Can a Couple Earning $18K Buy an EC in Singapore?

If you and your spouse earn a combined $18,000 per month, can you buy an Executive Condominium (EC) in Singapore?

Potentially, yes.

For qualifying new EC projects where the land tender closed on or after 24 August 2026, the household income ceiling is $18,000 per month. So a couple earning $9,000 each may meet the income ceiling, subject to the other EC eligibility requirements.

But eligibility and affordability are two different things.

How much can you borrow?

The Mortgage Servicing Ratio (MSR) is an important consideration for EC buyers. A simplified calculation based on $18,000 monthly income is:

$18,000 × 30% = $5,400/month

This is an indicative MSR limit for the monthly housing-loan instalment. Your actual borrowing capacity can vary depending on factors such as age, loan tenure, interest-rate assumptions and existing financial commitments.

TDSR also matters, so car loans, personal loans and other debts can reduce your available borrowing capacity.

What about the down payment?

If a 75% LTV applies, you would generally need to finance the remaining 25% through the applicable combination of cash and CPF.

For example:

$1.5M EC
75% loan: $1.125M
25% balance: $375K

$1.8M EC
75% loan: $1.35M
25% balance: $450K

These are illustrations only. Your actual loan and upfront requirements depend on your circumstances and the applicable rules.

Don’t forget CPF and cash

Before choosing an EC, look at more than your salary. Consider:

• CPF OA balances
• Cash savings
• Existing debts
• Your ages
• Loan tenure
• Monthly mortgage
• Buyer’s Stamp Duty and other costs
• Emergency savings

The bottom line

An $18,000 household income can potentially qualify for a new EC, but that doesn’t automatically mean an $1.8M or $2M EC is affordable.

The better question is:

“What EC price fits our income, CPF, cash and existing commitments?”

Run the numbers before booking a unit — and check the latest HDB, CPF and financing rules before making a purchase decision.

This article is for general information only and is not financial advice. Individual eligibility and financing outcomes may differ.