Singaporean family moves to JB for 3x more space while saving 80% on rent

Their rent in Singapore had been S$4,500 for a 2,000 sq ft condo. When their landlord raised it to nearly double — a whopping S$8,000 a month, that was their “enough” moment, the moment they told themselves “What if we just move?”

Today, they live in a three-story, 6,000 sq ft semi-detached house in Johor Bahru, with a garden, paying just around RM5,000 (S$1,600) a month. That’s three times more space while saving roughly 80% on rent.

“The numbers still make me do a double-take,” Ms Hon wrote in her business website.

Part of what made the move possible was her work, as she runs most of her business online, giving her the flexibility to live where it makes the most sense financially without much disruption in her career.

Last year, The Independent Singapore reported on Singaporeans who had the privilege of working from home and took advantage of earning in SGD while spending in Malaysian ringgit, saving up to 50% on their cost of living.

A Singaporean commended Ms Hon for the “smart move” saying “If only I work from home, I would love to do that. We go over to JB often every month. It is safe despite what some say.”

Meanwhile another expected that with the Johor Bahru–Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link set to begin passenger service by the end of the year, more people will move there. “JB has changed so much in the past decade that it is attracting a lot of young people to spend their weekends there,” he said. /TISG

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