Funds (SHGs) | - | Varies based on salary: between SGD 0.50 – SGD30 | All staff, can choose to opt out |
Other Benefit
Other common employment benefits in Singapore include:
- Group Additional Insurance: premium from SGD100/month
- Transport Allowance:
- Sales positions: SGD800-1,000/month
- Non-sales positions - SGD50/month - Mobile Allowance:
- Sales positions - SGD200 - SGD300/ month
- Non-sales positions - SGD20 / month
Income Tax
Residents
-
Tax period: 1 Jan till 31 Dec
Tax filing start date: 1 Mar of the following year
Tax filing due date: 15th Apr (paper filing) and 18th Apr (e-filing) of the following year
Country Level
| Taxable Income | Rate |
|---|---|
| 0 - 20,000 | 0% |
| 20,000 - 30,000 | 2% |
| 30,000 - 40,000 | 3.5% |
| 40,000 - 80,000 | 7% |
| 80,000 - 120,000 | 11.5% |
| 120,000 - 160,000 | 15% |
| 160,000 - 200,000 | 18% |
| 200,000 - 240,000 | 19% |
| 240,000 - 280,000 | 19.5% |
| 280,000 - 320,000 | 20% |
| > 320,000 | 22% |
Non-residents
- Employment income of non-residents is taxed at the flat rate of 15% or the progressive resident tax rates, whichever is the higher tax amount
Working Hours
Statutory
44 hours
up to 9 hours a day, 5 days a week
up to 8 hours a day, 6 days a week
Typical practice
40 hours
9 - 6 pm, Monday- Friday
Overtime
Applicable for:
1. Blue-collar: basic salary earns SGD4,500/month or less
2. White-collar: basic salary earns SGD2,600 SGD/month or less
Daily working hours: capped at 12 hours
Monthly overtime hours: capped at 72 hours
Hourly rate: 1.5 x (Basic Monthly Salary x 12) / (52 weeks x 44 hours)
PH rate: (12 x Monthly basic rate x public holidays worked) / (52 x Average amount of workdays in a week), or given time off in lieu
Employment Contract
Permanent
Contract Format
Written in English and provided within 14 days of the start date
Payroll Currency
SGD
Probation
3 - 6 months
Contract Period
No minimum duration
Termination
As per MOM guidelines, refer to Employment contract signed
| Voluntary Resignation | Involuntary Termination | Economic Layoff | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notice Period - Probation | 1 day | 1 day | As per the termination letter in writing or email |
| Notice Period - Regular | less than 26 weeks: 1 day 26 weeks to less than 2 years: 1 week 2 years to less than 5 years: 2 weeks 5 years or more: 4 weeks | less than 26 weeks: 1 day 26 weeks to less than 2 years: 1 week 2 years to less than 5 years: 2 weeks 5 years or more: 4 weeks | As per the termination letter in writing or email |
| Severance Pay | As per employment contract signed | As per employment contract signed | - No severance for staff with under 2 years' service - Unionised companies: 1 month’s salary for each year of service - Non-unionised companies: min 0.5 months of basic salary + fixed allowances for each year of service |
Public Holiday
- 11 days
Public holidays that fall on non-working days, staff get time off in lieu
Country Level
| Date | Name |
|---|---|
| 01 Jan | New Year's Day |
| 29 Jan - 30 Jan | Chinese New Year's Day |
| 31 Mar | Hari Raya Puasa |
| 18 Apr | Good Friday |
| 01 May | Labor Day |
| 12 May | Vesak Day |
| 07 Jun | Hari Raya Haji |
| 09 Aug | National Day |
| 20 Oct | Deepavali |
| 25 Dec | Christmas Day |
Leave
Employees are entitled to statutory leave once they have worked for the employer for at least 3 months.
| Leave Type | Entitlement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Leave |
Minimum 7 working days up to 14 working days after each completed year of service |
All staff after 3 months' service |
| Sick Leave / Hospitalization Leave |
14 working days for paid sick leave (SL) 60 days for paid hospitalization leave (HL)- includes 14 days of sick leave |
All staff after 3 months' service 3 months' service: – 5 days SL, 15 days HL 4 months' service – 8 days SL, 30 days HL 5 months' service – 11 days SL, 60 days HL 6 months' service – 14 days SL, 60 days HL |
| Maternity Leave |
16 weeks (citizen baby) 12 weeks (non-citizen baby) |
Expectant mothers, with 3 months continuous service before the child is born |
| Shared Parental Leave |
- 4 weeks. - 6 weeks (from 1 - April 2025). - 10 weeks (from 1 April 2026). |
Expectant fathers with 3 months continuous service before the child is born |
| Paternity Leave |
2 weeks Additional 2 weeks subject to employer's agreement |
Expectant fathers with 3 months continuous service before the child is born |
| Childcare Leave |
6 working days (citizen baby) 2 working days (non-citizen baby) |
All staff after 3 months' service with children under 7 years old. |
| Adoption Leave | 12 weeks (citizen baby, within 6 months of adoption) | Adoptive mothers after 3 months' service with adoption of child below 12 months old |
| Extended Childcare Leave | 2 working days (citizen baby) | Parents after 3 months' service with children 7-12 years old |
| Unpaid Infant Care Leave | 6 working days (citizen baby) | Parents after 3 months' service with children below 2 years old |
| National Service Leave | up to 40 days, depending on duration of training. | Men in military reserve, who are called upon for training |
Reference
- https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/country_result.jsp?country=Singapore
- https://www.cpf.gov.sg
- https://www.cpf.gov.sg/employer/employer-obligations/contributions-to-self-help-groups
- https://www.iras.gov.sg
- https://www.mom.gov.sg
- https://www.mom.gov.sg/employment-practices/contract-of-service/what-is-a-contract-of-service
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Contact UsCountry Guide - Singapore
Last updated: 28 Nov 2024
Exchange Rate
Currency (SGD)
- 1 CNY = 0.185 SGD
- 1 USD = 1.32 SGD
Other currencies can be retrieved via the country guide link above.
