Student Accommodation in Singapore: Types and Rental Costs

Singapore, the “Lion Country”, is fast becoming a top choice for international students. There are many reasons to study in Singapore but while the experiences are bound to be large, the fact remains that Singapore is rather a small country and the only resource it often falls short is land. As such, the high population density and continuous demands from incoming international students makes finding an accommodation a constant cause of concern. Also, with Singapore as one of the costliest cities of the world, finding a right property that would not eat away your limited student budgets becomes important. And if you are an international student who is planning to set foot in the country for the very first time come August…finding the right accommodation is both necessary and challenging. So how do you go about it?

Type of Student Accommodation

The first thing to do before you start searching for the “right” accommodation in Singapore is to understand the options available to you as an International Students. With tens of thousands of international students making Singapore their homes for anywhere between one to 4 years, the options are bound to be plenty. But broadly speaking, they can be classified into two categories:

1.        On Campus Accommodation
2.        Off Campus Accommodation

On Campus Accommodation

Simply put, these are the options available within the University Campus. The available options are student halls (with or without meals), studio apartments as well as family accommodation. The availability of these is often further divided for undergraduates, graduates and research scholars as well as for single or married students (travelling with spouse). There are many Public and Private universities as well as International Universities with campuses in Singapore. While all offer top class education, there is no reason to believe that all would offer you an on-campus accommodation.

The two largest Public Universities in Singapore, namely National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) do have on campus accommodation available and are often referred to as campus universities. However, the large influx of international students makes it rather difficult to find an on campus accommodation. Neither is it right to presume that you would get a place on campus nor is it mandatory for the university to provide one to you. The key to finding on campus accommodation is applying early on.

The costs vary from type of accommodation to the location of the accommodation. Typically, ‘Type A’ apartments (for married couple), in these top universities would cost you anywhere upwards of SG$3000 (or approximately Rs. 1.35 lakhs) for a semester (usually a period of 5 – 6 months depending on the course). Residence Halls are often cheaper options and cost you anywhere upwards of SG$200 (approx. Rs. 9000) per month and would keep increasing as per the facilities (meals, laundry, etc.) provided. It is important to note that just because it is on the campus does not mean it would be the cheapest option. However, it is the most convenient and offers a higher security for first time visitors to the country.

Off Campus Accommodation

As the name suggests, the accommodations which are not within the defined walls of the university are categorized as off campus accommodations. These can be further classified into three types in Singapore:

1. Off Campus Student Hostels

These are a common choice for international students in Singapore. In fact, they are also rather popular with local students as well and are often situates close enough to a university. Some Universities also have a tie up with these hostels and help its students – local as well as international, get rooms at these hostels. For these you would have to get in touch with the University. Either ways, getting in touch with the university for helping you find an accommodation is always the best bet.

These hostels also have student halls, studios and apartment options for students and the costs accordingly vary as per the location, utilities provide and type of accommodation. A student hall costs upwards of SG$ 1700 (roughly INR 75,000) for a semester as rentals plus utility deposits. A private apartment would cost around SG$ 1500 (approx. INR 67,000) per month. Hostels also offer meal plans and it would be wise to check all the facilities and accordingly make a selection. Also, the rentals are also dependent on the tenure of the stay. If you are planning to rent the room for a longer time, the rentals would be lower.

2. Housing Development Board

These are government subsidized public housing accommodations located across the country. These present one of the most economic stay options in Singapore and are often located in estates with all basic facilities available within. For instance, HDB groups would have their own supermarkets, café’s, clinics, even schools and sometimes their own Metro Stations. You need to have a valid Student Pass to be able to rent this accommodation.

The location of the HDB would determine its price but they usually have rentals of about SG$ 1,000 – SG$ 2,000 (INR 45,000 – INR 90,000) per month and can be easily shared by 3 to 5 people. Effectively, it becomes rather economical. Some HDB are available at a price as low as SG$ 650 per month. However, we recommend you check the facilities available, the area and other property specifics before getting fooled by low prices. Again, high priced properties are no guarantee of safe option.

        3. Private Accommodations

Like any student city, Singapore’s real estate also thrives on the volumes of students coming to study in the city. As such, there are a number of private apartments also available for rent. These are often located in city centres and offer a variety of services and utilities. Accordingly, they are rather expensive. But then again, if you can afford it and really wish to enjoy the plush Singapore Life, these promise an experience of true Metropolitan culture.

The different kind of private accommodations available are apartments, studio flats (also called Condos/ Condominiums). A Condo would cost you on an average anywhere upward of SG$ 1,000 per month while an apartment would cost your upwards of SG$ 4,000 per month. The location, proximity to a metro station/ university and utilities available in the apartment complex determine the cost of the accommodation.

Things to remember while searching for a student accommodation in Singapore

To conclude, we would like to ask the students to be wary of a frauds. It is always advisable to start off with an on campus accommodation for the initial part of your studies if you are not familiar with the country. In case you are not lucky to find one, we advise you to get in touch with the International Stduent Office of the University you have applied to. They would often be able to share with you a list of trusted estate agents/ properties where you can find accommodation.

The other advice would be to go through the rent agreement and especially the exit clause…irrespective of the type of accommodation you are applying to. It is important to be properly informed about what all utilities you are signing up for. Compare the prices, consider the options and then decide.

All the best!