🎓 Cost of Education in Singapore for a Child Born in 2025

For:
👶 Singapore Citizen child born in 2025
👩‍👩‍👧 Parents’ combined income: S$120k/year
🏫 Education route: AOP preschool → MOE Primary → MOE Secondary → JC → Local University

All costs are estimated using 2025 fee schedules, excluding inflation and assuming current subsidies remain constant.

🧒 Preschool (0–6 years)

ComponentDurationGross feesSubsidyCash Payment
Infant care18 months$22,230$13,680$8,550
Playgroup–K260 months$38,400$25,200$13,200
Total6 years$60,630$38,880$21,750

✅ From earlier calculation:

  • Gross fees: S$60,630
  • Subsidies: S$38,880
  • Family pays: S$21,750
  • Add-ons (enrichment, uniform, trips, etc.): ~S$11,800

➡️ Total Preschool Cost: ~S$33,550

🏫 Primary School (P1–P6; age 7–12)

ItemDurationCost estimate
Tuition fee6 yearsfree
Miscellaneous fees$6.50/month$468
Uniforms and shoes$200/year$1,200
Textbooks and materials$150/year$900
Co-curriculars and activities$120/year$720
Pocket money$5/day × 200 days$6,000

➡️ Total Primary (6 years): ≈ S$9,288 (~S$1548/year)

Subsidies:
Lower-income families can apply for MOE FAS, but at your household income level, this family would likely not qualify — so we’ll keep this as the out-of-pocket estimate.

🧑‍🎓 Secondary School (Sec 1–4; age 13–16)

ItemDurationCost Estimate
School feeS$5/monthS$240 (4 years)
Misc. & enrichment fees~S$100/monthS$4,800
Textbooks & uniforms~S$250/yearS$1,000
Transport & meals~S$200/monthS$9,600
CCA, camps, excursions~S$300/yearS$1,200

➡️ Total Secondary (4 years): ≈ S$16,840

🏛️ Junior College (JC1–JC2; age 17–18)

ItemDurationCost Estimate
School feeS$6/monthS$144 (2 years)
Misc. fees~S$27/monthS$648
Uniforms, PE, notes~S$150/yearS$300
Transport & meals~S$250/monthS$6,000
Exam fees (A Levels)One-timeS$300

➡️ Total JC (2 years): ≈ S$7,392

(Assuming government JC, not independent.)


🎓 University (Local Autonomous University; age 19–22)

Assuming:

  • 4-year course (e.g., Business, Social Sciences, Engineering)
  • Tuition fee (AY2025 rates): ~S$9,000/year for Singapore Citizens
  • No tuition grant clawback (you serve the bond by working locally)
ItemDurationCost Estimate
Tuition fee4 yearsS$36,000
Books, IT, admin fees~S$1000/yearS$4,000
Transport & meals~S$500/month × 12 monthsS$6,000/year × 4 = S$24,000
Hall/accommodation (optional)~S$600/month × 8 monthsS$4,800/year × 4 = S$19,200

➡️ Total University (4 years):
• Without accommodation: S$64,000
• With accommodation: S$83,200

🧾 Grand Total: Birth → University (Singapore Route)

Education StageDurationCash PaymentNotes
Preschool (AOP, 6 years)0–6S$33,550After subsidies.
Primary6 yearsS$9,288Include meals and supplies.
Secondary4 yearsS$16,840Government Schools
Junior College2 yearsS$7,392Government Schools
University (no hostel)4 yearsS$64,000Autonomous Universities
Total (no hostel)18 years💰S$131,020
Total (with hostel)18 years💰S$150,220

🧠 TL;DR:

If you’re a middle-income Singapore family earning S$120k per year, expect to spend:

💵 ≈ S$150k–S$200k to raise and educate one child through a local university.

That’s excluding inflation, overseas study, or major enrichment spending.

💡 Supermom Hack:
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