It’s no longer a fantasy to have a smart home in Singapore. If you told someone that you could talk to your house and have it control the lights, temperature, locks, or even boil water for you several years ago, they would think you were either super rich or simply out of your mind.
Now, with the ubiquity of home automation systems and the ever-decreasing cost of smart
home technology, more and more people in Singapore are turning their homes into automated abodes.
So, how much does it cost to have a smart home in Singapore? The answer, as with most things in life, is that it depends.
The average cost of a 5 room HDB unit can range from $2,000 all the way to $7,000+. It mostly depends on the size of your home, and scope of work.
Smart Home Hub
It ranges from below $100 all the way to $900+.
Here are some of the popular brands out there in the market and their pricing:
- Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen): $139
- Amazon echo hub: $78-$153+
- Aeotec Smart Home Hub: $170+
- Anasonic Smart Home KX-HNB600EW Hub: $250+
- MOES Tuya ZigBee 3.0 Smart Gateway Hub: <$50
- Frontpoint Hub and Keypad: $99
- Savant’s Slick $500 Smart-Home Hub: $500+
- Homey Pro: $749
A Smart Home Hub is a smart home device that stores information such as the smart home logic, room names, scene setup and connected devices.
The smart home hub is used to control other connected devices through a screen or through a phone application. Connect your smart bulbs, smart plugs, smart doorbells, and smart thermostats utilising voice commands or via the screen to manage everything.
While thesmart home hub contains all the information about the home, it is best to purchase a hub has cybersecurity label to ensure privacy is taken care of. While the Singapore government has a team to run through the cybersecurity checks for all the IoT devices, not every IoT device are awarded the CSA CLS certification.
Smart Light Switch
It ranges from $60 to $200+.
DIY ones can go as low as $12, and they do at times share the same functionality.
Just that, they do not cover things like:
Online/back-end support
Stronger warranty coverages
And they do end up bringing in undesirable baggage, such as unwanted connection to a router, cloud communication or even data tracking.
Here are some common brands used in the market (per switch):
- Tuya Zigbee Smart Switch: $10-$30+
- Kyla Gen2 Smart Light Switch: $39.90
- SONOFF T3 Series Wifi Smart Wall Switch: $26.99
- OUTSMART Wifi Smart Switch: $21.90
- Xiaomi Aqara D1 Wall Switch: $30-$48+
- Aztech Kyla Gen 1 Smart 3 Gang Light Switch:
- $55-$70+
- Home-A-Genius Smart Switch: $99+
Smart light switches are intended to be used in place of traditional built-in switches. Yes, you still have the ability to turn your lights on and off as you always have, but these smart switches give you much more control over your home's lighting and other appliances.
Smart light switches also come in various forms, e.g. dimmable switches, scene control switches, Wi-Fi connection, Zigbee connection etc. All of these switches will cater to different needs, and their costs will vary.
Wi-Fi switches are most common in the market, as they do not require additional hubs to be connected to. This creates a very affordable price point, which attracts many users to purchase them.
However, Wi-Fi switches are not recommended, as Wi-Fi connection consumes more electricity, which in turn may lead to higher running costs overtime.
Zigbee switches are widely sold for its fast response time and lower electrical consumption. The only con for Zigbee switches is the need for an additional Zigbee Gateway.
Motion Sensor
It ranges from $9 to $100+.
- Tuya Smart Motion Sensor ZigBee: $13.90-$27.80
- Xiaomi Mi Home Motion Sensor: $21.90
- IKEA TRÅDFRI Motion Sensor: $19.90
- SONOFF SNZB-03 - ZigBee Motion Sensor: $8.95
- Kyla by Aztech - ZigBee Motion Sensor: $39.90
- Aqara Smart Human Motion Sensor Security Device: $18.89-$39+
- Unicun Smart Home Motion Sensor: $197.57
- Telekom Magenta Smart Home Wireless Motion Sensor Indoor: $260+
A motion sensor (sometimes known as a motion detector) is a piece of equipment that is designed to detect and measure movement. Motion sensors are most often utilized in home and business security systems.
