Cost of Living in Johor Bahru - Updated Prices & Insights

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $518 (excluding rent), and $948 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $1,130 (excluding rent), and $1,823 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.62 MYR 14.31

$2.42 MYR 9.54

$6.03 MYR 23.81

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.70 MYR 73.9

$14.03 MYR 55.4

$46.76 MYR 185

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.67 MYR 18.44

$3.74 MYR 14.76

$5.84 MYR 23.07

Cappuccino

$3.00 MYR 11.85

$1.20 MYR 4.76

$3.61 MYR 14.27

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

$0.86 MYR 3.40

$0.62 MYR 2.44

$1.24 MYR 4.89

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 MYR 1.79

$0.34 MYR 1.33

$0.68 MYR 2.70

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.58 MYR 14.14

$2.86 MYR 11.31

$7.15 MYR 28.25

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.46 MYR 25.53

$4.15 MYR 16.40

$6.92 MYR 27.34

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 MYR 7.37

$1.67 MYR 6.61

$2.01 MYR 7.93

White Bread (500g)

$1.00 MYR 3.93

$0.61 MYR 2.39

$2.01 MYR 7.95

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.26 MYR 4.96

$0.47 MYR 1.84

$2.80 MYR 11.06

Eggs

$1.87 MYR 7.39

$0.95 MYR 3.76

$2.29 MYR 9.03

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.73 MYR 42.37

$3.58 MYR 14.14

$26.27 MYR 104

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.41 MYR 13.47

$1.60 MYR 6.33

$10.21 MYR 40.34

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.35 MYR 32.99

$3.64 MYR 14.36

$16.01 MYR 63.3

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 MYR 10.95

$1.69 MYR 6.67

$4.82 MYR 19.03

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 MYR 5.72

$0.69 MYR 2.73

$2.27 MYR 8.98

Oranges (1kg)

$2.47 MYR 9.77

$1.21 MYR 4.79

$5.12 MYR 20.23

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 MYR 4.79

$0.70 MYR 2.77

$2.79 MYR 11.02

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 MYR 4.49

$0.46 MYR 1.82

$2.31 MYR 9.13

Onion (1kg)

$1.32 MYR 5.22

$0.46 MYR 1.81

$2.30 MYR 9.07

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 MYR 3.55

$0.58 MYR 2.28

$1.85 MYR 7.30

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 MYR 2.21

$0.49 MYR 1.93

$0.85 MYR 3.36

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.16 MYR 16.44

$3.48 MYR 13.76

$4.99 MYR 19.71

Wine (Bottle)

$14.28 MYR 56.4

$12.42 MYR 49.07

$14.90 MYR 58.9

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.75 MYR 10.85

$1.91 MYR 7.54

$3.40 MYR 13.44

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 MYR 11.99

$1.82 MYR 7.20

$4.85 MYR 19.15

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.70 MYR 2.75

$0.92 MYR 3.64

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.85 MYR 46.79

$23.70 MYR 93.6

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.01 MYR 3.99

$0.72 MYR 2.83

$1.42 MYR 5.63

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 MYR 4.03

$0.68 MYR 2.67

$1.35 MYR 5.35

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.28 MYR 36.67

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 1.96

$0.51 MYR 2.01

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

$36.0K MYR 142.3K

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

$27.5K MYR 108.4K

$23.2K MYR 91.6K

$46.4K MYR 183.3K

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

$41.30 MYR 163

$23.75 MYR 93.8

$72.4 MYR 286

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

$9.03 MYR 35.68

$5.85 MYR 23.12

$14.05 MYR 55.5

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.38 MYR 124

$24.01 MYR 94.8

$48.01 MYR 190

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.01 MYR 142

$23.57 MYR 93.1

$71.4 MYR 282

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.01 MYR 23.73

$4.80 MYR 18.98

$6.01 MYR 23.73

Cinema Ticket

$4.83 MYR 19.07

$4.59 MYR 18.15

$5.74 MYR 22.69

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

$185 MYR 729

$128 MYR 504

$348 MYR 1,374

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,024 MYR 27.7K

$3,592 MYR 14.2K

$12.0K MYR 47.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.96 MYR 197

$43.17 MYR 171

$83.9 MYR 332

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.03 MYR 75.2

$13.08 MYR 51.7

$41.63 MYR 164

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$55.2 MYR 218

$36.01 MYR 142

$96.0 MYR 379

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.61 MYR 160

$23.92 MYR 94.5

$90.9 MYR 359

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$468 MYR 1,848

$309 MYR 1,222

$690 MYR 2,725

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$404 MYR 1,598

$333 MYR 1,316

$476 MYR 1,879

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$834 MYR 3,296

$521 MYR 2,060

$1,422 MYR 5,617

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$599 MYR 2,366

$327 MYR 1,291

$817 MYR 3,227

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,085 MYR 8,237

$1,912 MYR 7,554

$2,524 MYR 9,968

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,171 MYR 4,625

$1,116 MYR 4,409

$1,317 MYR 5,204

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,150 MYR 4,541

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: April 13, 2026

Johor Bahru Median Internet Speeds (Updated April 2026)

Mobile

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

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.