Finance
How Much Does It Cost to Open a Restaurant in Singapore? 2026 Breakdown by Format
Detailed startup cost breakdown for every Singapore F&B format — hawker stall, coffee shop, food court, cafe, casual dining, and fine dining. Real numbers from S$30K to S$1.5M.
Charles Ho
June 7, 202615 min read
How much money do you need? That is the first question every aspiring restaurateur in Singapore asks. The answer depends entirely on your format.
A hawker stall can launch for under S$30,000. A casual dining restaurant in a mall needs S$300,000–S$600,000. Fine dining? S$800,000 to S$1.5 million or more.
Format Comparison: At a Glance
| Format | Total startup | Monthly rent | Monthly revenue (typical) | Time to break even |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawker stall | S$20K–S$50K | S$1,200–S$3,500 | S$15K–S$40K | 6–12 months |
| Coffee shop stall | S$30K–S$80K | S$2,000–S$5,000 | S$20K–S$50K | 8–14 months |
| Food court | S$40K–S$100K | S$3,000–S$8,000 | S$25K–S$60K | 10–16 months |
| Small cafe | S$80K–S$200K | S$4,000–S$12,000 | S$30K–S$80K | 12–18 months |
| Casual dining | S$200K–S$600K | S$8,000–S$25,000 | S$60K–S$200K | 18–30 months |
| Fine dining | S$500K–S$1.5M | S$15,000–S$50,000 | S$100K–S$400K | 24–48 months |
1. Hawker Stall (S$20K–S$50K)
Singapore's hawker culture is UNESCO-listed, and the government actively supports new hawker entrepreneurs.
| Item | Cost range |
|---|---|
| Stall rental deposit (3 months) | S$3,600–S$10,500 |
| Renovation & fitout | S$5,000–S$15,000 |
| Kitchen equipment | S$3,000–S$10,000 |
| Licenses (SFA food shop license) | S$200–S$500 |
| Initial inventory | S$1,000–S$2,000 |
| POS / cashless payment | S$500–S$1,500 |
| Working capital (3 months) | S$5,000–S$10,000 |
| Total | S$18,800–S$50,500 |
Government Support
- SEHCs: Subsidised rents of S$1,200–S$2,500/month
- NEA Hawker stalls: S$800–S$5,000+ via bidding
- Hawkers' Development Programme (HDP): Grants and training
Realistic P&L (Chicken rice stall, S$4.50/plate, 6 days/week)
| Item | Monthly |
|---|---|
| Revenue (150 plates/day x 26 days) | S$17,550 |
| Food cost (30%) | -S$5,265 |
| Rent | -S$1,800 |
| Utilities | -S$400 |
| Helper salary | -S$1,800 |
| Net profit | S$7,985 |
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2. Small Cafe (S$80K–S$200K)
| Item | Cost range |
|---|---|
| Rental deposit (2–3 months) | S$8,000–S$36,000 |
| Renovation & design | S$30,000–S$80,000 |
| Coffee equipment | S$15,000–S$40,000 |
| Kitchen equipment | S$10,000–S$30,000 |
| Furniture & fixtures | S$5,000–S$15,000 |
| Licenses & permits | S$1,000–S$2,000 |
| Marketing & branding | S$2,000–S$5,000 |
| Working capital (3 months) | S$15,000–S$40,000 |
| Total | S$90,000–S$256,000 |
3. Casual Dining (S$200K–S$600K)
| Item | Cost range |
|---|---|
| Rental deposit | S$16,000–S$75,000 |
| Renovation & design | S$80,000–S$200,000 |
| Kitchen equipment | S$40,000–S$100,000 |
| Furniture & fixtures | S$20,000–S$50,000 |
| Licenses & permits | S$2,000–S$5,000 |
| Staff recruitment & training | S$5,000–S$15,000 |
| Working capital (3–4 months) | S$50,000–S$120,000 |
| Total | S$228,000–S$605,000 |
Key Singapore-Specific Costs
SFA Food Shop License
- Fee: S$195 (new), S$130 (renewal)
- Must be approved BEFORE you operate
Foreign Worker Levy
- S$450–S$650 per foreign worker per month
CPF (Employer Contribution)
- 17% of salary for employees under 55
- On S$2,500 salary: S$425/month per employee
GST
- Current rate: 9%
- Mandatory registration if annual revenue exceeds S$1 million
How to Reduce Startup Costs
Action Steps
Tags
singapore
startup-cost
hawker
cafe
restaurant
2026
