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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,061 in Johor Bahru versus $1,562 in Terrassa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,551 in Johor Bahru versus $2,374 in Terrassa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,042 in Johor Bahru versus $3,186 in Terrassa.

Living in Johor Bahru costs roughly 32% less than in Terrassa, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Johor Bahru is 23% below, Terrassa is 13% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.64 MYR 14.81

$15.39 €13.26

-76.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.40 MYR 87.1

$58.0 €49.96

-63.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 MYR 20.14

$12.74 €10.98

-61.15%

Cappuccino

$3.03 MYR 12.31

$2.78 €2.40

8.99%

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

$0.84 MYR 3.43

$2.53 €2.18

-66.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 MYR 2.11

$1.88 €1.62

-72.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.40 MYR 17.91

$3.57 €3.07

23.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.13 MYR 24.95

$4.78 €4.12

28.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 MYR 7.13

$1.13 €0.98

54.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.11 MYR 4.51

$1.48 €1.28

-25.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.46 MYR 5.95

$1.84 €1.59

-20.65%

Eggs

$1.76 MYR 7.16

$3.94 €3.40

-55.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.53 MYR 75.4

$14.92 €12.86

24.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.64 MYR 18.86

$9.51 €8.19

-51.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.85 MYR 44.12

$20.45 €17.63

-46.94%

Apples (1kg)

$3.47 MYR 14.11

$2.67 €2.30

29.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 MYR 6.86

$2.10 €1.81

-19.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.96 MYR 16.09

$1.66 €1.43

138.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.63 MYR 6.64

$2.84 €2.45

-42.61%

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 MYR 5.98

$1.89 €1.63

-22.22%

Onion (1kg)

$1.74 MYR 7.08

$1.94 €1.67

-10.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.33 MYR 5.43

$1.57 €1.35

-15.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 MYR 2.25

$0.82 €0.71

-32.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 MYR 17.41

$7.22 €6.22

-40.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.41 MYR 58.6

$7.14 €6.16

101.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 MYR 11.66

$1.51 €1.30

90.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 MYR 12.35

$2.54 €2.19

19.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 MYR 3.13

$1.64 €1.42

-53.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.45 MYR 50.6

$23.27 €20.06

-46.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 MYR 5.85

$3.18 €2.74

-54.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 MYR 2.89

$1.54 €1.33

-53.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.69 MYR 39.44

$15.30 €13.19

-36.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 MYR 3.19

$1.73 €1.49

-54.91%

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

$42.9K MYR 174.6K

$36.2K €31.2K

18.43%

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

$36.1K MYR 146.9K

$31.7K €27.3K

13.96%

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

$53.3 MYR 217

$118 €102

-54.97%

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

$11.37 MYR 46.27

$15.45 €13.32

-26.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.26 MYR 119

$37.67 €32.47

-22.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.41 MYR 164

$35.46 €30.57

13.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.62 MYR 22.86

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 MYR 19.75

$11.18 €9.64

-56.53%

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

$167 MYR 679

$468 €404

-64.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,463 MYR 18.2K

$10.6K €9,149

-57.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.5 MYR 271

$64.8 €55.9

2.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.90 MYR 68.8

$21.65 €18.66

-21.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.7 MYR 332

$112 €96.5

-27.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.29 MYR 164

$123 €106

-67.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$518 MYR 2,108

$859 €740

-39.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$395 MYR 1,606

$612 €528

-35.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$903 MYR 3,673

$1,168 €1,007

-22.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$631 MYR 2,567

$1,026 €884

-38.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,032 MYR 8,266

$2,848 €2,455

-28.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,176 MYR 4,784

$2,204 €1,900

-46.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,090 MYR 4,434

$2,311 €1,992

-52.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.06

3.3

23.03%

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

Last update for Johor Bahru: September 6, 2026

Last update for Terrassa: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $518 in Johor Bahru and $859 in Terrassa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Terrassa pays 112% 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: $21.00 in Johor Bahru vs $58.0 in Terrassa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $273 vs $302 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 Terrassa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Johor Bahru and Terrassa differ by about 47% in total monthly costs ($1,061 vs $1,562 including rent). Johor Bahru is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 112% lower in Terrassa. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $518 in Johor Bahru versus $859 in Terrassa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Johor Bahru – a meal for two runs $21.00 versus $58.0 in Terrassa. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,061 per month in Johor Bahru versus $1,562 in Terrassa – a 47% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,061 in Johor Bahru versus $1,562 in Terrassa, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Johor Bahru but tight or insufficient in Terrassa. The gap between the two cities makes Johor Bahru the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 Terrassa 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 Johor Bahru gentler on the wallet – expenses run 47% less than in Terrassa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.