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Labor Cost Calculator
To know the total employer cost for hiring a staff with certain salary, please go to our main site: https://marcopayroll.com
Cost of Living
Indicative value for a working adult in a city: Singapore
Publicly available data (Numbeo, etc..), verified by Marco’s in-country staff
| Living Requirement | Indicative Amount (SGD) |
|---|---|
| McDonalds Set Meal | 9.50 |
| Monthly Train and Bus Tickets | 140 |
| 3 Bedrooms Rental (City Center) | 8,000 |
| 3 Bedrooms Rental (Outskirt) | 4,800 |
Current Inflation Rate
3.6%
Wage
Minimum Wages
- No statutory minimum wage
- Typical practice: No lower than SGD2,600
Median Salary
Estimated based on general positions such as HR, Accounting, Admin roles, in tier one cities.
| Job Level | Monthly Salary (SGD) |
|---|---|
|
Entry-Level
Fresh Graduate
|
3,300 |
|
Mid-Level
5 Years
|
5,500 |
|
Experienced & Managerial Level
10 Years
|
11,000 |
|
Specialized & Senior-Level
15 Years
|
> 15,000 |
Annual Salary Growth
4%
Statutory Contribution
Country Level
| Type | Employer Rates | Employee Rates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Provident Fund (CPF) | 17%, capped at salary SGD6,800 | 20%, capped at salary SGD6,800 | Citizens and Permanent Residents |
| Skills Development Levy (SDL) | 0.25%, between 2 - SGD 11.25, capped at salary SGD4,500 | - | Citizens, Permanent Residents, and all Passes holders |
| Foreign Worker Levy (FWL) | From SGD 250 - SGD 900/ month | - |
Apply to Skilled Pass/Work Pass holders only No levy for Employment Pass holder |
| Self-Help Group Funds (SHGs) | - | Varies based on salary: between SGD 0.50 – SGD30 | All staff, can choose to opt out |
Other Benefit
Other common employment benefits in Singapore include:
- Group Additional Insurance: premium from SGD100/month
- Transport Allowance:
- Sales positions: SGD800-1,000/month
- Non-sales positions - SGD50/month - Mobile Allowance:
- Sales positions - SGD200 - SGD300/ month
- Non-sales positions - SGD20 / month
Income Tax
Residents
-
Tax period: 1 Jan till 31 Dec
Tax filing start date: 1 Mar of the following year
Tax filing due date: 15th Apr (paper filing) and 18th Apr (e-filing) of the following year
Country Level
| Taxable Income | Rate |
|---|---|
| 0 - 20,000 | 0% |
| 20,000 - 30,000 | 2% |
| 30,000 - 40,000 | 3.5% |
| 40,000 - 80,000 | 7% |
| 80,000 - 120,000 | 11.5% |
| 120,000 - 160,000 | 15% |
| 160,000 - 200,000 | 18% |
| 200,000 - 240,000 | 19% |
| 240,000 - 280,000 | 19.5% |
| 280,000 - 320,000 | 20% |
| > 320,000 | 22% |
Non-residents
- Employment income of non-residents is taxed at the flat rate of 15% or the progressive resident tax rates, whichever is the higher tax amount
Working Hours
Statutory
44 hours
up to 9 hours a day, 5 days a week
up to 8 hours a day, 6 days a week
Typical practice
40 hours
9 - 6 pm, Monday- Friday
Overtime
Applicable for:
1. Blue-collar: basic salary earns SGD4,500/month or less
2. White-collar: basic salary earns SGD2,600 SGD/month or less
Daily working hours: capped at 12 hours
Monthly overtime hours: capped at 72 hours
Hourly rate: 1.5 x (Basic Monthly Salary x 12) / (52 weeks x 44 hours)
PH rate: (12 x Monthly basic rate x public holidays worked) / (52 x Average amount of workdays in a week), or given time off in lieu
Employment Contract
Fixed-Term
Project-based work, seasonal employment, or temporary staff hiring.
