Ask most Singaporean parents what school costs, and they’ll say “almost nothing,” while many expat and PR families are genuinely surprised by how much a government school actually costs them. The truth is that school fees in Singapore vary enormously depending on citizenship status, school type and level, and there are several smaller costs that rarely make it into the headline numbers. This guide breaks down exactly what families pay at each stage, from primary school through junior college.

How Much Are School Fees in Singapore?

School fees in Singapore depend heavily on citizenship status. Singapore Citizens pay no fee for primary school and only S$5 to S$6 a month at secondary and pre-university level. Permanent Residents pay roughly S$330 to S$345 monthly at primary level, rising to around S$680 to S$787 at secondary and pre-university level. International students pay considerably more, with non-ASEAN students paying over S$1,000 monthly even at primary level, on top of a monthly miscellaneous fee and GST.

These are figures for government and government-aided schools, which cover the vast majority of Singapore’s student population. Independent schools and international schools follow entirely different fee structures, covered further down.

School Fees for Singapore Citizens

This is the simplest category, and the one most people mean when they say Singapore schools are “affordable” or even effectively free.

Level	Monthly school fee
Primary school	Free (no monthly fee)
Secondary school	S$5
Pre-university (JC/MI)	S$6

On top of this nominal fee, all students, including citizens, pay a small monthly miscellaneous fee, generally somewhere in the range of S$13 to S$27 depending on level, which covers items like student administration, co-curricular activities support and other school-based costs. For many Singaporean families, Edusave contributions from the government can offset some or all of these miscellaneous fees, particularly at the primary level.

School Fees for Permanent Residents (PR)

PR families pay noticeably more than citizens, and MOE has been raising these fees gradually as part of a multi-year schedule running from 2024 to 2026.

Level	Approximate monthly fee for PRs (2026)
Primary school	Around S$330 to S$345
Secondary school	Around S$680 to S$700
Pre-university (JC/MI)	Around S$787

These figures vary slightly depending on the source and rounding used, since MOE’s fee schedule is updated periodically. Always check MOE’s official school fees page or your child’s school directly for the exact current figure, since even a small monthly difference adds up meaningfully across 6 to 12 years of schooling.

Over a full educational journey, a PR family can expect to pay roughly S$24,000 to S$25,000 across six years of primary school, over S$33,000 across four years of secondary school, and close to S$19,000 across two years of pre-university education, before accounting for any fee increases in future years.

School Fees for International Students

International students pay the highest fees among the three citizenship categories, and fees are tiered between ASEAN and non-ASEAN nationalities.

Level	ASEAN international students (2026, monthly)	Non-ASEAN international students (2026, monthly)
Primary school	S$595	S$1,035
Secondary school	S$1,090	S$2,190
Pre-university (JC/MI)	S$1,290	S$2,540

International students also pay GST on top of the miscellaneous fee, unlike citizens and PRs, whose miscellaneous fees are subsidised and GST-exempt. Over a full educational journey from primary through junior college, a non-ASEAN international student’s family can expect total fees well into six figures in Singapore dollars, which is why some international families choose private international schools instead, despite those typically costing even more.

Why Do Fees Differ by Citizenship Status?

MOE has stated that fee differentiation reflects the privileges of citizenship, and that Singapore’s government school fees, even for international students, remain competitive compared to private and international school alternatives. The gap between citizen, PR and international student fees has widened gradually over the years through periodic fee reviews, with MOE announcing multi-year fee schedules in advance so families can plan ahead financially.

Independent School Fees: A Different Structure

Independent schools, such as Raffles Institution, Hwa Chong Institution, Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) and several others, are given more autonomy to set their own school fees, separate from the standard MOE fee schedule described above. This means:

• Citizens at independent schools pay noticeably more than the S$5 to S$6 nominal fee charged at standard government and government-aided schools, though still substantially less than private or international school tuition.
• Exact fees vary by school and are typically published on each school’s own website or in enrolment materials, since independent schools have discretion over their fee structure.
• Fees still remain heavily subsidised compared to private alternatives, since independent schools remain part of the national education system and receive government funding.

If your child is considering, or has been posted to, an independent school, it’s worth checking that specific school’s published fee schedule directly, since figures differ meaningfully from school to school and change periodically.

International (Private) School Fees: The Most Expensive Option

Private international schools in Singapore, which operate entirely outside the MOE system, charge the highest fees by a significant margin, often ranging from the tens of thousands to well over S$40,000 a year per child, depending on the school and level. Families who choose this route are usually doing so for a specific curriculum (such as the IB or a national curriculum from their home country) rather than cost savings, since international schools are consistently the priciest option available in Singapore.

