Yet another Malaysian worker wonders if higher pay in Singapore is worth the commute

JOHOR BAHRU: A Malaysian healthcare worker with a high-paying job offer in Singapore is wondering whether the higher pay is worth the long commute across the Causeway.

She said she is married, doesn't have kids, and would have to continue living in Johor Bahru (JB) with her husband if she accepts the offer, as he does not have a work visa in Singapore.

On r/askSingapore, she said the Singapore job at a public healthcare polyclinic group pays S$4,400 a month, with performance-based bonuses of 3.6 months, annual increments, 21 days of annual leave and opportunities for further studies. However, the job would require her to commute two to three hours daily, depending on traffic, and work at different locations to conduct home visits.

Her other option is a job at a private hospital in Malaysia, which pays RM6,100 (S$1,907) a month and offers medical coverage for her and her family. The commute would take about an hour each way. The job, however, comes with no bonuses, limited opportunities for annual increments and no career development.

Torn between the two, she asked others with similar experience, “Is the commute between JB-SG worth it in the long run? Is it better to simply avoid the hassle of working in Singapore entirely? Should I not take the Singapore offer despite the benefits?”

Some commenters felt the Singapore offer was worth considering for its higher pay and career prospects, with one pointing out that her annual salary package could be about three times what she would earn in Malaysia.

The commenter added that with no kids, this could be the “best time” to hustle. However, if the commute became too taxing, renting in Singapore and returning to JB at weekends could be an option.

Another commenter, who knew Malaysian nurses who commute daily to Singapore, added that the journey is actually not as difficult as it might seem, especially with the upcoming Johor Bahru–Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link.

The RTS Link was previously slated to begin operations in January 2027. However, earlier this month, RTS Operations (RTSO) announced that passenger services would be pushed back by a month to February 2027, citing the time needed to complete the remaining works, obtain third-party safety certification and secure approvals from Singapore and Malaysia. System tests and trial runs are expected to be completed by the end of the year.

In April, however, a Malaysian man who tried to commute to Singapore for a concert likened the journey across the Causeway to an “Ironman competition”. He said he used to envy fellow Malaysians who work in the city-state for their high salaries and good lives, only to realise what they have to go through to get to work and return home: waking up at dawn to avoid peak hours and staying late in Singapore before catching a late bus home to avoid the crowds. /TISG

Read also: ‘JB prices almost the same as SG already’: Some say RTS Link may not pull shoppers away from SG stores