Cost of Living in Johor Bahru - Updated Prices & Insights

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $518 (excluding rent), and $968 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $1,132 (excluding rent), and $1,830 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.55 MYR 14.43

$2.37 MYR 9.62

$5.91 MYR 24.01

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.55 MYR 75.3

$13.91 MYR 56.5

$46.38 MYR 188

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.57 MYR 18.55

$3.66 MYR 14.85

$5.72 MYR 23.20

Cappuccino

$2.91 MYR 11.82

$1.17 MYR 4.74

$3.50 MYR 14.23

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

$0.86 MYR 3.47

$0.62 MYR 2.50

$1.23 MYR 5.00

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 MYR 1.86

$0.34 MYR 1.38

$0.69 MYR 2.80

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.47 MYR 14.10

$2.78 MYR 11.27

$6.94 MYR 28.16

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.62 MYR 26.86

$4.25 MYR 17.26

$7.09 MYR 28.77

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 MYR 7.68

$1.70 MYR 6.88

$2.03 MYR 8.26

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 MYR 4.02

$0.60 MYR 2.45

$2.00 MYR 8.13

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 MYR 5.27

$0.48 MYR 1.95

$2.89 MYR 11.74

Eggs

$1.83 MYR 7.43

$0.93 MYR 3.77

$2.24 MYR 9.08

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.41 MYR 42.27

$3.47 MYR 14.10

$25.50 MYR 104

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.51 MYR 14.24

$1.65 MYR 6.69

$10.50 MYR 42.63

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.21 MYR 33.33

$3.58 MYR 14.51

$15.74 MYR 63.9

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 MYR 10.75

$1.61 MYR 6.54

$4.60 MYR 18.68

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 MYR 6.12

$0.72 MYR 2.92

$2.37 MYR 9.62

Oranges (1kg)

$2.55 MYR 10.37

$1.25 MYR 5.08

$5.29 MYR 21.48

Tomato (1kg)

$1.22 MYR 4.95

$0.70 MYR 2.86

$2.80 MYR 11.38

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 MYR 4.81

$0.48 MYR 1.95

$2.41 MYR 9.79

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 MYR 5.61

$0.48 MYR 1.94

$2.40 MYR 9.74

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.94 MYR 3.81

$0.60 MYR 2.44

$1.93 MYR 7.82

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 MYR 2.10

$0.45 MYR 1.83

$0.79 MYR 3.19

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.33 MYR 17.56

$3.62 MYR 14.70

$5.19 MYR 21.05

Wine (Bottle)

$14.07 MYR 57.1

$12.24 MYR 49.69

$14.68 MYR 59.6

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 MYR 11.27

$1.93 MYR 7.83

$3.44 MYR 13.97

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 MYR 12.26

$1.81 MYR 7.35

$4.82 MYR 19.57

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 MYR 2.77

$0.90 MYR 3.67

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.82 MYR 47.99

$23.65 MYR 96.0

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.99 MYR 4.02

$0.70 MYR 2.85

$1.40 MYR 5.67

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.98 MYR 4.00

$0.65 MYR 2.65

$1.31 MYR 5.30

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.30 MYR 37.75

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 MYR 1.87

$0.47 MYR 1.91

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

$35.5K MYR 144.1K

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

$27.4K MYR 111.1K

$23.1K MYR 93.9K

$46.2K MYR 187.8K

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

$40.90 MYR 166

$23.52 MYR 95.5

$71.7 MYR 291

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

$9.01 MYR 36.58

$5.84 MYR 23.71

$14.02 MYR 56.9

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.38 MYR 127

$24.00 MYR 97.5

$48.01 MYR 195

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.37 MYR 144

$23.15 MYR 94.0

$70.1 MYR 285

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.96 MYR 24.19

$4.76 MYR 19.34

$5.96 MYR 24.19

Cinema Ticket

$5.08 MYR 20.62

$4.83 MYR 19.62

$6.04 MYR 24.54

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

$190 MYR 772

$131 MYR 534

$358 MYR 1,455

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,995 MYR 28.4K

$3,577 MYR 14.5K

$11.9K MYR 48.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.82 MYR 202

$43.04 MYR 175

$83.7 MYR 340

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.54 MYR 75.3

$12.74 MYR 51.7

$40.56 MYR 165

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$55.1 MYR 224

$35.94 MYR 146

$95.9 MYR 389

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.45 MYR 160

$23.24 MYR 94.4

$88.3 MYR 359

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$455 MYR 1,848

$301 MYR 1,222

$671 MYR 2,726

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$401 MYR 1,629

$331 MYR 1,342

$472 MYR 1,917

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$833 MYR 3,381

$521 MYR 2,113

$1,420 MYR 5,764

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$604 MYR 2,453

$330 MYR 1,338

$824 MYR 3,345

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,023 MYR 8,215

$1,856 MYR 7,534

$2,150 MYR 8,729

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,145 MYR 4,650

$1,092 MYR 4,432

$1,289 MYR 5,232

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,045 MYR 4,241

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: January 13, 2026

Johor Bahru Median Internet Speeds (Updated December 2025)

Mobile

134

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

279

Mbps

139

Mbps

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

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

City tags:

⛩️ Asia

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.