For many Malaysians, the idea of working in Singapore has always carried a certain appeal; higher salaries, better infrastructure, and stronger currency.
But with that comes trade-offs: a higher cost of living, strict housing rules, and the ever-dreaded Certificate of Entitlement (COE) for car ownership.
So when a recent Threads post broke down the lifestyle differences between working in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, it quickly triggered a spirited debate among netizens.
Comparing the essentials
The post laid out a side-by-side comparison of salary, living costs, and lifestyle factors, painting a picture of what life might look like on both sides of the Causeway:
- Salary
• Kuala Lumpur: RM4,256
• Singapore: S$5,500 (approx. RM18,195) - Cost of Living (excluding rent)
• KL: RM2,000–RM3,000
• SG: S$1,200–S$2,000 (approx. RM3,975–RM6,625) - Housing
• Singapore: Foreigners can’t buy public housing and private condos are pricey
• Malaysia: Foreigners can buy property — starting from RM1 million - Car Ownership
• Singapore: The COE alone can exceed S$100,000
• Malaysia: Cars are relatively affordable
The post wrapped up with a provocative question:
Would you trade a higher salary for a lower cost of living?”
That question clearly struck a nerve, as Malaysians flooded the comments with their thoughts, lived experiences, and reality checks.
View on Threads
Diving deeper into daily realities
One commenter pointed out that the comparison missed key lifestyle differences, particularly when it comes to transportation and day-to-day affordability:
You’re not actually taking into account daily living expenses as someone who would live and work in Singapore. Their public transportation is superb, so most don’t need a car… Comparing dollar to dollar, basic needs are cheaper in Singapore. All in all, Singapore wins.”
But what about career growth?
Others argued that while Singapore’s starting pay may be tempting, the long-term picture isn’t always as bright:
Singapore’s starting pay is high, but annual increment is agonisingly little… Ten years down the road? SGD 5,000 vs RM8,000.”
This sparked an important conversation around career progression and whether bigger starting numbers actually translate to better financial outcomes in the long run.
The S$5.5K salary — Is it realistic?
Not everyone agreed with the figures presented in the original post. Some Singaporeans chimed in to say the numbers felt overly optimistic:
Huh? SGD$5,500? I must be poor, then… my salary doesn’t even come close to that.”
This raised the question: Are we comparing average salaries or only top-tier jobs?
Same pay, different lifestyles
Another commenter who had worked in both cities shared their firsthand experience — suggesting that salaries aren’t the only thing to consider:
It becomes a question of quality of life… I’ve worked in Singapore for three years, and only now am I earning what I used to make back in KL four years ago.”
For them, the decision wasn’t just about take-home pay, but whether the lifestyle and work-life balance matched their expectations.
The KL side isn’t perfect either
Meanwhile, some Malaysians pushed back against the idea that KL was inherently more affordable.
They pointed out that while certain things like car ownership may be cheaper, long-term financial commitments like mortgages can be overwhelming:
Average salary in KL is not RM4.2k, not even close… you’ll still be paying instalments for 10 years — and 40 years for a house loan.”
They also noted that Singapore’s strong public transport system often eliminates the need for a car entirely, a huge cost saver in the long run.
A personal trade-off
At the end of the day, the KL vs. Singapore debate isn’t just about numbers, it’s about priorities.
Some value financial growth and stability. Others care more about convenience, lifestyle, or being close to home.
So while the original post may have boiled things down to salaries and costs, the reality is far more nuanced.
What about you, would you take the bigger paycheck or the more affordable lifestyle?
