By The Big Buy desk · Last verified 7 October 2026
The biggest factor in what a birth costs in Singapore is where you deliver. MOH’s published bill figures show a normal delivery in a subsidised public ward (B2 or C) has a median bill of about S$1,350, compared with about S$4,460 to S$6,020 in an unsubsidised public ward and about S$10,800 as a private hospital inpatient. An uncomplicated caesarean runs from about S$2,580 (public B2) to about S$15,800 (private). The MediSave Maternity Package lets Singapore citizens and PRs use their own or their spouse’s MediSave: up to S$900 for antenatal care, S$1,120 to S$2,770 for the delivery procedure, and S$1,130 a day for the first two days in hospital, then S$400 a day.
Welcoming a baby is one of life’s great joys. Knowing the numbers early means you can choose your care calmly.
Quick facts
- Normal delivery, subsidised public ward: median bill about S$1,350.
- Normal delivery, private hospital: median bill about S$10,815.
- Caesarean, private hospital: median bill about S$15,805.
- MediSave for antenatal care: up to S$900 for consultations, scans, tests and medicines.
- MediSave for the stay: S$1,130 a day for days one and two, S$400 a day after that.
- Newborn grant: citizen babies born from 1 April 2025 get a S$5,000 MediSave Grant.
What does delivery cost?
These are MOH’s median total bills, with the middle half of bills shown in brackets. They include the hospital charges and doctors’ fees for the delivery stay, before MediSave.
| Where | Normal delivery | Uncomplicated caesarean |
|---|---|---|
| Public, subsidised Ward C | S$1,346 (S$1,078–1,757) | S$3,004 (S$2,237–4,698) |
| Public, subsidised Ward B2 | S$1,350 (S$994–1,757) | S$2,582 (S$1,966–3,656) |
| Public, unsubsidised Ward B1 | S$4,463 (S$4,037–5,183) | S$8,490 (S$7,405–9,649) |
| Public, unsubsidised Ward A | S$6,024 (S$5,333–6,882) | S$9,839 (S$8,709–11,457) |
| Private hospital, inpatient | S$10,815 (S$9,073–12,547) | S$15,805 (S$13,722–18,563) |
For private care, MOH’s fee benchmark for the obstetrician’s delivery fee is S$2,507 to S$4,142 including GST for a normal delivery, and S$4,142 to S$5,886 for a caesarean. Antenatal check-ups, scans and tests over the pregnancy are billed separately.
How the MediSave Maternity Package works
| What it pays for | Limit |
|---|---|
| Pre-delivery care: consultations, scans, tests, medicines | Up to S$900 |
| Delivery procedure | S$1,120 for a normal delivery, rising to S$2,770 for the most complex procedures |
| Daily hospital charges, days 1 and 2 | S$1,130 a day |
| Daily hospital charges, day 3 onwards | S$400 a day |
It applies at accredited public and private hospitals. The hospital submits the claim for the delivery and the stay; for antenatal bills from an outside clinic, bring them to the delivery hospital, which submits everything together.
A worked example
Two couples each have a normal delivery with a two-day stay and a bill at MOH’s median. Both have enough in MediSave.
| Public, Ward B2 | Private hospital | |
|---|---|---|
| Delivery bill | S$1,350 | S$10,815 |
| Most MediSave can pay: S$1,120 + (2 × S$1,130) | S$3,380 | S$3,380 |
| MediSave used | S$1,350 | S$3,380 |
| Left to pay in cash or by insurance | S$0 | S$7,435 |
Add antenatal care on top. With up to S$900 claimable from MediSave, a public-ward birth can cost very little in cash, while a private birth commonly leaves several thousand dollars to pay.
Public or private?
- Subsidised public: lowest cost; you are cared for by the hospital’s team rather than a doctor you choose.
- Unsubsidised public: choose your doctor at a public hospital, with a private or shared room.
- Private: your own obstetrician throughout and a private room, at the highest cost.
- Insurance: MediShield Life and many Integrated Shield plans exclude a normal delivery but may cover certain pregnancy complications; some plans add maternity cover only after a waiting period. Check your policy before you conceive if you can.
The WahLiao Verdict
Decide on public or private early, because it shapes your antenatal care and the whole budget. A subsidised public delivery is excellent value and MediSave usually covers most of it. If you prefer your own obstetrician, ask the clinic for a written package estimate, read your insurance for maternity exclusions, and keep every antenatal receipt so you can claim the full S$900.
Questions people ask
Can I use my husband’s or wife’s MediSave?
Yes. Under the MediSave Maternity Package, citizens and PRs can use their own or their spouse’s MediSave Account.
Does a caesarean let me claim more from MediSave?
Yes. The delivery procedure limit rises with complexity, up to S$2,770, and a longer stay adds S$400 a day from the third day.
How much should I budget in total?
For a subsidised public birth, mostly antenatal costs above the S$900 limit plus any extras. For private care, add the delivery bill above MediSave limits to private antenatal fees, which together often reach well over S$10,000 before MediSave.
What does the baby get?
Citizen babies born from 1 April 2025 receive a S$5,000 MediSave Grant on birth registration, usable for vaccinations, insurance premiums and approved treatment, alongside the Baby Bonus.
Sources: Central Provident Fund Board, MediSave Maternity Package, August 2026; Ministry of Health, normal delivery bill information; Ministry of Health, caesarean section bill information. The Big Buy explains; it does not advise.
Read next: Child LifeSG Credits, Baby Bonus and the New SG Child Support Package · Childcare Fees in Singapore 2026: The Fee Caps and the Subsidies · Back to The Big Buy
For what’s worth it this week, with the bill shown, read The WahLiao Week.
Leave a comment