Cost of Living in Johor Bahru - Updated Prices & Insights

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $550 (excluding rent), and $955 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $1,283 (excluding rent), and $1,789 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.65 MYR 15.05

$2.43 MYR 10.03

$6.07 MYR 25.04

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.06 MYR 78.7

$14.3 MYR 59

$47.67 MYR 197

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.63 MYR 19.09

$3.7 MYR 15.28

$5.79 MYR 23.88

Cappuccino

$2.89 MYR 11.94

$1.16 MYR 4.79

$3.48 MYR 14.38

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

$0.83 MYR 3.44

$0.6 MYR 2.47

$1.2 MYR 4.94

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 MYR 2.03

$0.37 MYR 1.51

$0.74 MYR 3.07

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.57 MYR 14.75

$2.86 MYR 11.79

$7.14 MYR 29.45

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.68 MYR 27.56

$4.29 MYR 17.7

$7.15 MYR 29.52

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 MYR 7.38

$1.6 MYR 6.62

$1.92 MYR 7.94

White Bread (500g)

$0.93 MYR 3.83

$0.57 MYR 2.33

$1.88 MYR 7.75

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 MYR 5.13

$0.46 MYR 1.9

$2.77 MYR 11.42

Eggs

$1.87 MYR 7.72

$0.95 MYR 3.92

$2.29 MYR 9.43

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.78 MYR 44.5

$3.6 MYR 14.85

$26.4 MYR 109

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.41 MYR 14.06

$1.6 MYR 6.6

$10.2 MYR 42.1

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.12 MYR 33.51

$3.54 MYR 14.59

$15.57 MYR 64.3

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 MYR 11.42

$1.69 MYR 6.96

$4.81 MYR 19.86

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 MYR 6.11

$0.7 MYR 2.91

$2.32 MYR 9.59

Oranges (1kg)

$2.5 MYR 10.31

$1.22 MYR 5.05

$5.18 MYR 21.36

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 MYR 5.15

$0.72 MYR 2.97

$2.87 MYR 11.84

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 MYR 4.92

$0.48 MYR 1.99

$2.42 MYR 10

Onion (1kg)

$1.32 MYR 5.47

$0.46 MYR 1.89

$2.3 MYR 9.49

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.96 MYR 3.95

$0.61 MYR 2.53

$1.97 MYR 8.12

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 MYR 2.28

$0.48 MYR 1.98

$0.84 MYR 3.46

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 MYR 17.08

$3.46 MYR 14.3

$4.96 MYR 20.47

Wine (Bottle)

$14.21 MYR 58.7

$9.48 MYR 39.1

$23.69 MYR 97.8

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 MYR 10.97

$1.85 MYR 7.62

$3.29 MYR 13.59

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.01 MYR 12.44

$1.81 MYR 7.46

$4.81 MYR 19.86

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 MYR 2.81

$0.9 MYR 3.72

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.88 MYR 49.04

$23.78 MYR 98.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.01 MYR 4.17

$0.72 MYR 2.96

$1.42 MYR 5.88

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.98 MYR 4.05

$0.65 MYR 2.69

$1.3 MYR 5.38

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.46 MYR 39.05

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.5 MYR 2.07

$0.51 MYR 2.12

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

$35.3K MYR 145.6K

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

$27.7K MYR 114.2K

$23.4K MYR 96.5K

$46.8K MYR 193K

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

$41.27 MYR 170

$23.73 MYR 98

$72.4 MYR 299

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

$8.91 MYR 36.76

$5.77 MYR 23.82

$13.86 MYR 57.2

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.23 MYR 125

$23.13 MYR 95.5

$46.26 MYR 191

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.37 MYR 146

$23.15 MYR 95.5

$70.2 MYR 290

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.93 MYR 24.48

$4.74 MYR 19.58

$5.93 MYR 24.48

Cinema Ticket

$5.09 MYR 21

$4.84 MYR 19.98

$6.06 MYR 24.99

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

$185 MYR 765

$128 MYR 529

$350 MYR 1,443

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,048 MYR 29.1K

$3,604 MYR 14.9K

$12K MYR 49.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.21 MYR 203

$42.52 MYR 175

$82.7 MYR 341

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.95 MYR 78.2

$13.03 MYR 53.8

$41.46 MYR 171

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$53.6 MYR 221

$34.93 MYR 144

$93.1 MYR 384

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.35 MYR 162

$23.18 MYR 95.7

$88.1 MYR 364

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$457 MYR 1,887

$302 MYR 1,247

$674 MYR 2,783

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$399 MYR 1,646

$328 MYR 1,355

$469 MYR 1,936

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 MYR 3,406

$516 MYR 2,129

$1,407 MYR 5,806

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$598 MYR 2,470

$326 MYR 1,347

$816 MYR 3,368

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,879 MYR 7,756

$1,189 MYR 4,907

$2,454 MYR 10.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,332 MYR 5,495

$795 MYR 3,280

$1,969 MYR 8,126

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$985 MYR 4,067

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.07

3.9

4.25

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

Last update: November 23, 2025

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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Cost of Living in Johor Bahru - Frequently Asked Questions

Johor Bahru offers a favorable balance for travelers, expats, and digital nomads. You'll find housing options ranging from affordable condos to longer-term rentals in growing neighborhoods, with rents typically lower than major regional capitals and far cheaper than Singapore's edge. Local meals and produce at hawker centers keep daily costs predictable, while imported goods at malls can push up expenses. Transportation is pragmatic, with reliable public transit options, ride-hailing, and walkable city cores. Cost of Living in Johor Bahru tends to feel approachable for most budgets when you choose areas that suit your work and social life. Tip: Focus on a neighborhood with good transit links and communities you enjoy.

Daily life in Johor Bahru blends comfort and practicality. Look for housing near work or transit hubs - condos in central districts or terrace homes in family-friendly neighborhoods - and compare terms and utilities. Food is abundant: hawker centers and kopitiams offer tasty, affordable options for most meals. For getting around, ride-hailing and buses work well, and many spots are walkable. If you need a coworking space, several options mix reliable connectivity with a supportive community. Johor Bahru living cost stays manageable when you lean on local markets and cook at home. Tip: Build a short-term trial stay to test neighborhoods.

Quality of life in Johor Bahru comes from balance, not extremes. Build a simple budgeting framework: separate housing, food, transport, and leisure so you can spot spikes. Favor neighborhoods with good access to groceries, clinics, and coworking spaces to reduce incidental costs and commute time. Seasonal rain affects outdoor plans, so plan flexible work and errands around shifts in weather and daylight. Mixed popular expat-friendly areas with quieter pockets to find your fit, and set aside a small buffer for spontaneous experiences. Tip: test multiple neighborhoods during different days of the week to gauge real life.