Buying a house must be the most massive investment you’ll ever make, as you’ll live in your own house for a long time. It is wise to advise on home improvement according to your preferences and requirements, especially if you buy an old house. Of course, you wish to ask how much renovation in Singapore costs.
Most homeowners do not expect unexpected expenses during renovation in Singapore, which is more expensive than renovating their house. Hence, you must conclude the renovation process only after knowing the detailed cost breakdown in Singapore.
In this article, we will present the costs associate with home renovation in Singapore, factors affecting your renovation expenses, money-saving tips to stay within budget, and possible means of doing that.
The average cost of remodelling for a 4-room HDB apartment
The average cost to renovate an apartment with 4 rooms (about 1000 sq. ft.) has been computed in this study as it captures the majority type of homes in Singapore (31.3%) Due to our findings, we know that the typical cost for a mild transformation of a 4-room HDB flat using property renovation works is about S$45,600. The cost here is everything that one needs: the materials and the workers that need to be engaged for that project. In general, there are some significant things that you should consider for your budget.
With this in mind, you could say that S$5-10 is quite a big amount per square meter when you multiply it by 101-140 square meters over your whole house.
| Remodeling Area | Average Light Renovation | Average Moderate Renovation | Average Extensive Renovation |
| Hacking | S$288 | S$675 | S$2,688 |
| Masonry | S$725 | S$2,538 | S$9,325 |
| Carpentry | S$2,575 | S$4,475 | S$13,338 |
| Plumbing | S$1,000 | S$5,800 | S$8,700 |
| Electrical | S$1,100 | S$2,500 | S$9550 |
Any of these stages can considerably reduce the cost of a remodelling project just by switching the use of materials. For instance, using laminate instead of marble in the kitchen and vinyl instead of granite in the bathrooms reduces usage in these areas. Therefore, the table below represents different options for material prices.
| Flooring Material | Low-End Cost | Average Cost | High-End Cost |
| Marble | S$10 per square foot | S$55 per square foot | S$100 per square foot |
| Granite | S$10 per square foot | S$15 per square foot | S$20 per square foot |
| Parquet | S$4 per square foot | S$14.5 per square foot | S$25 per square foot |
| Laminate | S$2.8 per square foot | S$5.4 per square foot | S$8 per square foot |
| Vinyl | S$1.5 per square foot | S$4.75 per square foot | S$8 per square foot |
If you have a tight budget for dream renovation ideas in Singapore, then there are multiple things that you have to consider during the process, and you can check out if there are any cheaper solutions. In addition to the cost of this raw material, hiring someone to get the structural process done is another good method of cutting costs.
Average Home Renovation Costs Based on Style
Renovating nearby homes is a popular way to own a newly renovated place. The average cost is S$45,600, but the price may differ depending on the design you decide for your home. There are some different kinds of styles that people opt for in Singapore. Here, we present the average home renovation cost for each design style.
| Style | Average Cost HDB | Average Cost of a Condo | Average Cost Landed | Average Cost/Sqm |
| Contemporary | S$72,530 | S$78,133 | S$657,950 | S$564 |
| Modern | S$60,304 | S$78,386 | S$423,652 | S$517 |
| Minimalist | S$62,471 | S$74,494 | S$358,125 | S$558 |
| Scandinavian | S$55,315 | S$101,365 | S$358,125 | S$489 |
| Eclectic | S$69,314 | S$75,572 | S$368,400 | S$603 |
What factors can drive up renovation costs in Singapore?
Particular design attributes increase the renovation budget. If you have a very tight budget, a complete list of the features that can be spared may be a good idea.
Choosing the right renovation package that aligns with your financial and aesthetic goals is essential. To aid in this decision-making process, check out our comprehensive guide on choosing the right renovation package.
Fancy Tiling
Choose between travertine, marble, and granite or mosaic tiles for your walls or floor, and an unnecessarily high price tag for your renovations comes into play. Similarly, larger tiles (of dimensions greater than 2 × 2 inches) also need to cost more.
Pro Tip: Use vitrified tiles to reduce expenses.
Ceiling Detailing
When you talk of features like curved corners, L-box or U-box designs, or cove lighting for the ceiling, expect the cost of installing such a roof to increase.
Pro Tip: We can opt for straightforward false ceilings and create a striking effect using lights in small spaces.
Platform Beds
Platform beds are being used more than usual in Singapore and are quite common in relatively small bedrooms. When carpentry studios are heavily involved in the design and fabrication process, they charge more than the typical cost.
Pro Tip: If you can afford to replace pre-arranged furniture with pieces you could custom-make yourself.
Shelving and Partitions
Open shelves and niches (some with profile lighting) can become the dearest attributes of your interior design. Additionally, dividing the space into sections, which is usually done in Singaporean households, increases the maximum cost of renovation.
Pro Tip: Highlight the open layout by bringing that magic out.
Customised Furniture in Unusual Shapes
Another positive side of custom furniture is that it makes your house unique, but this will snowball into a high estimated renovation cost. There is often a significant price variation between rounded and ordinary furniture. Standard-format furniture costs less than furniture of odd shapes (such as hexagonal, abstract, etc.).
Pro Tip: Look for cool second-hand stuff or choose local furniture stores.
