Renting A House for S$3,000 A Month: We Compare JB With Singapore
This piece is part of MS Explains, a segment where we provide clarity to common or key topics, making them easier to digest.
For some Singaporeans, a trip across the border to Johor Bahru (JB) is almost as casual as heading out to Orchard or going to Jewel.
Some love JB so much that they get a holiday home there or even plan to settle down in JB after they retire.
But what is it really like staying there as opposed to just popping over for a day trip?
Here’s what you can get when you rent a home in JB for S$3,000.
JB homes going for S$3,000/month
With the current exchange rate, S$3,000 is equivalent to RM10,483.53.
A quick search on PropertyGuru shows that this amount can secure a four-story terraced house in JB, fully furnished.
One of the listed properties is a four bed, five bath home in Emerald Bay at Puteri Harbour.
Waterfront home in Emerald Bay, Puteri Harbour — RM10,000/month. Source: PropertyGuru
Images of the listing show a spacious open-plan living and dining area. There also appears to be both a dry and wet kitchen, which doubles up as a laundry room.
Those looking to rent the home can hope to save some money on furnishing as well, considering the large sofa, television and dining set in the staged images.
Furthermore, each of the bedrooms appear to be outfitted with air-conditioning units to beat the tropical heat.
They’re also spacious enough to fit queen-sized beds.
Source: PropertyGuru
According to GDP Architects, Emerald Bay is an exclusive 77 units residential development within the affluent Puteri Harbour Marina.
The development consists of semi-detached houses, villas and courtyard homes. Built on an existing fishing village, it was completed in 2017 and offers stunning views of Puteri Harbour and the Straits of Johor.
Source: GDP Architects
Living in these waterfront homes, residents will have private waterway access with 24-hour security.
The residential area is also about a 10-minute drive from the Puteri Harbour promenade, where there are restaurants and retailers.
Additionally, it is a 24-minute car ride to both the Tuas and Woodlands checkpoints.
Other listings within this price range include residential properties at Senibong Cove.
The development markets itself as a luxury lifestyle community that’s perched at the waterfront with views of the countryside and even Singapore.
Source: DC Architects
Those who worry about safety can be put at ease as all visitors are reportedly registered upon entry to the resort-style estate. Access into the home is only through a swipe card, and each swipe card is registered to ensure there’s no duplication.
Additionally, a central guardhouse monitors CCTV cameras 24 hours a day on top of infrared beams surrounding the estate and security patrols on land and sea.
Each home has a “panic button” installed for emergencies.
One listing features the Isola Grandeur Bungalow — a fully-furnished 4,971 sq ft home in Senibong Cove. Its multiple bedrooms and bathrooms are spread across three stories.
Bungalow at Permas Jaya — RM10,000/month. Source: PropertyGuru
Based on the images in the listing, the dry kitchen appears to be full equipped with a large fridge and an oven.
Meanwhile, one of the bathrooms even boasts a bathtub and two sinks.
Another three-storey villa of the same built-up size located within the Isola precinct is also going for RM10,000 a month.
The five bedroom seven bathroom bungalow is moderately furnished and also appears to have air-conditioning units.
Isola Grandeur bungalow at Senibong Cove — RM10,000/month. Source: PropertyGuru
Compared to the Puteri Harbour residential developments that are equidistant from Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints, Senibong Cove is closer to the former.
A quick check on Google Maps shows that it is only a 15-minute drive to the Woodlands checkpoint and its surrounding amenities.
These include shopping centres such as JB City Square.
Singapore homes going for S$3,000/month
While one can afford to live in relative luxury in JB by paying S$3,000 a month, in Singapore, the same sum will only get us a studio apartment a fraction of the size.
HDB Studio — S$3,000/month. Source: PropertyGuru
The renovated 400 sq ft unit located in Jalan Kukoh, which is around one-tenth the size of the ones we saw in JB, is partially furnished with one bedroom and one bathroom. It is also fitted with air-conditioning.
