Cost of Living in Johor Bahru - Updated Prices & Insights

33.33

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $512 (excluding rent), and $948 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $1,138 (excluding rent), and $1,799 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 MYR 15.05

$2.38 MYR 10.04

$5.94 MYR 25.05

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.91 MYR 79.7

$14.18 MYR 59.8

$47.28 MYR 199

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.64 MYR 19.58

$3.72 MYR 15.67

$5.81 MYR 24.48

Cappuccino

$3 MYR 12.63

$1.2 MYR 5.07

$3.61 MYR 15.21

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

$0.8 MYR 3.36

$0.57 MYR 2.42

$1.15 MYR 4.84

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 MYR 1.93

$0.34 MYR 1.43

$0.69 MYR 2.91

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.51 MYR 14.81

$2.81 MYR 11.84

$7.01 MYR 29.58

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.78 MYR 28.61

$4.36 MYR 18.38

$7.27 MYR 30.64

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 MYR 7.54

$1.6 MYR 6.76

$1.92 MYR 8.12

White Bread (500g)

$0.93 MYR 3.92

$0.57 MYR 2.39

$1.88 MYR 7.92

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 MYR 5.29

$0.46 MYR 1.96

$2.79 MYR 11.78

Eggs

$1.88 MYR 7.94

$0.96 MYR 4.03

$2.3 MYR 9.7

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.42 MYR 43.95

$3.48 MYR 14.66

$25.52 MYR 108

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.54 MYR 14.92

$1.66 MYR 7.01

$10.59 MYR 44.68

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.27 MYR 34.87

$3.6 MYR 15.18

$15.86 MYR 66.9

Apples (1kg)

$2.66 MYR 11.2

$1.62 MYR 6.82

$4.62 MYR 19.46

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 MYR 6.2

$0.7 MYR 2.96

$2.31 MYR 9.74

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 MYR 10.83

$1.26 MYR 5.31

$5.32 MYR 22.44

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 MYR 5.26

$0.72 MYR 3.04

$2.87 MYR 12.11

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 MYR 4.79

$0.46 MYR 1.94

$2.31 MYR 9.74

Onion (1kg)

$1.32 MYR 5.58

$0.46 MYR 1.93

$2.29 MYR 9.67

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 MYR 3.99

$0.61 MYR 2.56

$1.94 MYR 8.19

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 MYR 2.36

$0.49 MYR 2.06

$0.85 MYR 3.59

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.25 MYR 17.92

$3.56 MYR 15

$5.09 MYR 21.48

Wine (Bottle)

$14.05 MYR 59.2

$9.37 MYR 39.5

$23.41 MYR 98.7

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 MYR 11.73

$1.93 MYR 8.15

$3.45 MYR 14.54

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 MYR 12.09

$1.72 MYR 7.25

$4.58 MYR 19.31

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 MYR 2.89

$0.91 MYR 3.83

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.83 MYR 49.91

$23.68 MYR 99.9

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.02 MYR 4.31

$0.73 MYR 3.06

$1.44 MYR 6.08

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1 MYR 4.21

$0.66 MYR 2.79

$1.32 MYR 5.58

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.17 MYR 38.68

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.5 MYR 2.12

$0.51 MYR 2.16

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

$35.9K MYR 151.5K

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

$28.2K MYR 118.8K

$23.8K MYR 100.4K

$47.6K MYR 200.7K

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

$40.2 MYR 170

$23.11 MYR 97.5

$70.5 MYR 297

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

$9.32 MYR 39.29

$6.04 MYR 25.46

$14.49 MYR 61.1

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.32 MYR 128

$23.2 MYR 97.8

$46.39 MYR 196

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.52 MYR 150

$23.25 MYR 98

$70.4 MYR 297

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.87 MYR 24.75

$4.69 MYR 19.8

$5.87 MYR 24.75

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 MYR 21.37

$4.82 MYR 20.33

$6.03 MYR 25.43

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

$186 MYR 785

$129 MYR 542

$351 MYR 1,479

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,000 MYR 29.5K

$3,580 MYR 15.1K

$11.9K MYR 50.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.42 MYR 204

$41.83 MYR 176

$81.3 MYR 343

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.88 MYR 79.6

$12.98 MYR 54.7

$41.3 MYR 174

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$54.3 MYR 229

$35.41 MYR 149

$94.4 MYR 398

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.14 MYR 169

$23.65 MYR 99.7

$89.9 MYR 379

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$464 MYR 1,958

$307 MYR 1,294

$685 MYR 2,888

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$397 MYR 1,676

$327 MYR 1,380

$467 MYR 1,971

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$819 MYR 3,453

$512 MYR 2,158

$1,396 MYR 5,885

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$602 MYR 2,539

$328 MYR 1,385

$821 MYR 3,463

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,848 MYR 7,792

$1,134 MYR 4,781

$2,340 MYR 9,869

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,227 MYR 5,173

$772 MYR 3,253

$1,911 MYR 8,060

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,007 MYR 4,246

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.

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.