A recent survey showed that Singaporeans are increasingly growing weary of the city-state’s extraordinarily high cost of living, with a small majority saying they’d look at a cross-border living arrangement to escape the price pressures.

A recent poll indicates that a growing number of Singaporeans are open to relocating to Johor Bahru (JB) to escape the high cost of living in Singapore. The survey, conducted by answers.sg, asked 1,548 respondents if they would consider moving to JB in a bid to avoid Singapore’s high expenses. The results revealed that 55% of participants were in favour of relocating, while 45% were not.

Singapore’s status as one of the most expensive cities globally is well-documented, and it’s no surprise that some residents are exploring alternatives. While the ultra-wealthy, such as Facebook cofounder Eduardo Saverin – Singapore’s richest individual – are largely unaffected by the rising costs, many ordinary Singaporeans are increasingly feeling the pressure. For some, relocating to JB while continuing to work in Singapore offers a more affordable solution.

One notable example of this is Malaysian actor and Singapore permanent resident Shaun Chen, who sold his Singapore property and moved his family to JB. In a recent interview with CNA, he shared that the move had significantly reduced their living expenses.

Others who have made the switch to JB cited high housing costs in Singapore as a major factor. Many also highlighted the fact that the Singapore dollar stretches much further in JB, allowing for a higher standard of living at a lower cost.

HOW MUCH CHEAPER IS JB?

According to Numbeo, the world’s largest cost-of-living database, living in Johor Bahru is significantly cheaper than in Singapore. When excluding rent, the cost of living in JB is about 66.1% lower than in Singapore. Including rent, the gap widens even further, with the overall cost of living in JB being a whopping 74.6% lower. Rent in Singapore is a staggering 87.3% higher than in JB.

Food prices also illustrate this disparity. For example, groceries in JB are 52.3% less expensive than in Singapore, and restaurant prices are nearly 60% lower. A McDonald’s meal in Singapore, which costs around S$10, would only be S$5.12 in JB. Similarly, a cappuccino priced at S$6.35 in Singapore costs just S$3.94 in JB.

The difference in basic goods is also noticeable. A 333-mL bottle of water costs S$0.56 in JB, compared to S$1.54 in Singapore. Similarly, a loaf of bread is S$1.13 in JB, whereas in Singapore, it costs S$2.86.

Numbeo’s data suggests that an individual would need about S$3,047.70 per month to maintain a lifestyle in JB that would cost S$12,000 in Singapore, including rent.

The creation of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zones and efforts being made to ease the pain of border crossing by residents of both countries should only increase the appeal of living in JB while working in Singapore in the future.