Unlike most family homes with built-in stovetops in their kitchens though, this home is only equipped with a simple kitchenette.
It has a sink for doing the dishes, as well as some cabinets for storage.
However, home cooks will have to rely on a portable stove or a toaster oven to heat up their meals.
Small size aside, the unit is a convenient nine-minute walk away from Chinatown MRT station.
A slightly larger option on the market is a 721 sq ft two-bedroom, two-bathroom flat in Bedok North Avenue 4.
Two bed, two bath in Bedok — S$3,000/month
The apartment comes fully furnished and with amenities such as air-conditioning, a fridge, and also a washing machine.
Although it is “a better value” compared to the listing above, the unit is a little further from the nearest public transport hubs.
It takes 20 minutes to travel to Bedok Interchange by bus, and 17 minutes to walk to Bedok Reservoir MRT station.
A plus size though, is that there is a market and a 24-hour NTUC Fairprice nearby.
In Singapore, while S$3,000 a month can get you a 721 sq ft HDB home, the same amount will fetch you a private bungalow in JB that’s about seven times the size.
A luxury waterfront home in Singapore at S$35,000/month
If you’re searching for something more luxe, waterfront bungalows in in Sentosa Cove that are similar to the ones we found in JB cost upwards of S$35,000 a month to rent, and some come unfurnished.
Six bed, seven bath in Sentosa Cove — S$35,000/month
One home within this price range belongs to a cluster of 18 luxury villas on Sandy Island, Sentosa Cove.
The 7,534 sq ft detached house has six bedrooms with seven bathrooms and a 99-year leasehold. It’s in ready-to-move condition, with furnishing and a circular bath tub.
Completed in 2012, each home in the development is the work of Italian contemporary architect, Claudio Silvestrin.
Source: Claudio Silvestrin
Each villa reportedly has its own swimming pool and a double-height living area. There are four storeys in total, including a low floor featuring a dedicated car lift.
Source: Claudio Silvestrin
The properties on Sandy Island are a mere three-minute drive to Quayside Isle, which is Sentosa Cove’s waterfront lifestyle hub with restaurants and retailers.
Meanwhile, those who prefer to get their steps in can expect a 17-minute stroll.
Although much more expensive, the luxury houses at Sentosa Cove are relatively closer to nearby amenities compared to their JB counterparts.
A nine-minute drive will take you to VivoCity and also HarbourFront MRT station where you can access the rest of Singapore’s rail system easily.
Housing rental cost in Singapore and JB
In Singapore, owning a house not only requires a large sum of money but also patience to wait for your BTO unit.
Some may then turn to renting a place before making the financial commitment to own a home.
That said, renting in Singapore does not come cheap.
According to data from the Housing Development Board (HDB), the median rent for a 3-room flat ranged from S$2,300 to S$3,080 in the third quarter of 2023.
Source: Housing & Development Board
Units in Choa Chu Kang fetched the lowest prices, while those in Central Singapore had higher rent.
The prices only get higher from here — with 5-room flats going for around at least S$3,230. Condominiums and landed properties undoubtedly cost even more.
Singaporeans can enjoy a higher standard of living in JB
While the cost of living in JB seems much better than in Singapore, this mainly applies to those earning a salary in the Singapore dollar.
There are other factors that might put some people off moving to JB though, such as the inconvenience of getting to work every day.
If the hour-long commute to work in Singapore already sounds bad, crossing the Causeway every morning might just be worse.
Leaving friends and family behind may also be a point of consideration for many who grew up here.
Looking at the cost of homes alone though, retiring in JB may seem like an attractive option for those wanting to stretch the dollar after hustling in Singapore.
Also read: M’sian Works In S’pore For 8 Years & Loves It Here, Sees Reward In The Hustle
Commentary: I’ve Worked In S’pore For 8 Years & Love It Here; I Can’t Imagine Moving Back to M’sia
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Featured image adapted from GDP Architects and Galen Crout on Unsplash for illustration purposes only.
