Almost every family asks me the same thing early on. "How much is a Filipino helper?"
The honest answer has changed, and a lot of what is online is out of date. So here is where it stands in 2026.
The new minimum for Filipino helpers
The minimum basic salary for a Filipino helper is S$650 a month. This has been the going rate for a fresh Filipino helper since late 2025, and it is what genuine contracts are held to today.
If an agency quotes you well below that, it is still worth asking how, because the number is usually either optimistic or already out of date.
What that means next to other nationalities
Roughly, for a fresh helper in 2026:
| Fresh helper, 2026 | Typical basic salary |
|---|---|
| Filipino | from S$650 |
| Indonesian | from S$550 |
| Myanmar | from about S$520 |
The gap is narrower than it used to be, and it keeps narrowing. Myanmar and Sri Lankan salaries have been rising around 10% a year as demand climbs. So choosing a nationality purely to save $100 a month is a decision that ages badly.
Salary is not the cost
This is the part that surprises people. The monthly salary is roughly half of what you actually spend.
All in, most Singapore households spend around S$1,050 to S$1,650 a month once you include salary, the levy, food, and insurance. On top of that sit one-time costs at the start.
So when you compare two agencies on placement fee alone, you are comparing a small slice of a much bigger number.
Where experience changes the price
Helpers with ten or more years, or specific infant-care or eldercare skills, command S$1,000 and above, often with a 10 to 20% skill premium.
The real risk of paying below market is not that you look cheap. It is that she leaves.
And helpers know their worth. They talk to each other constantly, on Facebook, TikTok and WhatsApp groups. An underpriced offer rarely gets accepted, and when it does, it rarely lasts.
What I tell families
Budget for the honest number, not the lowest one you saw advertised. Pay fairly for the experience you actually need. And spend your energy on getting the match right, because a helper who stays two years costs far less than two helpers who each stay ten months.
Get your real number
Tell us your household and we will give you a realistic all-in figure with nothing hidden. Browse helpers at unistarr.com.sg/helpers or reach a consultant on WhatsApp at either branch below.
Bukit Timah +65 9723 4920
Katong +65 9647 4781
Mon-Fri 11am-7pm · Sat-Sun 11am-5pm
Unistarr Employment Pte Ltd · MOM EA Licence 15C7448
As featured on CNA + 8world, June 2026