IR Blaster
It ranges from $9 to $140+.
- Kaforto Smart IR Remote Controller: $9+
- Kyla Gen 2 Smart Station (IR Blaster All-In-1 Remote: $45.90
- Tuya WIFI Universal Smart IR Remote Control: $19+
- MoesGo Universal Blaster Infrared Repeater Hub: $120+
- Broadlink RM4 Mini: $25.99
An infrared blaster (IR blaster) is a device that transmits instructions from a remote control to one or more devices that require infra-red remote control.
The most frequent use of an IR blaster is to allow a device to control the channel and options on an external gadget such as a cable box, set-top box, blu-ray player, or DVD. IR Blaster even allows one to control connected external devices using the smart touch control on the TV.
Door Camera
It ranges from $70 to $500+. OEM ones can go as low as $70 per door camera.
- Xiaomi Youpin Video Doorbell: $70+
- Anytek B50 Smart WiFi Video Intercom: $50+
- Hikvision DS-HD1 3MP Outdoor Wi-Fi Smart Doorbell Camera: $180+
- rlo Essential Spotlight Wire-Free Camera: $500+
- Xiaomi Youpin Video Doorbell 2022: $80+
- Google Nest Doorbell (Battery) CCTV Door Bell: $260+
- Tuya Smart Video Doorbell Camera: $80+
Smartdoor cameras provide audio and one-way (occasionally two-way) video communication with visitors seeking access to a home unit.
One will need to find out if the Door Camera connects to Wi-Fi or if it requires a data cable for connection.
Usually the Wi-Fi connected door cameras require frequent battery changes, in addition, Wi-Fi connected Door cameras are affected by the Wi-Fi signal strength i.e. if the door camera is not connected to the Wi-Fi, CCTV footages cannot be sent to cloud storage for recording, which will result in the Wi-Fi camera being just an artefact.
CCTV Camera
Smart Plug
It ranges from $50 to $200+.
- IKEA TRÅDFRI wireless control outlet: $12.90
- SMATRUL 20A/16A smart wifi smart plug: $8 to $11+
- Xiaomi MiJia Mi Power Socket Plug: $12-18+
- Hive 3PKSMARTPLUG Active Smart Plug (3 Packs): $260+
- Aoycocr Mini WIFI Smart Socket Switch: $49+
- Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Mini (2 Packs): $20+
- LifeSmart Smart Plug: $30
These gadgets convert almost any wired appliance with an on/off switch into an automated one that can be controlled by a simple voice command or phone tap.
IP Camera (Alternative To CCTV Cameras)
It ranges from $25 (OEM ones) to $200+.
- Xiaomi Dafang Smart IP Camera: $36+
- Ubiquiti Uvc-g3-dome UniFi IP Dome Camera: $200+
- Reolink - 4K Ultra HD (3840x2160p) Outdoor/Indoor PoE IP Camera: $120+
- Vstarcam C29S 1080P HD WIFI IP Camera: $55+
- NightChromaTM NC400 P67: $79+
- Bosch IP Camera: $1000+
- Panasonic i-Pro Extreme: $400-$1000+
- Mobotix IP Cameras: $300++
An IP camera is a type of digital security camera that transmits and receives video footage through an IP network. They're commonly used for surveillance. Unlike analog closed-circuit television cameras (CCTV), IP cameras do not need a local recording device; they only require a local network.
Smart Lock
It ranges from $200 all the way to even $1000+.
Though a decent one should cost at least $350+.
