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HDB vs Condo (Singapore, 2026)
Decision comparison · Last updated: February 2026
This isn’t just “condo appreciate more”.
The real decision is: what lifestyle are you buying, and what fragility are you accepting.
The clean decision rule
- HDB wins when you want low-regret stability: lower fixed outflow, less fee drag, and more liquidity for life (kids, business, investing).
- Condo wins when you are explicitly buying privacy + facilities + location and you can pay for it without stretching (including bad rate years).
What changes the math
| Driver |
Usually favours |
Why |
| Maintenance fees / fixed monthly overhead |
HDB |
Condo fixed costs reduce flexibility and compound over years. |
| Rate shock tolerance |
HDB (if tight) |
Stretch + rate shock is the fastest path to forced decisions. |
| Privacy / facilities / lifestyle value |
Condo |
If you truly use it, this is part of the “return”. |
| Liquidity for other goals (kids/business/investing) |
HDB |
Liquidity is optionality. Optionality is wealth. |
Run the numbers (recommended)
The common regret patterns
- Condo regret: you bought lifestyle, but you’re living with financial stress (or you don’t use the lifestyle).
- HDB regret: you wanted privacy/location badly enough that you keep re-litigating the choice.