Getting a costume on rent in Singapore costs from roughly S$24 to S$70 a piece for a standard adult outfit over two to three days, with online-only shops starting near S$15 and elaborate theatrical pieces or mascots running past S$200. On top of the rental you almost always pay a refundable deposit, often around the same value as the rental fee, returned once the costume comes back clean and on time. The money question is simple: rent when you will wear it once or twice, buy only when you will reuse the same outfit three or more times. This guide gives you the 2026 prices shop by shop, the rent-versus-buy break-even, and the deposit and late-fee traps that quietly inflate the bill.
A costume is a textbook single-use buy. You wear it to one Halloween party, one company D&D, one cosplay shoot, then it sits in a cupboard. That is exactly the spending pattern where renting wins, because you pay for one night instead of owning a S$120 outfit you use once.
The break-even is easy to run. If a costume costs around S$45 to rent for a few days and S$120 to buy, renting is cheaper for any single event, and you would need to wear that same outfit three full times before buying pulls ahead. Most people never wear the same costume twice, so the maths almost always points to renting. The exception is a costume you will genuinely reuse, a kids' superhero suit they live in, or a recurring mascot for a small business, where buying earns its keep over time.
Treat a costume the way you would any short-lived purchase in your personal budget: the cost that matters is cost per wear, not the sticker price. A S$45 rental worn once costs S$45 per wear. A S$120 costume worn once costs S$120 per wear, plus the storage and the eventual guilt of throwing it out.
Prices below are current as of June 2026 and are starting (from) rates for a standard adult costume over the shop's normal rental window, usually two to three days unless stated. Rates rise with complexity, size and accessories, and most shops add a separate refundable deposit. Singapore retail prices include 9 percent GST, the rate in force since 1 January 2024, so a quoted shop price is normally the price you pay.
The pattern is consistent across the market. Online-only and budget shops sit lowest, from around S$15 to S$30 a piece. Most physical specialist shops start in the S$40 to S$70 band for adult outfits. Custom-made, theatrical and award-winning designer pieces cost more, and full mascot suits with a performer or for a half-day event run into the hundreds. Kids' costumes are the cheapest tier of all, with some shops renting them for a few dollars a day on a small deposit.
Two things move the final bill more than the headline rate. The first is the deposit, which several shops set at roughly the value of the rental and refund only after they inspect the costume. The second is add-ons: wigs, props, masks, makeup and accessories are usually priced separately, and a S$45 outfit can become a S$90 night once you add the wig and shoes. Confirm what the quoted price includes before you commit.
| Shop | From (adult) | Format | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miiostore | S$15 | Online-only | Group packages; 'costumes-on-the-move' delivery add-on around S$50 |
| Pan-In-The-Box | S$23.90 | Online + store | Cosplay, Halloween, prosthetics, wigs, makeup |
| Customade Costume (CCM) | S$24 | Online + store | Kids, adult and mascot; custom-made and alteration options |
| Costumes 'N' Parties | S$25 | Online + store | Large selection; kids, Disney, Halloween, cosplay, mascots |
| DNA Costumes | S$27 | Online | Movie characters, ethnic costumes, kids options |
| Absolute Costumez | S$28 | Store | Kids and adult costumes, Halloween |
| Awesome Costumes | S$40 | Store | Custom-designed; fairytale, historical, movie themes |
| Costume City | S$40 | By-appointment store | 10,000+ pieces; group superhero packages; book a fitting slot |
| Global Costume | S$50 | Store | Local SG costumes (samsui, ah mah), period pieces, horror props |
| Moephosis Concept | From S$50 / enquiry | By-appointment store | Award-winning designer; hair and makeup hire available |
| D'Corselet | S$70 | Online | Adult costumes, corsets, Halloween and pirate sets |
| Mascot suits (e.g. JNR-type providers) | S$200+ | Event hire | Full mascot appearance from roughly S$238; hourly rates apply |
The deposit is the part first-timers underestimate. A common arrangement is a refundable deposit set at around the value of the rental, paid alongside the rental fee and credited back once the costume is returned in acceptable condition. As a worked primary example, TUTU SG runs a one-week rental window with a deposit from S$150 and charges S$20 per day for any rental kept longer than a week, with deductions for damage, stains, broken zips, late returns or loss. That structure is typical: the deposit is your incentive to bring it back clean and on time.
