- Top 3 most desirable districts: #1 District 9 (Orchard, Cairnhill, River Valley) with 1,967 rentals; #2 District 10 (Ardmore, Bukit Timah, Holland Road, Tanglin) with 1,813 rentals; #3 District 19 (Serangoon Garden, Hougang, Punggol) with 1,709 rentals.
- 20,604 rental transactions analysed across 28 districts.
- Rankings use rental demand as the primary proxy for neighbourhood desirability — tenants choose locations based on convenience, amenities, and lifestyle fit.
- Neighbourhood Scores on condo detail pages use proximity to 7 amenity categories within 1.5 km (MRT, schools, hawkers, malls, parks, supermarkets, clinics).
Where Tenants Want to Live — Q4 2025
Rental demand is one of the strongest market signals for neighbourhood quality. Tenants — especially expats — prioritise proximity to MRT stations, schools, dining, and daily conveniences. This quarterly report ranks Singapore's 28 districts by rental activity, yields, and pricing trends to reveal the most desirable locations.
Data is sourced from URA REALIS rental transactions.
District Rankings by Rental Demand
Districts ranked by total rental transaction volume. Higher volume indicates stronger tenant demand and neighbourhood desirability.
| # | District | Name | Rentals | Avg Rent | Avg Rent PSF | QoQ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District 9 (Orchard, Cairnhill, River Valley) | Orchard, Cairnhill, River Valley | 1,967 | $6,697/mo | $6.07/psf | -23.2% |
| 2 | District 10 (Ardmore, Bukit Timah, Holland Road, Tanglin) | Ardmore, Bukit Timah, Holland Road, Tanglin | 1,813 | $7,714/mo | $5.34/psf | -31.9% |
| 3 | District 19 (Serangoon Garden, Hougang, Punggol) | Serangoon Garden, Hougang, Punggol | 1,709 | $3,925/mo | $4.69/psf | -12.2% |
| 4 | District 15 (Katong, Joo Chiat, Amber Road) | Katong, Joo Chiat, Amber Road | 1,635 | $5,225/mo | $4.80/psf | -16.8% |
| 5 | District 5 (Pasir Panjang, Hong Leong Garden, Clementi New Town) | Pasir Panjang, Hong Leong Garden, Clementi New Town | 1,355 | $6,451/mo | $4.96/psf | -49.2% |
| 6 | District 14 (Geylang, Eunos) | Geylang, Eunos | 1,192 | $3,931/mo | $5.45/psf | -19.2% |
| 7 | District 3 (Queenstown, Tiong Bahru) | Queenstown, Tiong Bahru | 929 | $5,178/mo | $6.41/psf | -27.8% |
| 8 | District 18 (Tampines, Pasir Ris) | Tampines, Pasir Ris | 900 | $3,772/mo | $4.39/psf | -18.5% |
| 9 | District 16 (Bedok, Upper East Coast, Eastwood, Kew Drive) | Bedok, Upper East Coast, Eastwood, Kew Drive | 845 | $4,247/mo | $4.39/psf | -15.2% |
| 10 | District 11 (Watten Estate, Novena, Thomson) | Watten Estate, Novena, Thomson | 844 | $5,974/mo | $4.99/psf | -28.4% |
| 11 | District 23 (Hillview, Dairy Farm, Bukit Panjang, Choa Chu Kang) | Hillview, Dairy Farm, Bukit Panjang, Choa Chu Kang | 803 | $3,972/mo | $4.22/psf | -24.8% |
| 12 | District 2 (Anson, Tanjong Pagar) | Anson, Tanjong Pagar | 775 | $5,161/mo | $6.13/psf | -12.1% |
| 13 | District 12 (Balestier, Toa Payoh, Serangoon) | Balestier, Toa Payoh, Serangoon | 671 | $3,958/mo | $5.12/psf | -16.2% |
| 14 | District 21 (Upper Bukit Timah, Clementi Park, Ulu Pandan) | Upper Bukit Timah, Clementi Park, Ulu Pandan | 625 | $4,937/mo | $4.28/psf | -43.8% |
| 15 | District 1 (Raffles Place, Cecil, Marina, People's Park) | Raffles Place, Cecil, Marina, People's Park | 570 | $6,034/mo | $6.61/psf | -14.3% |
Rental Demand by Market Segment
| Segment | Rentals | Share | Avg Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| CCR (Core Central Region) | 6,163 | 29.9% | $7,136/mo |
| RCR (Rest of Central Region) | 6,762 | 32.8% | $5,045/mo |
| OCR (Outside Central Region) | 7,679 | 37.3% | $4,415/mo |
The Outside Central Region saw the highest rental volume, driven by larger suburban developments and growing tenant interest in well-connected suburban neighbourhoods.
