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A bigger home, kampung-style living and the ability to travel back to Singapore within an hour \u2014 for some Singaporean families, Johor ticks all the boxes.<\/p>\n
One of them is Kamar Faizal Baharam, 42, who continues to live in Johor with his family even after returning to work in Singapore.<\/p>\n
The family moved at the end of 2019 after several years in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt that time, we thought Johor was close to Singapore, so it would be easier to visit our parents,\u201d said the civil servant to Berita Harian. \u201cBut two months after we moved, Covid-19 happened and the border was closed.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery day I would go to the office at City Square and see Singapore right before my eyes, but I couldn\u2019t go home. The causeway, which is usually busy, was suddenly empty,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Despite the disruption, the family adapted \u2014 and eventually chose to stay.<\/p>\n
For Mr Kamar, the decision was largely shaped by his children\u2019s education, while their four years living in Jakarta helped them adapt.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur children previously followed the British curriculum in Jakarta, so when we moved to Johor, we chose a school that used the same curriculum so that the adjustment would be easier.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThankfully, the children were able to adapt well and they have also managed to get scholarships in school.\u201d<\/p>\n
International school fees can range from $40,000 to $50,000 a year per child \u2014 something he says many people overlook.<\/p>\n
\u201cMany people think living in Johor is cheaper, but they need to understand that if they choose an international school, the costs are also high,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Still, Mr Kamar said they see it as a long-term investment.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s important is the kind of life we \u200b\u200bwant for our family.\u201d<\/p>\n
His wife, Nurlelah Mohamed Asfee, said Johor offers a very different environment and experience for their children.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are free to move around and it\u2019s really like a kampung,\u201d said the homemaker.<\/p>\n
She also said the close-knit community in Johor gives them peace of mind.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe neighbours also all know each other. If my children go to their friend\u2019s house next door, we know they are safe,\u201d she said. \u201cSometimes during lunch time, we\u2019ll just ask in the neighbourhood WhatsApp group whose house our children are at. There are neighbours who will help send them home.\u201d<\/p>\n
She added: \u201cThe atmosphere is different. It makes us feel more at ease.\u201d<\/p>\n
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The couple said they still split their time between Johor and Singapore during major occasions, reflecting how living across the Causeway requires some planning.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn the first day of Raya, sometimes we have to work because there are official open houses and events involving dignitaries,\u201d said Mr Kamar. \u201cSo our parents will come to Johor first. We usually return to Singapore on the second or third day to meet other family members.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said one key advantage of living in Johor is the ability to travel back easily without the need for flights or long leave.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you live in a different country, it might be more difficult. But from Johor, going back to Singapore takes just one hour,\u201d he told Berita Harian.<\/p>\n
At the same time, he noted that some expenses are easier to manage across the border, particularly when it comes to food.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen it comes to lemang, rendang and other Raya dishes, we buy them in Johor,\u201d he said. \u201cWe have regular contacts we order from every year. In fact, our family in Singapore usually comes to Johor or Kuala Lumpur to shop for Hari Raya.\u201d<\/p>\n
He also prefers the Ramadan bazaars in Johor, which he said offer food that better suit his family\u2019s tastes.<\/p>\n
He finds a lot of the bazaar food in Singapore to be too modern or expensive, while traditional food such as grilled \u2018percik\u2019 chicken and other kampung dishes are easily available in Johor.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn Singapore, sometimes even French fries can be sold for up to $18. In Johor, food prices are much more affordable,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
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Others who have made the move say the appeal of living in Johor goes beyond cost \u2014 but it also comes with adjustments.<\/p>\n
Muhammad Haikal Yeo, 37, and his wife, Nur Syafiqah Abdul Rahman, 36, who have lived in Johor for over two years, said the experience is shaped largely by the surrounding community and lifestyle.<\/p>\n
Life in Johor also allows them to enjoy things they cannot do in Singapore, such as playing with firecrackers.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we first moved, we were excited because here we could set off firecrackers and experience a more lively Raya eve atmosphere,\u201d said Mr Haikal, who works in the private sector. \u201cWe would watch it with the neighbours as it\u2019s just part of the Raya experience in Johor.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Haikal and his wife said living across the border does require some budgeting as they celebrate Hari Raya both in Johor and Singapore.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe try to balance it out. Sometimes one year we focus more on Singapore, another year we spend more time in Johor,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
They also plan their journeys in advance to avoid congestion, using apps to check traffic conditions at the Causeway and Second Link.<\/p>\n
Property consultant Mohamed Shamir Abdul Wahid, 42, who has been living in Johor since 2024, said one of the biggest differences is the \u201cbalik kampung\u201d atmosphere.<\/p>\n
He says the most noticeable difference between Hari Raya in Johor and Singapore is the \u2018balik kampung\u2019 atmosphere.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn Singapore, the concept of returning to one\u2019s hometown is almost non-existent,\u201d he said. \u201cIn Johor, we can see residential areas becoming quieter because many people have returned to their kampung.\u201d<\/p>\n
Space is also a consideration. \u201cIn Singapore, space is more limited and everything is more controlled,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
At the same time, he noted that living in Johor requires planning, particularly when travelling back to Singapore.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we want to visit family in Singapore, we have to be good at planning our trip,\u201d he shared.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy wife\u2019s family is in the east and my own family is in Woodlands, so we have to divide our time. But for me, it\u2019s not really a problem because Johor is still close.\u201d<\/p>\n
With the upcoming Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS Link), he believes more Singaporeans may consider Johor as a long-term option.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs long as the value of the Singapore dollar remains strong, many will see Johor as a good choice,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
However, \u201cthey also need to understand that living in Johor is not just about everything being cheap\u201d, he pointed out, adding that there are other important considerations.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have to think about schooling, healthcare, the commute and other practical issues.\u201d<\/p>\n
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