In Singapore, a gross rental yield of 3–4% is considered good for private property. HDB flats can yield 3–5% gross. Due to high property prices and relatively moderate rents, Singapore yields are lower than many other countries but are offset by strong capital appreciation historically. Net yields are typically 0.5–1.5 percentage points below gross.

Gross Yield = (Monthly Rent × 12 ÷ Property Price) × 100. For a S$1.2M property renting at S$3,500/month: Gross Yield = (S$42,000 ÷ S$1,200,000) × 100 = 3.5%. Net Yield subtracts annual costs (property tax ~S$2,400, maintenance ~S$3,600, insurance ~S$500, agent fees ~S$3,500) from rental income before dividing by property value.

For most Singapore residents, buying (especially HDB) is financially superior long-term due to capital appreciation and the ability to use CPF. However, renting offers flexibility and avoids stamp duty (BSD/ABSD), maintenance, and large capital commitment. The break-even point (when buying becomes cheaper than renting) is typically 5–8 years in Singapore given current prices and rental rates.