Cost of Living Comparison Between Johor Bahru and Mandaue Cost of Living Comparison Between Johor Bahru and Mandaue

🙂 Solo nomad: Johor Bahru is 14% cheaper than Mandaue without rent, and 6.3% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Johor Bahru is 16.8% cheaper than Mandaue without rent, and 1.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Johor Bahru
Mandaue
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.50 MYR 13.79
$4.37 ₱257
-19.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.14 MYR 75.4
$23.92 ₱1,405
-19.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.73 MYR 18.62
$4.52 ₱265
4.65%
Cappuccino
$3.02 MYR 11.90
$2.63 ₱155
14.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 MYR 3.08
$0.84 ₱49.36
-7.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 MYR 1.90
$0.46 ₱27.08
4.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.50 MYR 13.79
$1.59 ₱93.1
120.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.75 MYR 26.61
$2.12 ₱124
218.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Johor Bahru
Mandaue
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.87 MYR 7.35
$2.14 ₱126
-12.62%
White Bread (500g)
$0.96 MYR 3.76
$0.76 ₱44.87
26.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.30 MYR 5.12
$0.99 ₱58.2
31.31%
Eggs
$1.84 MYR 7.25
$2.24 ₱132
-17.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.48 MYR 41.31
$12.74 ₱749
-17.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.41 MYR 13.42
$5.37 ₱315
-36.50%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.02 MYR 31.60
$7.94 ₱466
1.01%
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 MYR 10.97
$3.61 ₱212
-22.99%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 MYR 6.00
$1.52 ₱89.2
-
Oranges (1kg)
$2.47 MYR 9.74
$3.43 ₱201
-27.99%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.24 MYR 4.90
$2.27 ₱134
-45.37%
Potato (1kg)
$1.18 MYR 4.66
$2.58 ₱151
-54.26%
Onion (1kg)
$1.40 MYR 5.51
$2.46 ₱145
-43.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.96 MYR 3.77
$0.97 ₱57.2
-1.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 MYR 2.02
$0.85 ₱49.65
-40.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.18 MYR 16.47
$2.64 ₱155
58.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.68 MYR 57.9
$6.65 ₱391
120.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.66 MYR 10.48
$1.20 ₱70.4
121.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03 MYR 11.93
$2.26 ₱133
34.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Johor Bahru
Mandaue
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.72 MYR 2.84
$0.26 ₱15.08
176.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.70 MYR 46.10
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.98 MYR 3.87
$0.88 ₱51.9
11.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.03 MYR 4.06
$0.23 ₱13.45
347.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.31 MYR 36.68
$2.69 ₱158
246.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.46 MYR 1.80
$1.15 ₱67.6
-60.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.5K MYR 140.0K
$30.7K ₱1.8M
15.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.3K MYR 111.4K
$27.4K ₱1.6M
3.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Johor Bahru
Mandaue
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$41.48 MYR 163
$96.5 ₱5,671
-57.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.13 MYR 35.98
$26.95 ₱1,583
-66.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.95 MYR 122
$29.58 ₱1,738
4.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Johor Bahru
Mandaue
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.11 MYR 138
$48.07 ₱2,824
-26.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.05 MYR 23.84
$4.31 ₱253
40.37%
Cinema Ticket
$5.08 MYR 20.03
$6.01 ₱353
-15.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Johor Bahru
Mandaue
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$187 MYR 738
$229 ₱13.5K
-18.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,960 MYR 27.4K
$3,900 ₱229.1K
78.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Johor Bahru
Mandaue
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.99 MYR 197
$45.89 ₱2,696
8.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.17 MYR 75.6
$22.62 ₱1,329
-15.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$54.3 MYR 214
$74.4 ₱4,373
-27.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.45 MYR 155
$54.8 ₱3,222
-28.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Johor Bahru
Mandaue
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$468 MYR 1,844
$263 ₱15.5K
77.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$404 MYR 1,592
$285 ₱16.7K
41.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$827 MYR 3,259
$835 ₱49.1K
-0.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$606 MYR 2,389
$435 ₱25.6K
39.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,142 MYR 8,438
$2,418 ₱142.0K
-11.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,192 MYR 4,697
$686 ₱40.3K
73.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Johor Bahru
Mandaue
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,153 MYR 4,541
$258 ₱15.1K
347.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.07
8
-49.13%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Johor Bahru: March 2, 2026

Last update for Mandaue: February 28, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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