Explore live neighbourhood scores on our interactive dashboard→Most In-Demand Condos
Condos with the highest number of rental transactions this quarter — a direct indicator of tenant demand and neighbourhood appeal.
| # | Condo | District | Rentals | Avg Rent | Avg Rent PSF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LANDED HOUSING DEVELOPMENT | D5 (RCR) | 380 | $11,310/mo | $3.57/psf |
| 2 | NON-LANDED HOUSING DEVELOPMENT | D2 (CCR) | 282 | $5,242/mo | $4.26/psf |
| 3 | NORMANTON PARK | D5 (RCR) | 200 | $4,185/mo | $6.27/psf |
| 4 | THE SAIL @ MARINA BAY | D1 (CCR) | 148 | $5,868/mo | $6.95/psf |
| 5 | MARINA ONE RESIDENCES | D1 (CCR) | 124 | $6,248/mo | $6.53/psf |
| 6 | D'LEEDON | D10 (CCR) | 107 | $6,562/mo | $5.52/psf |
| 7 | PARC ESTA | D14 (RCR) | 100 | $4,557/mo | $6.79/psf |
| 8 | TREASURE AT TAMPINES | D18 (OCR) | 95 | $3,391/mo | $5.60/psf |
| 9 | AFFINITY AT SERANGOON | D19 (OCR) | 94 | $3,282/mo | $5.46/psf |
| 10 | AVENUE SOUTH RESIDENCE | D3 (RCR) | 87 | $4,314/mo | $6.48/psf |
| 11 | REFLECTIONS AT KEPPEL BAY | D4 (RCR) | 85 | $8,513/mo | $5.43/psf |
| 12 | RIVERFRONT RESIDENCES | D19 (OCR) | 79 | $3,169/mo | $5.25/psf |
| 13 | THE FLORENCE RESIDENCES | D19 (OCR) | 76 | $3,248/mo | $5.42/psf |
| 14 | MELVILLE PARK | D18 (OCR) | 75 | $3,650/mo | $3.43/psf |
| 15 | DUO RESIDENCES | D7 (CCR) | 75 | $5,299/mo | $7.08/psf |
| 16 | WATERTOWN | D19 (OCR) | 74 | $3,356/mo | $5.28/psf |
| 17 | CARIBBEAN AT KEPPEL BAY | D4 (RCR) | 74 | $7,480/mo | $5.66/psf |
| 18 | J GATEWAY | D22 (OCR) | 74 | $4,819/mo | $7.04/psf |
| 19 | ONE PEARL BANK | D3 (RCR) | 73 | $4,309/mo | $7.83/psf |
| 20 | VALLEY PARK | D10 (CCR) | 71 | $5,234/mo | $4.59/psf |
Gross Rental Yield by District
Estimated gross yield = (annual rent per sqft) / (sale price per sqft). Higher yields can indicate strong rental demand relative to purchase prices — a sign of desirable, tenant-friendly neighbourhoods.
