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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $966 in Johor Bahru versus $901 in Mandaue.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,378 in Johor Bahru versus $1,351 in Mandaue.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,791 in Johor Bahru versus $1,802 in Mandaue.

Living in Johor Bahru is roughly 7% more expensive than Mandaue, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Johor Bahru 28% lower, Mandaue 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.53 MYR 13.93

$4.49 ₱277

-21.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.69 MYR 73.8

$24.26 ₱1,496

-22.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.76 MYR 18.82

$4.46 ₱275

6.73%

Cappuccino

$3.01 MYR 11.90

$2.66 ₱164

13.16%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 MYR 3.35

$0.80 ₱49.49

6.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 MYR 1.93

$0.43 ₱26.40

13.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.51 MYR 13.85

$1.54 ₱94.8

127.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.76 MYR 26.71

$2.17 ₱134

211.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 MYR 7.11

$2.14 ₱132

-15.89%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 MYR 3.89

$0.79 ₱48.76

24.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 MYR 4.89

$0.98 ₱60.4

26.53%

Eggs

$1.84 MYR 7.26

$2.19 ₱135

-15.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.67 MYR 42.16

$13.11 ₱809

-18.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.55 MYR 14.01

$5.27 ₱325

-32.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.25 MYR 32.60

$7.50 ₱462

10.00%

Apples (1kg)

$2.66 MYR 10.51

$3.65 ₱225

-27.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MYR 5.76

$1.50 ₱92.8

-2.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 MYR 10.16

$3.32 ₱205

-22.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 MYR 4.93

$2.21 ₱136

-43.44%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 MYR 4.51

$2.68 ₱165

-57.46%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 MYR 5.30

$2.54 ₱157

-47.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.94 MYR 3.71

$0.92 ₱56.5

2.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 MYR 2.04

$0.83 ₱51.5

-37.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.17 MYR 16.47

$2.62 ₱162

59.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.50 MYR 57.3

$6.73 ₱415

115.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.68 MYR 10.59

$1.20 ₱74.1

123.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 MYR 11.53

$2.23 ₱137

30.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 MYR 2.86

$0.26 ₱15.97

176.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.81 MYR 46.65

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.97 MYR 3.84

$0.81 ₱50.2

19.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 MYR 4.04

$0.23 ₱14.16

343.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.09 MYR 35.92

$2.68 ₱165

239.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 MYR 1.84

$1.10 ₱68.0

-57.27%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$34.8K MYR 137.4K

$30.2K ₱1.9M

15.37%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$28.1K MYR 111.0K

$27.7K ₱1.7M

1.58%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$40.87 MYR 161

$96.0 ₱5,920

-57.42%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.23 MYR 36.44

$26.08 ₱1,609

-64.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.64 MYR 121

$30.25 ₱1,866

1.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.09 MYR 139

$47.12 ₱2,906

-25.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.82 MYR 22.99

$4.47 ₱276

30.20%

Cinema Ticket

$4.90 MYR 19.35

$6.07 ₱374

-19.28%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$191 MYR 755

$231 ₱14.3K

-17.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,900 MYR 27.3K

$3,848 ₱237.3K

79.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.07 MYR 194

$44.97 ₱2,774

9.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.14 MYR 75.6

$23.09 ₱1,424

-17.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$54.2 MYR 214

$75.6 ₱4,662

-28.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.65 MYR 157

$54.6 ₱3,370

-27.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$468 MYR 1,848

$265 ₱16.4K

76.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$396 MYR 1,565

$279 ₱17.2K

41.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$843 MYR 3,331

$828 ₱51.1K

1.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$599 MYR 2,366

$438 ₱27.0K

36.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,090 MYR 8,254

$2,244 ₱138.4K

-6.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,190 MYR 4,700

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,155 MYR 4,562

$242 ₱14.9K

377.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.07

-49.13%

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

Last update for Johor Bahru: April 25, 2026

Last update for Mandaue: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $468 in Johor Bahru and $265 in Mandaue. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Johor Bahru pays 377% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $19.00 in Johor Bahru vs $24.00 in Mandaue for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $218 vs $232 per month, with Johor Bahru cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Johor Bahru vs Mandaue: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Johor Bahru and Mandaue differ by about 7% in total monthly costs ($966 vs $901 including rent). Mandaue is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Johor Bahru pays 377% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $468 in Johor Bahru versus $265 in Mandaue. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $191 in Johor Bahru versus $231 in Mandaue. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Mandaue – a meal for two runs $24.00 versus $19.00 in Johor Bahru. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Mandaue gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Johor Bahru and Mandaue are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Mandaue gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Johor Bahru. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.