Recently, news of a food delivery rider allegedly earning more than $8,500 in a month from food deliveries went viral online.
That’s almost double the median monthly income of Singaporeans at $4,680 (including employer CPF).
Sounds lucrative, doesn’t it?
But like many of you, I had my doubts.
Thus, I went down the rabbit hole with a couple key questions:
- Is it really possible for the average joe to make that much consistently?
- Should I consider switching to food delivery as a full-time job?
Let’s dive into the numbers and find out!
Earning $8,511.64 in Revenue as a Food Delivery Rider
After sweeping through multiple forums such as Hardwarezone and Reddit, the general consensus is that earning $8,511.64 in revenue is indeed possible.
BUT
You’ll need to consider the operating costs and the cons of the job that we’ll cover later on.
Here’s a brief overview of how it was done based on general consensus online:
- The rider uses a motorcycle and worked for 31 days in March 2022 (No leaves taken and working on PH)
- The rider used all three food delivery apps (GrabFood, Deliveroo, FoodPanda), with FoodPanda as the main app due to its shift system and the other two to fill in gaps or stack orders
- The rider had to optimise routes and reject orders that took too long
- The rider dealt with lull periods (Mondays and Tuesdays) and consistently worked more than 12 – 15 hours a day.
Upfront Costs to Be a Food Delivery Rider
If you’re looking to earn anywhere close to $8,000 a month, you’ll need to own a motorbike.
| Model | Average Open Market Value (OMV as of Mar 2022) | GST & Excise Duty | Tiered ARF Payable | Registration Fee | COE | Total Basic Cost | Down Payment (15%) | Loan Amount Left (excluding interest) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda CB150R Manual | $4,022 | $798 | $604 | $220 | $11,400 | $17,044 | $2,556.60 | $14,487.40 |
| Yamaha NMAX 155 ABS Connect | $2,990 | $593 | $449 | $220 | $11,400 | $15,652 | $2,347.80 | $13,304.20 |
| Yamaha R15 V4 | $2,976 | $590 | $447 | $220 | $11,400 | $15,633 | $2,813.94 | $12,819.06 |
Already riding one? Great! You won’t have to deal with upfront costs.
But for the rest of us, expect to fork out:
- $2,300 – $3,000 down payment for a new Class 2B motorbike
- $700 – $900 for a Class 2B license
- $200 – $500 for new riding equipment
which brings us to a total upfront cost of $3,200 – $4,400.
Operating Costs of a Food Delivery Rider
| Costs per month | |
|---|---|
| Fuel | ~$400 |
| Maintenance | ~$100 |
| Road Tax | $5.30 |
| Insurance Cost | $40 - $60 |
| Carry-On Installment (COI) | $100 - $300 |
| Total Cost | $645.30 - $865.30 |
To be safe, you would need to budget at least $900 per month as these estimates do not factor in costs such as interest rates, accidents, and your bike’s depreciating value.
Income
Using our estimated operating costs, this delivery rider generates roughly $7,800 in profit per month, or $21 an hour, assuming that the rider works a conservative 12 hours a day for 31 days.
Talk about exchanging time for money.
Considerations
While the money does look very enticing, you’ll need to consider several things.
The biggest drawback is that you’ll need to work at least 12 – 15 hours each day to hit $7,800 in profit.
This means you’ll have to sacrifice most of your personal time and really hustle.
Long working hours will also put a great physical and mental toll on your body.
Ever fell asleep at the wheel? You’ll know how dangerous that can be.
Moreover, you’ll have to bear the brunt of nature’s wrath under Singapore’s blazing sun or the heavy rain that has been pelting Singapore as of late.
As if that wasn’t enough, you’ll have to bear the risk of road accidents and miss out on things like workplace injury compensation, employer’s Central Provident Fund (CPF) contributions, medical insurance, and paid leave.
In the longer term, riders face insufficient opportunities for upgrading and reskilling and the lack of career progression.
What’s more, you may also have to deal with nasty customers and vendors too.
On the bright side, food delivery companies have stepped up by providing insurance coverage for their riders.
Grab has rolled out personal accident insurance in 2019 and has since introduced insurance for prolonged medical leave.
FoodPanda also offers insurance coverage, including for accidental death and accidental medical expenses, from S$9 per month, while Deliveroo provides over 9,000 riders with accident and injury insurance free of charge.
Afterthoughts
Is earning $8,500 in revenue sustainable in the long term? I’d say it’s a definite no.
If you’re considering being a full-time food delivery rider, a more realistic estimate would be somewhere between $5,000 to $6,000 a month.
That’s if you work really hard (12 – 15 hours a day with Mondays and Tuesdays off) and own a motorbike.
Some delivery riders have reportedly earned a similar amount on an e-bike or bicycle, but you’ll also have to consider the additional toll it has on your body.
But with COVID-19 restrictions easing, fuel prices rising, and possible changes in earnings from food delivery services, your monthly income may also take a hit in the future.
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