A Malaysian TikTok user, Chet (@che_tong), posted a video on 18 Oct ranting about the high prices of food in Johor Bahru (JB) nowadays.
He notes that prices in JB are even comparable to those in Malaysia’s capital city, Kuala Lumpur (KL).
Yet, for the high prices food vendors are charging in JB, portions are overly small, especially when compared to KL.
Source: TikTok
“You get at least five to seven pieces of char siew in KL… in JB you only can get three or four,” Chet says about the wonton noodles sold in the two cities.
Prices are even steeper in downtown areas of JB, such as the KSL City area or Bukit Mertajam, claims the content creator.
Chet mentions that some vendors can charge up to RM12 (~S$3.80) for the same small portions.
Chet, 38, told MS News that he frequently travels between JB and KL.
Based on his observations and experiences of dining in the two cities, he finds JB more expensive in general.
Chet also explains that most residents in JB feel that this situation is due to “the influx of Singaporeans spending money there”.
The sentiment is echoed by some netizens in the comments section of his video.
Source: TikTok
Translation: Correct, because of Singapore
Source: TikTok
Translation: Because JB is near Singapore
However, Chet refutes this belief, stating that the real cause of high food prices is due to the rising rental fees in JB.
As Chet says in the video, rental costs have “skyrocketed” in JB.
Instead of blaming the spending power of Singaporeans, he believes that unsustainable rental fees have driven vendors to charge these exorbitant prices.
He cites examples from businesses in popular areas such as Jalan Tan Hiok Nee and Taman Sentosa.
One of these businesses, a 63-year-old traditional coffeeshop, Kin Wah Kopitiam, is paying rental fees of RM18,000 (~S$5,634) at Jalan Tan Hiok Nee.
This will reportedly rise to RM28,000 (~S$8,764) when the lease expires in Feb 2027.
Source: Google Maps
Chet also explains that the average food store rental fees range from RM1,500 (S$470) to RM3,000 (S$939) in JB, whereas this would be RM1,200 (S$375) to RM2,000 (S$626) in KL.
He believes that landowners have exploited the construction of the Rapid Transit System (RTS) link between Singapore and Malaysia.
He said:
They have raised the rents early; there is actually no need to increase the rent now, and they should have only done it when the RTS is completed.
The RTS Link is expected to start operations in Jan 2027.
Analysts have reported a trend in which more businesses are starting to set up shop in older neighbourhoods beyond the JB city centre, with Taman Abad and Taman Sentosa being one of them.
A bakery owner in Taman Abad who spoke to The Straits Times (ST) in August revealed that she pays a monthly rent of RM10,000 (S$3,140) — cheaper than that in the city centre.
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Featured image adapted from @che_tong on TikTok.