The cost of living in Malaysia has been a hot topic for years, with many comparing expenses in different states.
While Kuala Lumpur (KL) is often perceived as the most expensive city, some argue that Johor Bahru (JB) may actually be worse—especially when salary rates are taken into account.
“Living in JB doesn’t make sense”
Recently, a Malaysian man shared his frustrations about JB’s living costs, claiming that salaries are too low compared to everyday expenses.
This was shared by the OP, @amirulakmall__, through his Threads account, where it instantly garnered the attention of many netizens.
According to him, fresh graduates in engineering are still being paid as low as RM2,500, with most earning below RM3,000.
Meanwhile, technicians are only earning around RM1,800, almost on par with operators. He also highlighted how rental prices, eating out, and even basic groceries have become increasingly expensive.
Compared to KL, living in JB feels even more costly because the salaries are so low. It’s depressing,” he wrote.
Netizens shared their thoughts
Many netizens echoed his sentiments, pointing out that JB lacks efficient public transport, making daily expenses even higher.
One person highlighted how limited public transport options in JB force residents to rely on expensive alternatives:
“I agree. The cost of living here is way too high. In KL, there are plenty of public transport options. In JB, buses come once an hour. Taking Grab is expensive. Everything here is costly. The only thing cheap is the dowry.”
Another netizen noted that aside from the high cost of goods, traffic congestion is also a major issue:
“This is the reality. Only those living and working in JB understand. There’s nothing much here, except for expensive goods and heavy traffic all day. We also have to compete with those who live in JB but work in Singapore.”
Meanwhile, a KL resident who moved to JB admitted they were shocked at the cost of living, especially with the lack of affordable transport:
“I migrated from KL to JB. Ya Allah, I don’t even know why the cost of living here is so high. One thing for sure, it’s because there’s no MRT or LRT. Without a car, taking Grab is expensive, and the bus… ya Allah, the wait is long, plus there’s traffic everywhere.”
Do you think JB is pricier than KL? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section.
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