In recent times, renting has become a very popular option, especially amongst young singles and couples━after all, not all of us can easily afford the downpayment and subsequent mortgage that comes with a property purchase.
The problem is, rental rates have been steadily increasing; it’s tough to find a flat that’s well-located, with convenient amenities nearby, at affordable prices. If you’re looking for a condo unit to rent, here are some underrated neighbourhoods with cheap condos for rent near MRT stations.
Our criteria for “near” & “cheap”
Of course, what’s considered near or cheap can be highly subjective. A 20-minute walk with no shelter to the MRT station may be okay for some, but too much and too far for others.
For the purposes of this article, we will consider anything under a 10-minute walk to the nearest MRT or LRT station to be “near”. Monthly rent less than $1,500k a room, or $3,000 for a whole flat, will be counted as “cheap”━however it’s likely that these will only be sufficient for 1-bedroom apartments or studios.
1. Ang Mo Kio
If you’re looking to live in an estate that is fairly central, with easy connectivity to other parts of Singapore, you can consider Ang Mo Kio. It’s a mature housing estate that is well populated with both residential and commercial properties, as well as plenty of amenities to cater to the needs of residents.
Image credit: Google Maps
One condo that we chanced upon is Centro Residences, which is a small 10-year-old boutique condo located just minutes away from Ang Mo Kio MRT Station, as well as right next to a bus interchange and the main Ang Mo Kio Central hub.
Image credit: PropertyGuru
On property listing platform PropertyGuru, there are quite a handful of units available for rent, ranging from single rooms to whole apartments. Two that caught our eye are single rooms with rental rates of $1,270/month and $1,400/month, inclusive of utilities such as aircon, WiFi, gas and water, as well as weekly cleaning of common areas and rooms.
2. Siglap
If you’re more of an Eastie, then you can consider Siglap, a neighbourhood that sits between Marine Parade and Bedok. The majority of residential properties here are landed homes, but there are also some condos with units up for rent at reasonable prices.
For instance, one Redditor shared in a thread that they were renting a cosy 366sqft studio unit in Siglap for $2,300/month, though it doesn’t include WiFi or utilities. It is close to Siglap MRT Station on the Thomson-East Coast Line, with plenty of supermarkets, dining options, as well as East Coast Park nearby.
Image credit: Reddit
On PropertyGuru, most of the whole-unit rental listings are out of our “cheap” limit. This is expected, given that Siglap is quite a prime location.
Image credit: PropertyGuru
However, there are still some room-only options that won’t break the bank, such as some listings we found at Mandarin Gardens, an old condo about 10 minutes on foot from Siglap MRT Station that was completed in the late 1980s.
3. Canberra
Up North is Canberra, another underrated neighbourhood to consider, especially if you’re on a tight budget but don’t want to live too far out from Central Singapore. It is a fairly new housing estate that sits between Yishun and Sembawang, and is served by Canberra MRT Station, which opened in November 2019, on the North-South Line.
Because of the estate’s location, there are actually quite a number of condos with units that are rented out at pretty good rates. In fact, these condos were only built in recent years, and are all within 10 minutes’ walking distance of the MRT station.
Image credit: PropertyGuru
A check on PropertyGuru shows quite a variety of affordable room rentals in the Canberra condominiums, with options in Visionaire, Brownstone, and Eight Courtyards, to name a few.
Image credit: PropertyGuru
As for renting an entire flat, you will also be able to find studio or 1-bedroom apartments going for around $2,000k-$2,300/month.
4. Potong Pasir
If you were looking to live somewhere a little quieter without the hustle and bustle that comes with large housing estates, then you should look to Potong Pasir, on the North-East Line.
The estate is home to plenty of older HDB flats, many of which are low-rise blocks of 4-10 floors, built in the 1980s. It’s also one of the smaller HDB estates in Singapore, with an old-town charm that lends it a more intimate, kampong vibe. On the private properties front, there are also newer condos that are within walking distance of Potong Pasir MRT Station.
Image credit: PropertyGuru
One such condo is Poiz Residences, a mixed-use development right next to the MRT station, where we saw 1-bedroom and studio units available for rent at $3,000/month, though some are priced higher than that.
With commercial shops on the ground floor as well as neighbourhood shops and a wet market within walking distance, there are plenty of amenities to cater to residents’ needs. Plus, Potong Pasir is considered a relatively central estate as well, with good connectivity to the CBD and other parts of Singapore by car and public transport.
5. Kovan
Not too far away from Potong Pasir is Kovan, another smaller housing estate next to Hougang and Serangoon. Just like Potong Pasir, it is not a densely populated estate, given its large cluster of landed properties and low-rise condos. Regardless, it does feature all the usual amenities you’d expect in a housing estate, coupled with its own shopping mall, Heartland Mall, brand-name eateries and cafes, as well as Kovan MRT Station.
Image credit: Reddit
According to a Redditor, they used to pay about $1,800/month for a one-bedder in Kovan back in 2018, which jumped to $2,700/month in 2020. This then increased to $2,750 in 2022, and again to $2,900 in 2025.
This Redditor decided to move to Seletar instead, paying $3,000/month for a much bigger flat, though they did admit that living in Seletar is decidedly less convenient, with few amenities.
Image credit: PropertyGuru
If you are looking for rental options, check out condos such as Kovan Melody and Kovan Regency, both of which are just a hop and skip away from Kovan MRT Station. For under $1,500, you can rent out a bedroom in these condos━affordable and convenient.
Image credit: PropertyGuru
There are also a number of 1-bedder units at Stars of Kovan and Park Residences Kovan that you can rent for under $3,000/month.
Cheap condos to rent in underrated neighbourhoods
With property and rental prices continually climbing, it is definitely getting harder to secure a decent room or flat without breaking the bank or making lifestyle sacrifices. However, it is certainly not impossible, and if you’re willing to trade in a few minor inconveniences, there are some good deals to be found with some careful research.
Looking to rent a unit? Check out some of our other pieces on renting:
- How rent prices are manipulated & what you can do about it
- Moving out & renting: a rite of passage for Gen Zs in Singapore
- How much rent you should pay, based on your salary
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