Rental periods are short. Many shops work on a two-to-three-day window built around a weekend or single event, while others quote a full week. Going over the agreed period triggers a per-day extension charge, so the cheap-looking rental gets expensive fast if you forget to return it. Costume condition matters too, because cleaning fees, repair charges and the full replacement value of a damaged or lost costume all come out of your deposit before any refund.
There is also the booking-window cost most people miss. Popular outfits sell out around Halloween, Chinese New Year and the year-end party season, and a last-minute scramble pushes you toward dearer pieces or rush options. Booking a few weeks ahead, or up to a month for a big group event, keeps you in the cheaper inventory. The same forward-planning discipline that protects you from lifestyle inflation applies here: decide early, book the value option, and do not let a deadline make the decision for you.
Cost per wear is the only figure that compares renting and buying honestly. Divide what you pay by the number of times you will actually wear the costume. The cheaper route is whichever gives the lowest cost per wear at your real usage, not the lowest headline price.
Here is what that looks like for a mid-range adult costume that rents for about S$45 and buys for about S$120. Renting wins clearly for one or two wears. By the third wear the buy option starts to pay off, and from the fourth wear onward buying is comfortably cheaper. The lesson: rent unless you are confident you will reuse the exact same outfit at least three times.
The same logic, run the other way, makes the case for buying kids' costumes. A child who wears a Spider-Man suit weekly for play racks up dozens of wears, so a S$30 to S$50 purchase costs cents per wear, far below any rental. Money you avoid sinking into single-use costumes is money that keeps working elsewhere, which is the everyday value of thinking in opportunity cost before any discretionary buy.
| Times worn | Rent (~S$45 each) | Buy once (~S$120) | Cheaper option |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | S$45 | S$120 | Rent |
| 2 | S$90 | S$60 | Buy (close) |
| 3 | S$135 | S$40 | Buy |
| 4 | S$180 | S$30 | Buy |
Renting is not the only low-cost route, and sometimes it is not even the cheapest. For a one-off where you do not care about a polished look, a DIY costume from clothes you already own plus a few accessories can come in under any rental, especially for simple concepts like a 'tourist', a '90s throwback' or a recognisable character defined by one or two props.
The second-hand market is the other lever. Pre-loved costumes on resale platforms often sell for less than a single rental, and you can resell afterwards to recover part of the cost, effectively renting it from the next buyer. For a group, the cheapest move is usually a shared bulk rental: many shops offer group or team packages that drop the per-person price below the individual rate, and some bundle delivery and pickup in for free, which is a real saving when you are kitting out ten people.
Whichever route you pick, the value test stays the same. Compare the all-in cost, rental plus deposit risk plus add-ons, against a DIY or second-hand build, and choose the lowest cost per wear for the look you actually need. For more nights out that cost little or nothing, our roundups of free things to do in Singapore and free date ideas keep the rest of the evening cheap once the costume is sorted.
As of June 2026, a standard adult costume on rent starts from about S$24 at physical specialist shops and from around S$15 at online-only stores, with most outfits landing in the S$40 to S$70 band for two to three days. Custom and theatrical pieces cost more, and full mascot suits run past S$200. Expect a separate refundable deposit on top, often around the rental value.
Yes, almost all shops charge a refundable deposit alongside the rental fee, commonly set at roughly the value of the rental. As a primary example, TUTU SG asks for a deposit from S$150. The deposit is returned once the costume comes back clean, undamaged and on time, with deductions for stains, damage, late returns or loss.
For a one-off event, renting is almost always cheaper because you pay only for the wear, not for ownership. Using a mid-range example of S$45 to rent versus S$120 to buy, you would need to wear the same outfit about three or more times before buying becomes the better value. Buy only costumes you will genuinely reuse, like kids' everyday dress-up.
Book at least two to four weeks ahead, and up to a month for a large group event, especially around Halloween, Chinese New Year and the year-end party season when popular outfits sell out. Booking early keeps you in the cheaper, in-stock inventory and avoids the rush options or pricier last-minute pieces you get when a deadline forces the decision.
This is general financial information for Singapore, not personal financial advice. Figures change — verify current rates against the official sources above before acting. See our full disclaimer.