Hiring domestic help in Singapore is one of the most common — and most carefully regulated — household decisions expat and local families make. KakiList lists 774 verified domestic-help providers across the four main specialisms: MOM-licensed maid agencies placing live-in helpers on 2-year work permits, part-time helpers working by the hour for cleaning and ironing, confinement nannies providing 28-day postnatal support, and confinement food specialists delivering traditional postnatal meals.
The regulatory side matters more than many first-time employers realise. Maid agencies must hold an EA licence from MOM and comply with the Employment Agencies Act — you can cross-check any agency on MOM's e-services portal before signing. For confinement nannies, the market is less formally regulated; credentials usually come from training institutes and past client references rather than statutory licensing. Part-time helpers fall somewhere in between — reputable providers are ACRA-registered companies dispatching vetted staff, while informal helpers hired through WhatsApp groups carry more risk.
Typical Singapore costs break down like this. Maid agency placement fees run S$1,500–S$3,500 for a new hire, plus S$550–S$800 monthly salary and a S$300–S$450 MOM levy (depending on whether you qualify for the lower Levy Concession). Part-time helpers charge S$20–S$30 an hour with a 3–4 hour minimum per visit. Confinement nannies cost S$2,800–S$4,500 for a 28-day stay-in package, or S$2,200–S$3,500 day-only; meal packages run S$1,200–S$2,800 for the same 28 days.
The common mistake is treating these services as interchangeable. Many Singapore families run two at once — a live-in helper from an agency for day-to-day support, plus occasional part-time help for deep cleans, spring cleaning, or post-party tidying. Use the subcategory cards below to compare providers, read real Google reviews, and reach agencies directly via WhatsApp rather than chasing cold-call sales pitches. Every listing is independent — KakiList takes no referral fees from agencies.
Starting prices for the most common jobs in each specialism. These are rough indicators — final quotes depend on scope, property type, and urgency.
| Service | Typical Starting Price | Cost Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Maid Agency | From S$1,500 | View breakdown → |
| Part-time Helper | From S$20/hr | View breakdown → |
| Confinement Nanny | From S$2,800 (28 days) | View breakdown → |
| Confinement Food | From S$1,200 (28 days) | View breakdown → |
Our curated "Top 10" lists for each specialism — ranked by verified Google reviews, ACRA registration status, and response quality. Updated monthly from live data, not pay-for-play listings.
Jump straight to maid agency providers in your neighbourhood — the headline service in this category. Each location page lists every other domestic help specialism in that area too.
Pick a specific service to see verified providers, typical costs, and the best-rated options in Singapore.
A curated selection of highly-rated providers across domestic help, shortlisted from live Google reviews and ACRA verification. For a specific service, use the guides above.
Maid agencies place full-time live-in or live-out helpers on 2-year contracts — best if you need daily support and can sponsor a work permit. Part-time helpers are hourly and ideal for weekly cleaning, ironing, or one-off deep cleans. Many Singapore families run both: an agency helper for day-to-day plus occasional part-time help for spring cleaning or post-party.
Usually yes. Confinement nannies provide 28-day newborn care and postnatal support (bathing, feeding, laundry, meal prep), while confinement food providers deliver traditional postnatal meals without the in-home support. Many families combine a day-only nanny with a food delivery package to save on stay-in fees.
Agency fees in Singapore run S$1,500-S$3,500 for a new hire and S$500-S$1,500 for a transfer helper, on top of the helper's monthly salary (S$550-S$800 depending on nationality and experience) and the S$300-450 monthly MOM levy.