| # | District | Name | Gross Yield | Rent PSF | Sale PSF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District 25 (Kranji, Woodgrove) | Kranji, Woodgrove | 3.8% | $3.90/psf | $1,220 psf |
| 2 | District 14 (Geylang, Eunos) | Geylang, Eunos | 3.6% | $5.45/psf | $1,807 psf |
| 3 | District 4 (Telok Blangah, Harbourfront) | Telok Blangah, Harbourfront | 3.6% | $5.59/psf | $1,853 psf |
| 4 | District 8 (Little India) | Little India | 3.6% | $5.64/psf | $1,876 psf |
| 5 | District 22 (Jurong) | Jurong | 3.6% | $4.94/psf | $1,656 psf |
| 6 | District 6 (High Street, Beach Road) | High Street, Beach Road | 3.6% | $9.72/psf | $3,264 psf |
| 7 | District 2 (Anson, Tanjong Pagar) | Anson, Tanjong Pagar | 3.5% | $6.13/psf | $2,099 psf |
| 8 | District 18 (Tampines, Pasir Ris) | Tampines, Pasir Ris | 3.4% | $4.39/psf | $1,530 psf |
| 9 | District 16 (Bedok, Upper East Coast, Eastwood, Kew Drive) | Bedok, Upper East Coast, Eastwood, Kew Drive | 3.4% | $4.39/psf | $1,557 psf |
| 10 | District 7 (Middle Road, Golden Mile) | Middle Road, Golden Mile | 3.4% | $6.92/psf | $2,469 psf |
Gross yield is indicative and does not account for vacancy, maintenance fees, property tax, or mortgage costs. Actual net yields will be lower.
Quarter-over-Quarter Changes
How rental activity shifted compared to Q3 2025:
Fastest Growing Districts
| District | Name | Q Current | Q Previous | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District 6 (High Street, Beach Road) | High Street, Beach Road | 28 | 21 | +33.3% |
| District 26 (Upper Thomson, Springleaf) | Upper Thomson, Springleaf | 129 | 123 | +4.9% |
| District 17 (Loyang, Changi) | Loyang, Changi | 322 | 344 | -6.4% |
| District 2 (Anson, Tanjong Pagar) | Anson, Tanjong Pagar | 775 | 882 | -12.1% |
| District 19 (Serangoon Garden, Hougang, Punggol) | Serangoon Garden, Hougang, Punggol | 1,709 | 1,947 | -12.2% |
Districts with Declining Demand
| District | Name | Q Current | Q Previous | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District 22 (Jurong) | Jurong | 508 | 1,035 | -50.9% |
| District 5 (Pasir Panjang, Hong Leong Garden, Clementi New Town) | Pasir Panjang, Hong Leong Garden, Clementi New Town | 1,355 | 2,666 | -49.2% |
| District 21 (Upper Bukit Timah, Clementi Park, Ulu Pandan) | Upper Bukit Timah, Clementi Park, Ulu Pandan | 625 | 1,112 | -43.8% |
| District 13 (Macpherson, Braddell) | Macpherson, Braddell | 424 | 724 | -41.4% |
| District 25 (Kranji, Woodgrove) | Kranji, Woodgrove | 176 | 270 | -34.8% |
Methodology
This report uses rental transaction volume as the primary indicator of neighbourhood desirability. The rationale: tenants, who are not tied by ownership, choose locations based purely on convenience and lifestyle fit. Districts with high rental demand therefore reflect the most desirable neighbourhoods.
The Neighbourhood Score (0-100) shown on individual condo detail pages on ShiokNest evaluates proximity to seven amenity categories within a 1.5 km radius:
| Amenity Category | Max Points |
|---|---|
| MRT Station | 25 |
| School | 20 |
| Hawker Centre | 15 |
| Shopping Mall | 15 |
| Park / Nature | 10 |
| Supermarket | 10 |
| Clinic / GP | 5 |
| Total | 100 |
Individual condo Neighbourhood Scores are computed using geospatial data from OneMap Singapore. Visit any condo detail page on ShiokNest to see its Neighbourhood Score breakdown.
Methodology & Sources
This analysis covers Quarterly and is updated every quarter.
Transaction data sourced from URA REALIS.
- Rental data is sourced from URA REALIS, covering private residential properties.
- Gross yield = (monthly rent PSF × 12) / sale PSF. Does not account for vacancy or expenses.
Median values used to minimize outlier impact. PSF = price per square foot.