A lot of families and busy professionals in Singapore hire a maid to help with duties around the house. It could be hard to pick between a full-time and a part-time maid, though, because their costs, tasks, and benefits are all different. If you need help with everyday tasks or only need help now and then, understanding the maid cost comparison between full-time and part-time options will help you make a smart choice. In this article, we’ll explore the costs of both alternatives, what each one includes, and which might be preferable based on your specific needs.
Full-Time Maid and a Part-Time Maid
Let’s talk about what full-time and part-time maids do and how their jobs are different before we discuss maid cost Singapore.
Full-Time Maid
A full-time maid is someone who lives with you and works full-time, usually six days a week, with one day off, and is a significant part of your maid cost comparison. They do the duties around the house every day, and you can always get in touch with them because they live there. This choice is perfect for families that need help with cleaning, taking care of kids, taking care of the elderly, or even cooking regularly. Most of the time, the employer gives the full-time maid a place to live, food, and other perks. Because the arrangement means having a helper in your daily life, both sides have to make a bigger commitment.
Part-Time Maid
On the other hand, a part-time maid doesn’t live with you and usually gets paid by the hour. You pay them for the hours they work, which can be a few hours a week or as needed, offering a more affordable maid service cost. This is a lot easier to work with than having a full-time maid. It’s wonderful for families who need help with cleaning or other things from time to time, but not all the time.
Full-Time Maid Responsibilities
Every day, a full-time maid usually does a lot of different chores around the house. Here are a few of them:
- Cleaning: Cleaning the whole house regularly, which includes mopping, sweeping, dusting, and cleaning the bathroom.
- Cooking: Making meals for the family, either from a menu or depending on what they ask for each day.
- Laundry: Doing laundry involves washing, folding, and ironing garments.
- Errands are things like going to the store, picking up kids from school, and other things like that.
A full-time maid will live in your house, so they might have more to do than merely clean. Some families also depend on them to help take care of kids or older family members.
Part-Time Maid Responsibilities
Part-time maids, on the other hand, are often hired to do certain duties and are not expected to cook or take care of people. They usually clean, and here are some of the things they do:
- Cleaning the floors every so often using a vacuum and mop to get rid of dirt and grime.
- Dusting: Getting rid of dust on furniture, surfaces, and home decor.
- Cleaning the bedroom means making sure the room is clean, changing the sheets, and keeping the area neat.
- Cleaning the bathroom includes keeping it neat, making sure the surfaces are clean, and keeping the area clean.
- Cleaning the kitchen means putting things away, wiping off the counters, and making sure the appliances are clean.
- Ironing and folding clothes: The maid can do the laundry, but how effectively they do it may rely on their talents and how much time they have.
Part-time maids are good at cleaning, but they don’t do as much with other jobs around the house, like cooking or running errands.
Cost Comparison
When you look at the cost of maid services, the price is one of the most important things to think about when determining whether to hire a full-time or part-time maid. The price of hiring a maid in Singapore varies based on a variety of factors, including whether the maid works full-time or part-time and any other costs that come with the job.
Full-Time Maid Costs
Most of the time, full-time maids in Singapore are from other countries, and hiring one can be very expensive because of the extra costs that come with their labor. These are the main components that make up the entire cost of employing a full-time maid:
- Full-time maids usually make between S$500 and S$650 a month, depending on where they are from, aligning with the helper salary range for foreign workers. This is about the same as what helpers from the Philippines, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, or Myanmar usually make. Maids with more experience or specific skills, like caring for people, might be able to make more money.
- Levy: If an employer hires a foreign domestic worker, the government levies a fee. The first maid costs S$300 a month, and each maid after that costs S$450 a month. Families with small children, old people, or those with impairments may be able to get a lower levy of S$60.
- Employers must provide the maid with food, a place to live, and other things she needs, which can add to the maid contract renewal costs.
- Health and Insurance: Full-time maids need to get health insurance and go to the doctor often. Most of the time, the employer pays for these costs, which can add up to about S$400 a year.
