Malaysians claim living in JB is costlier than KL due to stagnant wages and rising costs.
A growing number of Malaysians believe that living in Johor Bahru (JB) is more expensive than Kuala Lumpur, not because prices are higher but because wages are significantly lower. Fresh graduates, technicians, and even experienced professionals in JB continue to face stagnant salaries while rental prices, food costs, and transportation expenses remain high. This has fueled frustration among residents, many of whom are now looking for better opportunities across the border in Singapore.
Despite the Klang Valley officially being recognized as Malaysia’s most expensive region, many Malaysians argue that Johor Bahru presents even greater financial struggles due to its wage stagnation. The situation is prompting more workers to seek employment in Singapore or even migrate overseas.
Wages Fail to Match Rising Costs
The latest Employees Provident Fund (EPF) Belanjawanku 2024-2025 guide confirms that living costs in Malaysia have risen, with the Klang Valley seeing a 6.7% increase from 2022 to 2024. However, a viral post on Threads by a Malaysian, Amirul Akmal, has sparked debate, as he argues that JB is actually worse for workers due to persistently low salaries.
Amirul highlighted that fresh graduate engineers in JB are still being offered as little as RM2,500 (SGD 715) per month, with most earning below RM3,000 (SGD 858). Technicians are paid around RM1,800 (SGD 515), nearly the same as machine operators, making it difficult for workers to sustain themselves in a city where daily expenses continue to climb.
Experienced Professionals Also Affected
It’s not just fresh graduates who are struggling. Even experienced workers in JB are finding it difficult to secure better salaries.
A netizen shared their frustration: “Even with years of experience, they still offer low salaries—not just for engineers and technicians but even for nurses. In KL, if you have both local and international experience, you can demand a higher salary and actually get it. But in JB, it’s just depressing.”
This structural wage stagnation has led many professionals to seek employment in Singapore, where salaries are significantly higher. One Malaysian commented that after working in Singapore for 10 years, they had no plans to return to Malaysia, stating, “What is holding you from getting SGD?”
The Singapore Effect and Worsening Conditions
The disparity between wages in JB and Singapore has had a ripple effect, pushing more Malaysians to cross the border daily for work. As a result, JB’s rental market has become even more unaffordable.
A local resident expressed frustration over increasing costs: “Rentals in JB are crazy because of the high demand from people working in Singapore. Parking in Bandar JB is RM15 to RM20 (SGD 4.30 to SGD 5.75) per day. Then there’s rent, petrol, and traffic jams—it just doesn’t make sense.”
The cost of living crisis in Johor Bahru has sparked widespread concern, as stagnant wages fail to keep up with increasing expenses. Despite being a major economic hub, JB’s low salaries and high rental costs continue to push residents toward Singapore or even other countries for better financial security.
This situation highlights the widening income disparity in Malaysia. It also raises concerns about JB’s economic sustainability, as more of its workforce seeks better wages elsewhere. Addressing this wage stagnation will be crucial to ensuring JB remains an attractive place to live and work in the future.
Sources: The Independent SG (2025), The Sun MY (2025)
Keywords: Johor Bahru, Cost Of Living, Malaysia, Low Wages, Economic Struggles
