How Long Would It Take to Get Married in Singapore? Let’s Do the Math
- Jason Chan
- Apr 28
- 3 min read
Recently, I came across a humorous yet sobering way of looking at life’s financial reality — especially when it comes to settling down and getting married in Singapore.
It all starts with a simple question:
“How long would it take for someone like me to afford marriage?"
Let’s crunch the numbers together.
Starting Point: Salary and Take-Home Pay
Suppose the average monthly salary is around SGD 5,000.
After CPF contributions (around 20%, or about SGD 1,000), your take-home pay is roughly SGD 4,000.
Sounds decent, right?
But the real story begins when you start subtracting living costs.
Everyday Expenses: Living Modestly, Not Lavishly
First, you need a roof over your head.
Renting a simple room in Singapore can easily cost SGD 800 to 1,000 per month.
After paying rent, you're left with about SGD 3,000.
Next comes utilities, internet, transport, and phone bills — a basic package could cost around SGD 300–400 a month.
Now you have about SGD 2,600 remaining.
Eating on a budget?
Breakfast at a kopitiam for SGD 3, lunch and dinner for SGD 6–8 each.
Even if you’re extremely frugal, food expenses would still add up to about SGD 500–600 monthly.
After meals, you’re down to about SGD 2,000.
Need to buy basic necessities — toiletries, clothes, shoes, occasional replacements for things that break?
Budget another SGD 200–300 a month.
You’re now at around SGD 1,700.
Social activities — birthdays, occasional café meetups, entertainment?
Even simple outings and giving red packets at weddings will chip away another SGD 500–600 monthly.
At the end of all that, if you’re very disciplined, you might save around SGD 1,000 a month.
The Dream: Home, Car, Marriage
Let’s say you’re ready to settle down.
You'll need a flat — either a new BTO (if you’re very lucky in the ballot) or a resale unit.
A modest 4-room resale flat today easily costs SGD 600,000–700,000.
Renovation? Add another SGD 50,000–80,000.
Dreaming of a basic car? Don’t forget about COE, which alone is now over **SGD 100,000** before you even pay for the vehicle.
All in, it’s not unreasonable to estimate SGD 800,000–900,000 needed to set yourself up with a house, basic renovation, and minimal transportation.
The Reality: Time Is Not on Our Side
Saving SGD 12,000 a year, it would take about 66 to 75 years to afford everything needed for a "basic" married life setup in Singapore.
In other words:
If you started working and saving from the time Singapore gained independence in 1965, you might finally just be ready to buy your home and start your married life... today.
And that’s without taking into account inflation, unexpected health issues, aging parents, or changes in the housing market.
So... What’s the Point of All This?
Of course, life isn’t just a cold numbers game.
While the calculation sounds discouraging (and admittedly funny in a dark way), it highlights real challenges that many young Singaporeans face:
- Rising property prices
- High cost of living
- Difficulty achieving major life milestones despite working hard
It’s a reminder to have patience, financial planning, and also flexibility in how we define success.
Maybe success isn't about ticking boxes at certain ages anymore.
Maybe it’s about building a life slowly, steadily, and meaningfully — even if it looks very different from what previous generations experienced.
After all, love, happiness, and building a home together are not measured in square footage or car models.
They’re built day by day, heart by heart.
Conclusion
Yes, it’s tough.
Yes, it can feel overwhelming.
But even if it takes longer than we hoped, every step forward still counts.
Maybe instead of asking,
“How long until I can afford marriage?”
We should start asking,
“How can I build a life worth sharing — starting today?”
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