- One-time Fees: Other one-time expenditures are agency fees, placement fees, medical tests, airfare, and training. These fees can add up to about S$2,500.
So, without any extra expenses, the total maid service cost of employing a full-time maid each month might range from S$1,020 to S$1,270.
Part-Time Maid Costs
Part-time maids are a better choice than full-time maids if you want to employ a maid for less money, helping you avoid maid hidden costs while providing more flexibility. You may see this in the comparison of maid prices. In Singapore, the whole cost of hiring a maid is affected by the fact that part-time maids usually charge by the hour, with rates ranging from S$23 to S$30 per hour. Some of the things that will affect the final pricing are:
- Number of Cleaners: Some part-time maid services send a group of cleaners, which could make the hourly rate go up.
- Hours: The more hours you need, the more it will cost. If you employ a maid for four hours a week, the total cost for the month might be anything from S$368 to S$480.
Families that don’t need help every day might be better off with this choice because they only hire part-time maids when they need them. You also save money in the long term by hiring a part-time maid because you don’t have to pay for housing, medical care, or insurance.
Pros and Cons
Depending on how much help you need, how much money you have, and how your family usually works, you can hire a full-time or part-time maid. You can pick the greatest solution for you and your life by knowing the pros and cons of each one.
Maid Full-Time
Pros:
- Consistent help: A maid who works full-time is always there to help with daily activities.
- Full range of services: Full-time maids can do more than just clean. They can also buy food, cook, and take care of others.
- No issues with scheduling: You don’t have to bother about making appointments or getting everyone to agree on a time.
Cons:
- Full-time maids cost more because of their pay, taxes, housing, and medical bills.
- Loss of privacy: If you have a live-in maid, you lose your privacy and personal space.
- As an employer, it’s your job to take care of your employees’ health, medical issues, and other personal needs.
Part-Time Maid
Pros:
- Cheap: Part-time maids are cheaper because you only pay them for the hours they work.
- Flexibility: You can clean whenever you choose, and you don’t need someone else to live with you to help you.
- Privacy: You can keep your privacy and personal space if you hire a cheap maid or someone to help you part-time.
Cons:
- Few tasks: Part-time maids usually only clean and don’t do anything else, like cook or take care of people.
- Help that isn’t always the same: It may be worse if you had to deal with new maids each time.
- Scheduling issues: You need to plan and make sure you’re free, which might not always work with your schedule.
Which Option Is Best for You?
Here are some things to think about while choosing between a full-time and a part-time maid:
- Your Needs: If you need help cleaning, minding kids, or taking care of the elderly every day, a full-time cleaner can be a better long-term cost comparison to maids. If you only require cleaning once in a while, a part-time maid is a better choice.
- Budget: Full-time maids cost a lot of money every month, including their wages, taxes, housing, and insurance. Part-time maids are cheaper, especially if you just need them once in a while.
- Privacy: If you want to retain your privacy, a part-time maid is a better choice because they don’t live with you.
- Flexibility: Part-time maids are more flexible because you may hire them when you need them and change the timetable as needed.
In the end, each choice has its pros and downsides. Full-time maids are excellent if you need support all the time. Part-time maids are appropriate if you only require help with certain tasks on a flexible, low-cost basis.
Based on your demands, budget, and way of life, you can choose to hire a full-time or part-time maid.
Final Thoughts
In the end, whether you want a full-time or part-time maid in Singapore depends on your family’s demands, lifestyle, budget, and how you compare the pricing of different maids to get the ideal one for you. A full-time maid can be the best choice for your home if you need help with everyday activities like cleaning, cooking, and taking care of people. But you should think about the extra costs of hiring a full-time live-in maid, like their pay, housing, and other costs.
A part-time maid can be a better choice if you only need help with cleaning, mopping, or ironing now and again. You may retain your privacy this way and have more options when it comes time to renew the maid contract. Part-time maids are great since they’re cheap and you can hire them when you need them without having to engage a full-time maid for a long time.