Financial Assistance for School Fees

Families who may struggle with school-related costs have a few avenues for support:

• MOE Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS), which helps eligible Singapore Citizen students with school fees, miscellaneous fees, textbooks, and other school-related costs, typically assessed based on household income.
• Edusave contributions, an annual government top-up for every Singapore Citizen student, which can be used to offset miscellaneous fees, enrichment programmes and even some approved external courses.
• School-specific bursaries and financial assistance, particularly at independent schools, which often run their own additional bursary programmes on top of national schemes.

Families uncertain about eligibility should approach their child’s school directly, since application processes and criteria are typically handled at the school level even when the scheme itself is national.

The Hidden Costs Beyond Monthly Fees

Monthly school fees are only part of the picture. Several other costs regularly catch new parents by surprise:

1. School uniforms and PE attire. Most schools require multiple sets, along with specific shoes, which need replacing as children grow.
2. Textbooks and workbooks. Even with subsidies for citizens, textbook costs add up, particularly at secondary level with more subjects.
3. CCA-related costs. Certain co-curricular activities, particularly those requiring specialised equipment, uniforms or overseas trips, can carry meaningful additional costs. Our guide to choosing the right CCA in Singapore touches on how CCA choice can affect overall costs.
4. School trips and overseas immersion programmes. Particularly common at SAP schools and IP schools with language immersion components, these are usually optional but can be a significant expense if pursued.
5. Tuition. While not a school fee, supplementary tuition is extremely common in Singapore and represents one of the largest ongoing education costs for many families. Our guide to choosing tuition in Singapore covers how to think about this cost against your child’s actual needs.
6. Stationery, school bags, and everyday supplies. Individually small, these add up meaningfully over a school year, especially with multiple children.

Budgeting Tips for Singapore School Fees

1. Check the current MOE fee schedule directly, since fees for PRs and international students are revised periodically, and relying on older figures can lead to underestimating future costs.
2. Factor in miscellaneous fees and GST separately, particularly for international students, since these are not always included in headline fee figures quoted online.
3. Ask about independent school fees before posting, if your child may be posted to one, since these differ from the standard schedule and vary school to school.
4. Explore Edusave and FAS eligibility early, rather than waiting until costs become a strain, since these schemes are designed to be used proactively.
5. Budget separately for tuition and enrichment, since these often exceed the actual school fee over the course of a school year, particularly around exam years.
6. Plan across the full educational journey, not just one level, since fees, particularly for PR and international families, compound meaningfully from primary through pre-university.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Singapore citizens pay school fees?

Singapore Citizens pay no monthly fee for primary school and only S$5 a month for secondary school and S$6 a month for pre-university (JC or Millennia Institute), plus a small miscellaneous fee, generally between S$13 and S$27 depending on level.

How much do PR students pay for school in Singapore?

Permanent Resident students pay significantly more than citizens, with 2026 monthly fees of roughly S$330 to S$345 at primary level, S$680 to S$700 at secondary level, and around S$787 at pre-university level, though exact figures vary slightly by source and can change with periodic MOE fee reviews.

How much do international students pay for school in Singapore?

International students pay the highest government school fees, tiered by nationality. In 2026, ASEAN international students pay S$595 monthly at primary level, rising to S$1,090 at secondary and S$1,290 at pre-university, while non-ASEAN international students pay S$1,035, S$2,190 and S$2,540 respectively, plus GST.

Are independent school fees different from regular government school fees?

Yes. Independent schools, such as Raffles Institution and Hwa Chong Institution, set their own fee structures, which are typically higher than the standard S$5 to S$6 nominal fee charged to citizens at regular government schools, though still well below private or international school tuition.

What financial assistance is available for school fees in Singapore?

Eligible Singapore Citizen students can apply for the MOE Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS), which helps with school fees, miscellaneous fees and other school-related costs based on household income. Edusave contributions are also available annually to every Singapore Citizen student and can offset certain school-related expenses.

What other costs should parents budget for besides school fees?

Beyond monthly fees, parents should budget for uniforms, textbooks, CCA-related expenses, school trips, stationery and, very commonly, supplementary tuition, which for many families becomes one of the largest ongoing education costs.

Final Thoughts

School fees in Singapore look deceptively simple at first glance, a few dollars a month for citizens, but the full picture varies enormously by citizenship status and school type, and the headline fee is rarely the full cost of educating a child here. Understand your specific fee category, check the current MOE schedule directly rather than relying on older figures, and budget for the less-visible costs like tuition, uniforms and CCA expenses that tend to add up the most over time.

For more on choosing the right school and managing the broader costs of your child’s education, explore our schools section and parenting guides.

Fee figures in this article reflect 2026 MOE rates as reported by recent sources and may differ slightly depending on rounding or updates to the official fee schedule. Always verify current fees directly with MOE or your child’s school before budgeting.