- GENESIS X360 TTLOCK 5-Way Smart Mortise Digital Door Lock: $400+
- Suleve Smart Door Lock: $120+
- Kaadas K9 Digital Door Lock: $849+
- Celtech D7 Aluminium Smart Lock: $430+
- Aqara N100 Smart Lock: $429+
- Hido - Tuya Smart Lock: $379++
- Nest x Yale - Smart Lock with Nest Connect: $480+
- Philips EasyKey 6100 Digital Door Lock: $699+
- Samsung SHS-P717 Digital Door Lock Mortise: $699+
- Yale Security YRD256-CBA-0BP Smart Lock: $400+
- August 3rd Generation Smart Lock Pro: $500+
- Schlage Encode Smart Wi-Fi Deadbolt: $400+
Smart locks allow a homeowner to enter their house or allow others access without requiring a traditional key. Instead, the user uses their smartphone or a key fob to electronically authenticate and physically unlock the door remotely. Smart locks are one step closer to providing on-demand home security.
Consultation and Engineering Cost
When building a smart home, the cost of consultation and system integration plays a key role in your budget. Using an in-house system can help cut upfront expenses compared to hiring external specialists. Initial consultation fees with an in-house team can range from $500 to $2,000, depending on the scope of the project and the number of smart technologies you plan to include.
This does not include necessary rewiring works that may be required to integrate the smart technologies into your home, which will cost an average of $3000.
Apart from consultation fees, there is also the cost of engineering and customisation services.
However, integrating various smart devices isn't always straightforward. Each system — whether it’s lighting, security, or HVAC — may use different communication protocols or require unique configurations. This complexity can add to the cost, as you may need to purchase additional equipment, such as hubs or adapters, to ensure compatibility.
Why The Difference In Prices For Certain Brands?
1. Quality of product & design:
OEM products are usually limited in capabilities and quality, and are easily found on
e-commerce platforms such as Lazada, Shopee, etc.
2. Closed ecosystem:
Most solutions can only link to apps within their own ecosystem. i.e. they are unable to link up to brands that are well-loved by Singaporeans Sonos, Roborock/Ecovacs or Sony Smart TV.
3. Technology:
Most of the time, the cloud connected smart home systems have to process smart home logic
via a cloud server.
This poses severe security implications that many consumers are unaware of.
4. Service Level:
While companies turn to price war to retain customers, their service level is compromised, as they need to keep the team small and lean to accommodate the low pricing.
Some companies might choose to have an extremely lean team to maintain everything: the operational, logistics, sales, marketing, technical support and on-site support of the products.
After sales support for the clients is not just important, but has become a necessity, as a smart home is a new thing, and not everyone has the knowledge to troubleshoot them when needed.
5. Off the shelf items from OEM companies:
This limits innovation and does not allow products to be built around the needs of their consumers. It only takes USD5000 to white label an app to have their own branding, and this also includes the architecture of the smart home system, i.e. cloud server.
The Home-A-Genius Difference
Home-A-Genius smart home system offers 1 unified application that can connect to various applications simultaneously.
The difficulty is to sync all of them together. Usually, consumers would have 1 application for their security cameras, another application for their doorbell, another application for their lights, etc.
The confusion always starts when users do not know which application to use. i.e. the app provided by the system integrator or the Google Home app. The back story is that once you hop onto Google Home, which is the application that allows full integration, the promises on the application on the system integrator (Local Area Connection, single app control) would be nullified.
Multiple applications will also contribute to confusion, leading to a bad user experience.
With tons of smart home technologies already supported, you can add virtually any device or sensor to Home-A-Genius directly, with the help of team Home-A-Genius online, and also their installation manual prepared by their friendly engineers.
You can begin your smart home automation journey by adding smart devices and smart sensors in a matter of minutes.
Updating your smart home logic is also easy, as the team would have set up most of the smart home logic on your behalf. You would just need to fine tune the system to your specifics!
Best of all, there is no need for a secondary app like Google Home to work!
In addition, we offer a smart home floor plan that allows you to view the status of your smart lights, smart switches and smart devices all within a single page, without the need for additional scrolling/tapping to check on your home!
Consult us today to know more about smart home Singapore and how you can benefit from having the best smart home automation package!
