GST 9% Impact: How to Calculate What You're Really Spending Each Month

What Is GST?

Goods and Services Tax (GST) is a broad-based consumption tax levied on the import of goods and most supplies of goods and services in Singapore. It is similar to VAT in other countries.

Singapore's GST rate increased from 8% to 9% on 1 January 2024, having already risen from 7% to 8% in January 2023.

How GST Affects Your Spending

For most purchases, GST adds 9% to the pre-GST price. If a product is listed at S$100 before GST, you pay S$109 at checkout.

GST-inclusive price formula:

GST-Inclusive Price = Pre-GST Price × 1.09

Reverse formula (to find pre-GST price):

Pre-GST Price = GST-Inclusive Price ÷ 1.09

What Is Subject to GST?

GST applies to the vast majority of goods and services, including:

Food at restaurants and hawker stalls (GST-registered only)
Groceries at major supermarkets
Electronics and clothing
Professional services (legal, accounting, etc.)
Telecommunications and utilities
Ride-hailing services and online platform purchases

What Is Exempt from GST?

Zero-rated supplies (0% GST):

Exports of goods
International services
Most financial services for international transactions

Exempt supplies (no GST charged):

Residential property rental
Most financial services (loans, insurance)
Investment precious metals (IPM)

Note: Basic food items at wet markets and hawker stalls from non-GST registered stallholders are not subject to GST, as most small stallholders are below the S$1 million annual turnover registration threshold.

Calculating Monthly GST Spend

To estimate how much GST you pay monthly:

Estimate your total monthly spending
Estimate what portion is on GST-applicable goods/services
Multiply that portion by 9/109 (to extract GST from GST-inclusive price)

Example: Monthly spending of S$3,000

Category	Amount	GST?
Groceries (FairPrice)	S$600	Yes
Hawker/coffee shop meals	S$400	Mostly no
Restaurant dining	S$300	Yes
Transport (MRT/bus)	S$150	Yes
Utilities	S$200	Yes
Entertainment	S$200	Yes
Rent	S$1,150	No

GST-applicable spending: ~S$1,450 GST paid: S$1,450 × 9/109 ≈ S$119/month

That's roughly S$1,428/year in GST on a modest budget.

The Assurance Package (GST Voucher)

To cushion the GST increase impact, the government provides GST Vouchers annually to eligible lower and middle-income Singaporeans, including:

Cash payouts (S$300–S$850 depending on assessable income and home type)
MediSave top-ups
U-Save rebates for utilities

These are automatically disbursed — check your eligibility via the GST Voucher website or MyInfo.

GST and Imported Digital Services

Since 2020, overseas digital service providers (Netflix, Spotify, Adobe, etc.) with annual revenue from Singapore customers exceeding S$100,000 must register for and charge Singapore GST. All those 9% charges on your streaming subscriptions are GST.

Use the Calculator

Our GST Calculator lets you quickly add or remove GST from any price instantly. Want to see the full tax picture? Check the Income Tax Calculator to see how your total tax burden stacks up.