The cost of raising a child in Singapore has surged sharply in recent years, with some parents budgeting close to S$1 million (roughly US$785,000) to cover everything from infant care and enrichment classes to university fees. Financial consultants report projected child-rearing costs ranging from S$250,000 to S$500,000, with discretionary spending on tuition and enrichment alone up by at least 50 per cent over three years. The financial pressure is widely seen as a key driver behind Singapore's record-low total fertility rate of 0.87, as many prospective parents — particularly middle-income households — cite economic uncertainty and the high cost of living as reasons to forgo having children.