In Singapore, property ownership rules are clear. If you’re single, you can buy a resale HDB flat only after you turn 35; or, if you’re looking for further subsidies and have a bit of luck, you can consider applying for one of the highly competitive 2-room Flexi flats in every BTO launch. For many young adults, this creates a hefty financial dilemma: stay with your parents and save aggressively for the future, or move out and live independently while shouldering the high costs of rent and bills.
Of course, you can also decide to get married earlier, but you’d be in the minority. According to the latest Statistics on Marriages and Divorce, the median age at marriage has been trending slowly upwards for decades. Currently, they are 31.1 years for grooms and 29.6 years for brides in 2025, up from 30.3 years for grooms and 28.2 years for brides a decade ago.
In Singapore, renting is usually the only way to live independently when you’re under 35. For most young adults, buying a private condominium unit to live alone is either financially out of reach or comes with significant opportunity costs.
The Rent You Avoid
Rent is the single biggest expense for young adults who want to live alone. In 2026, typical monthly rents vary by accommodation type, location, and level of privacy.
A common room in an HDB flat is the most affordable option, typically ranging between $800 and $1,200 per month. This involves sharing the flat and a bathroom with other tenants or the landlord’s family. Privacy is very limited.
A master bedroom in an HDB flat with a private ensuite bathroom usually costs between S$1,200 and S$1,800 per month.
If you really want to consider how much you save on rent by staying with your parents, consider the cost of condominium living. A common room in a condo might cost $1,200 to $1,800, while a master bedroom could easily reach $2,000 to $3,000.
The most expensive option is renting an entire condominium unit, such as a studio or one-bedroom condo. Monthly rents for these typically range from $3,000 to $4,000, depending on location. Presumably, these are out of the reach of anyone below 35, unless you’re earning top dollar.
If your family already lives in a condo, you’d probably already have access to facilities like swimming pools, gyms, and security services, so it makes no financial sense to pay top dollar and rent a condo unit elsewhere.
Co-living spaces have emerged as a middle ground. These offer furnished rooms with utilities and cleaning included for around $1,500 or more, but naturally they are still pricier than a basic HDB room.
In summary, even at the most modest end where you rent a common room in an HDB flat, you’re looking at an average of $1,000 per month. Multiply that by about a decade, from the age of 25 to 35, and that’s $120,000 in rent saved simply by staying with your parents. Even if you could somehow afford to rent a small condo unit, the savings could easily exceed $400,000.
Utilities And Other Household Bills
Living alone typically means paying for your own electricity, water, and broadband. We’re looking at $150 to $250 a month for utilities plus an additional $30 to $50 on broadband, for a potential additional cost of $180 to $300 per month. Multiply that by about a decade, and you’re looking at $21,600 to $36,000 saved on these necessities by living with your parents.
Groceries and meals also add up quickly when you live alone. These can range from $400 to $600 monthly. Eating out frequently will push this figure higher, while cooking at home can help keep it manageable. That’s $48,000 to $72,000 saved over ten years.
Staying at home often means sharing meals with family, which significantly reduces costs. The economies of scale in a family household are also far more efficient than cooking for one.
The Big Picture Of Savings And Opportunity Cost
Add it all up, and the savings from living with your parents until 35 are significant. At the low end, we’re talking about $120,000 in rent, $21,600 in utilities, and $48,000 in groceries and meals. That’s at least $189,600 from the age of 25 to 35.
At the other end of the spectrum, assuming the highest costs, it’s $400,000 in rent, $36,000 in utilities and $72,000 in groceries and meals. That’s $508,000 or over half a million dollars over a 10-year period.
This is money that can go towards your eventual HDB downpayment, CPF top-ups, investments, or simply building a strong financial cushion before independence.
Contribute Where You Can
While the financial benefits of staying at home are undeniable, it’s important to remember that you’re still part of the household. Your parents are absorbing costs that you would otherwise bear alone.
The responsible approach is to contribute meaningfully. You can do this by helping to subsidise utilities payments and pitching in for groceries and shared meals. You can even offer to cover or share household subscriptions like Netflix, Spotify, or broadband, or at the very least, take on chores or responsibilities that reduce the household’s burden.
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