Preschool fees in Singapore: compare the full cost

To compare preschool fees in Singapore, ask for the amount your family would actually pay across a full year, not just the monthly headline. Programme hours, care after class, deposits, uniforms, meals, holiday charges and subsidy eligibility can change the result. The right comparison uses the same care hours and the same child's eligibility for each provider.

What belongs in the total?

Ask each preschool for a written fee schedule that separates the education programme from before- or after-school care. Record the registration fee, refundable and non-refundable deposits, monthly programme fee, care fee, meal charges, uniform and materials, transport if offered, and any yearly or holiday payments. Mark whether a fee is compulsory. Then calculate the first 12 months from the proposed start date, including one-off payments, and divide by 12 only if a monthly equivalent helps you compare. Keep the cash due before the first day visible separately; families need both figures.

MOE's Kindergarten fee page, checked on 11 October 2026, provides a clear example of why the components matter. It lists 2026 monthly MOE Kindergarten fees of S$160 for Singapore Citizens and S$320 for Singapore Permanent Residents, and says fees are also payable in June and December. For families needing a full-day arrangement, the page says Kindergarten Care is available at all MOE Kindergartens and that its maximum 2026 monthly fee is S$425; that care fee is also payable during the June and December holidays. The maximum is not a quote for your chosen centre, and these MOE figures do not describe private preschool prices.

MOE also says some Singapore Citizen children may qualify for the Kindergarten Fee Assistance Scheme, which applies to the MOE Kindergarten school fee. It notes that income eligibility for preschool subsidies is expected to change from 1 January 2027, with more detail to come from MSF. Do not apply an old eligibility figure to a 2027 start. ECDA's parent pathway for choosing a preschool links to preschool search and subsidy information; use the current official eligibility tools and ask the chosen operator to confirm the family's assessed amount in writing.

How can two offers be compared fairly?

Use an illustrative worksheet, not guessed provider prices. Put the same schedule at the top: care required from 8am to 6pm, five days a week, starting in January. For provider A, enter programme fee × 12, care fee × 12, deposit and compulsory extras. Repeat for B. Subtract only the subsidy the family has actually been assessed for; keep an unconfirmed subsidy as a separate scenario. Add a row for days when the programme is closed but a parent still needs care. The worksheet should show “first-year cash”, “ongoing monthly cash” and “amount due before start”.

Costs are only one filter. Visit during an ordinary session and ask about settling-in, rest, food, language environment, staff communication, illness policy, pickup authorisation and how the child spends care hours after the core programme. An apparently cheaper option may involve a longer journey or a schedule that requires a second carer. Put the travel and handoff plan next to the fee table instead of reducing every choice to dollars.

Which questions should go to the provider?

Ask for the current fee schedule with its effective date, what can change during the enrolment period, how much notice a family must give to withdraw, and which deposits are refundable under what conditions. Ask whether a trial or visit is available and what the centre will do if the child struggles to settle. If subsidy eligibility is pending, ask when the centre needs documentation and what the full fee would be if approval arrives late. Avoid paying a non-refundable amount while a crucial term is still verbal.

The weekly family-admin routine can hold fee and notice dates, the P1 practice routine helps later with school transitions, and learning guides collect education decisions. You may send BusyParents a question about comparing a fee schedule as an editorial enquiry. We do not enrol children or secure places, and no third-party introduction is implied.

Common questions