Even as a proud Singaporean, I find that living costs in Singapore are really high. There are many job opportunities, and the salaries are lucrative, but inflation is rising, and expenses are not going down anytime soon.

Fortunately, it’s relatively easy to make extra money on the side. I have a full-time job but love to write and eventually turned my blog writing hobby into a money-making hustle when I have the time. 

So, if you’re looking to make use of your extra time, these profitable side hustles are the answer to “How to make money in Singapore?”

Consider a dropshipping business

Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Skills Needed: Knowledge in e-commerce, customer service

Dropshipping is a type of side hustle you can do without breaking too much of a sweat. It involves setting up an online store, receiving orders, and using a third-party company to fulfil the orders like packing and delivery for you. 

You’re basically a seller who uses an online platform to create orders for a manufacturer or a wholesaler. You don’t have to worry about the packing and logistics, but you’ll earn money for every order made on your site. 

Sell your pre-loved goods

Difficulty: Easy 
Skills Needed: Knowledge in e-commerce, customer service

Have you got a wardrobe or closet that needs decluttering? Instead of throwing unused items away, consider selling them online or to a thrift store to earn a little extra cash on the side. 

Technically, you’ll be selling these items for less than when you first bought them, but at least you’ll get a few dollars back for using them in their prime. 

Tutor students 

Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Skills Needed: Knowledge in elementary to secondary-level subjects
Average Salary: $15 to $35 per hour

Tutoring is an age-old side hustle that anyone with basic to advanced knowledge of a wide scope of subjects can use to earn extra money. 

You have the option to tutor students at the elementary to the secondary level, so that’s a lot of opportunities if you think about it. Just make sure to accept tutoring jobs within your skill level, or brush up on new topics if you need to! 

Walk your neighbour’s dogs

Difficulty: Easy 
Skills Needed: Knowledge of dog behaviour, stamina
Average Salary: $12 to $18 per hour

Another way you can make extra money is by offering to walk your friends’ or your neighbours’ dogs. This is not a super common thing in the city, but if you’ve got the extra time and patience to walk furry ones, here’s a side hustle you can do. 

Become a virtual assistant

Difficulty: Moderate
Skills Needed: Multi-tasking, sometimes proficiency in multiple languages (English)
Average Salary: $28 to $40 per hour

Virtual assistant roles are highly lucrative today, offering flexibility to work from anywhere at any time. Whether you take it full-time or just a few hours a week, you can earn nearly a full month’s salary.

Major tasks include setting meetings, fixing calendars, project management, data entry, and even customer service. The job can also be very flexible, with no fixed hours, unless your client requests it! 

Write blogs or content 

Difficulty: Moderate
Skills Needed: Proficiency in English, good writing skills, great command of the English language and grammar
Average Salary: $0.50 to $1 per word

Content writing has become an integral part of digital marketing, especially with the rise of technology in the world of business. The tasks are pretty straightforward and oftentimes don’t require extensive writing experience to get started. 

Blogging is also a great way to make extra money, especially if you have a niche. It could be beauty, technology, finance, etc., so long as you write content that people are willing to view. 

Once you start getting paid advertisements, that’s when the real money comes into play. It’ll take a while, but it’s worth the wait! 

Become a social media manager

Difficulty: Moderate
Skills Needed: Proficiency in social media tools, graphic arts, paid ads
Average Salary: $20 to $30 per hour

Another marketing-related side hustle you can do is managing social media pages. This involves identifying the latest trends, creating content for posting, managing campaigns for sales, and so much more. 

Most social media management jobs are remote, so juggling it with your full-time job is pretty doable (so long as your company allows it!). 

Answer surveys online

Difficulty: Easy
Skills Needed: Proficiency in English
Average Salary: $0.32 to $5 per survey

Did you know that you can actually earn extra cash by answering a few questions? Platforms like Triba Singapore allow you to safely earn money by answering online surveys across varying topics. 

You’ll be paid a sum for every survey you complete, and the rate depends on how complex or long the survey is. It doesn’t take up too much time and headspace, either. 

Offer remote customer service

Difficulty: Moderate
Skills Needed: Proficiency in English, verbal communication skills
Average Salary: $15 to $25 per hour

Remote customer service is a great online earning option. You’ll handle tasks like taking orders, answering inquiries, and resolving complaints.

Salaries vary in Singapore, but the role offers flexible hours, the convenience of working from home, competitive pay, and the opportunity to support a company from anywhere.

You’ll need to be on calls for most of the time, though, and if you’re not up for that, then this side hustle may not be for you. 

Become a freelance translator

Difficulty: Hard
Skills Needed: Proficiency in multiple languages or chosen language, written and verbal communication skills
Average Salary: $25 to $45 per hour

Aside from tutoring, you can also earn money by becoming a translator on the side. Many foreigners visit Singapore every year, and you’ll likely come across a bunch that need help fitting into the culture through language. 

You can do either online or in-person translations, but the former is more common. Most tasks involve translating documents, scripts, subtitles, and so on, but just be prepared to show any sort of proficiency certification in case a client asks for it! 

Become a tour guide 

Difficulty: Moderate to Hard 
Skills Needed: Proficiency in multiple languages, public speaking, knowledge of Singaporean history or about several landmarks in Singapore
Average Salary: $11 to $20 per hour

Do you love meeting new people and have vast knowledge about the island’s best tourist spots? If yes, then becoming a tour guide could be a perfect side gig for you.

You first will need to secure a tourist guide licence from the Singapore Tourism Board, then apply to become a part-time tour guide at your chosen tour provider. You can conduct tours on buses, museums, nature trails, or around the city on foot. 

Do voiceover work

Difficulty: Moderate
Skills Needed: Proficiency in multiple languages, public speaking, great diction
Average Salary: $15 to $24 per hour

Do you think you’ve got a great voice and diction? Then signing up to do voiceover work may be just your cup of tea. 

There are platforms like Upwork that constantly put out requests for voiceover work to be done for commercials, short videos, documentaries, and even social media content and narration. 

Start investing in stocks

Difficulty: Moderate 
Skills Needed: Proficiency in stock market, market analysis, finance

Investing in stocks is a way to earn money online through regular payments from companies based on their profitability and stability. This method can provide a passive income stream and potential capital growth as stock prices appreciate.

To succeed, you need a solid understanding of the stock market and to choose stocks carefully. The money proves fruitful in the long run, so be patient and take the time to diversify your portfolio! 

Become a streamer on your preferred platform

Difficulty: Moderate 
Skills Needed: Proficiency in your chosen hobby, computer skills, video editing (as needed)

Transform your hobby into a career by becoming a streamer on platforms like Twitch, YouTube, or Instagram. Share live content, stream games, or chat to build an audience and monetise through ads and sponsorships. 

Streaming also creates a community and connects with like-minded people, offering steady income opportunities as your following grows.