Cost of Buying of Singapore Property
Buying a home in Singapore is not just about paying the purchase price. Other costs typically include stamp duties, conveyancing, agent fees, valuation fees, and more.
Below is a historical illustration of the total cost stack for a foreigner buying a S$1,500,000 residential property in Singapore (as published with this guide, Aug 2019).
Important: Figures below use then-applicable BSD and ABSD assumptions (ABSD in this example = S$300,000, i.e. 20% of S$1.5m under the rates of the day). Foreign ABSD is much higher under post–Apr 2023 rules (e.g. 60% in the current IRAS schedule). Re-run every line with current IRAS / bank / solicitor quotes. This site does not calculate stamp duty or affordability.
Historical cost stack (S$1.5m example)
Based on nationality and the number of residential properties, ABSD varies widely (in the original article: “between 0 to 20%” under then-rules).
| Item | Amount (S$) |
|---|---|
| Purchase price | 1,500,000 |
| Buyer Stamp Duty | 44,600 |
| Additional Buyer Stamp Duty | 300,000 |
| Conveyancing fee (estimated) | 3,000 |
| Mortgage stamp duty | 500 |
| Agent fee (negotiable) | 0 |
Notes from the original framing:
- BSD uses the higher of purchase price or market value.
- ABSD depends on buyer profile and property count — confirm IRAS.
- Conveyancing and agent fees are commercial quotes; treat as estimates.
- Mortgage stamp duty applies when you take a housing loan (rules and amounts change).
What this illustration is for
Use it as a checklist of cost categories, not as a live quote. The order of magnitude for stamp duty often dominates cash planning for foreign and multi-property buyers.
See also
- Buyer Stamp Duty — BSD structure and payment timing
- ABSD — second-property and foreign tiers
- LTV & tenure — how much can be financed after cash duties
Next step
WhatsApp with purchase price, buyer profile (SC / SPR / foreigner), and property count — we map the cost categories you must fund before capital is committed.