Probation
Optional, common practice: 3 - 6 months.
Termination
Refer to the employment contract signed
| Voluntary Resignation | Involuntary Termination | Economic Layoff | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notice Period - Probation | less than 26 weeks: 1 day | 1 day | As per termination letter |
| Notice Period - Regular | less than 26 weeks: 1 day 26 weeks to less than 2 years: 1 week 2 years to less than 5 years: 2 weeks 5 years or more: 4 weeks | less than 26 weeks: 1 day 26 weeks to less than 2 years: 1 week 2 years to less than 5 years: 2 weeks 5 years or more: 4 weeks | As per the termination letter in writing or email |
| Severance Pay | Not Applicable | As per employment contract signed | - No severance for staff with under 2 years' service - Unionised companies: 1 month’s salary for each year of service - Non-unionised companies: min 0.5 months of basic salary + fixed allowances for each year of service |
Permanent
Probation
3 - 6 months
Termination
As per MOM guidelines, refer to Employment contract signed
| Voluntary Resignation | Involuntary Termination | Economic Layoff | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notice Period - Probation | 1 day | 1 day | As per the termination letter in writing or email |
| Notice Period - Regular | less than 26 weeks: 1 day 26 weeks to less than 2 years: 1 week 2 years to less than 5 years: 2 weeks 5 years or more: 4 weeks | less than 26 weeks: 1 day 26 weeks to less than 2 years: 1 week 2 years to less than 5 years: 2 weeks 5 years or more: 4 weeks | As per the termination letter in writing or email |
| Severance Pay | As per employment contract signed | As per employment contract signed | - No severance for staff with under 2 years' service - Unionised companies: 1 month’s salary for each year of service - Non-unionised companies: min 0.5 months of basic salary + fixed allowances for each year of service |
Public Holiday
- 11 days
Public holidays that fall on non-working days, staff get time off in lieu
2025
| Date | Name |
|---|---|
Leave
Employees are entitled to statutory leave once they have worked for the employer for at least 3 months.
| Leave Type | Entitlement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Leave |
Minimum 7 working days up to 14 working days after each completed year of service |
All staff after 3 months' service |
| Sick Leave / Hospitalization Leave |
14 working days for paid sick leave (SL) 60 days for paid hospitalization leave (HL)- includes 14 days of sick leave |
All staff after 3 months' service 3 months' service: – 5 days SL, 15 days HL 4 months' service – 8 days SL, 30 days HL 5 months' service – 11 days SL, 60 days HL 6 months' service – 14 days SL, 60 days HL |
| Maternity Leave |
16 weeks (citizen baby) 12 weeks (non-citizen baby) |
Expectant mothers, with 3 months continuous service before the child is born |
| Shared Parental Leave |
- 4 weeks. - 6 weeks (from 1 - April 2025). - 10 weeks (from 1 April 2026). |
Expectant fathers with 3 months continuous service before the child is born |
| Paternity Leave |
2 weeks Additional 2 weeks subject to employer's agreement |
Expectant fathers with 3 months continuous service before the child is born |
| Childcare Leave |
6 working days (citizen baby) 2 working days (non-citizen baby) |
All staff after 3 months' service with children under 7 years old. |
| Adoption Leave | 12 weeks (citizen baby, within 6 months of adoption) | Adoptive mothers after 3 months' service with adoption of child below 12 months old |
| Extended Childcare Leave | 2 working days (citizen baby) | Parents after 3 months' service with children 7-12 years old |
| Unpaid Infant Care Leave | 6 working days (citizen baby) | Parents after 3 months' service with children below 2 years old |
| National Service Leave | up to 40 days, depending on duration of training. | Men in military reserve, who are called upon for training |
Reference
- https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/country_result.jsp?country=Singapore
- https://www.cpf.gov.sg
- https://www.cpf.gov.sg/employer/employer-obligations/contributions-to-self-help-groups
- https://www.iras.gov.sg
- https://www.mom.gov.sg
- https://www.mom.gov.sg/employment-practices/contract-of-service/what-is-a-contract-of-service
Contact Info
-
Singapore (Headquarters)
8 Marina Boulevard, MBFC Tower 1, #11-01, Singapore, 018981
+65 6653 4334 -
China (Headquarters)
79 Jianguo Road, China Central Place Tower 2, #09-52, Beijing, 100025
+86 10 6580 0555 -
China (Service Center)
23 Dagong Street, Eton Place Tower 2, Unit 1808, Dalian, 116001
-
United States
445 S Figueroa St, 31st Floor, Los Angeles, California, 90071
-
United Kingdom
71 - 75 Shelton Street, London, England GB
-
Netherlands
Vijzelstraat 68, 1017 HL, Amsterdam
-
Australia
Level 22, Salesforce Tower, 180 George Street, Sydney, NSW 2000