Crossing the border from Singapore into Johor Bahru is like
stepping into a time machine, and going back to an era when people
could actually afford to have a few beers after work without
worrying about having wasted all the money they’d spent the whole
day earning.
You’ve probably already tried to sneak in pirated DVDs from JB. But
that’s not the only thing our neighbours up north have got to
offer. Here are seven things you can do or buy in JB for cheap.
The Brew Orchestra (Source)
Singaporeans aren’t the only ones who enjoy hopping from hipster
cafe to hipster cafe. JB has been hit by the hipster cafe invasion,
too, with the main difference being that prices, while still
inflated by Malaysian standards, are significantly lower than in
Singapore. Notable cafes with amazing decor include The Brew Orchestra, Faculty of Caffeine and The Replacement – Lodge and Kitchen. You can
get a decent main course for about 18 MYR (6 SGD) to 25 MYR (8
SGD).
If you’re not a QB HairHouse kinda guy/girl, you may be a bit wary
of heading to Malaysia for your haircuts. But the beauty of getting
your mullet reshaped in JB is that you can well afford to visit a
higher end salon.
And even if you don’t want to get your hair styled in JB because
you haven’t found a stylist you can trust, you can still do hair
treatments there at a fraction of the price. Compare the prices at
chains like Reds and Jantzen with their Singapore counterparts and
you’ll find they’re easily 30% to 50% lower.
One reason Singaporeans are so much more stressed out than their
Malaysian counterparts could be because a massage is so damn
expensive here that we never get to relax! In Malaysia, on the
other hand, you can get a very good 60 minute massage for less than
20 SGD.
There’s a huge variety of spas to choose from, and almost every
shopping mall will have a place you can get a good rub down.
Many medications cost a bomb in Singapore. Hop over the Causeway
and hit up a clinic or pharmacy there instead—if you don’t want to
take a cab, you can just walk across to City Square Mall. You can
buy many drugs over the counter in Malaysia, one example being the
contraceptive pill, whereas you would need to waste time and money
procuring a doctor’s prescription in Singapore.
Like nothing better than to belt out the latest Jay Chou tunes in a
roomful of people who have no choice but to sit and listen since
they’ve paid for the privilege? Do it in JB instead, where it’s
cheaper. That way, you won’t feel bitter about wasting too much
money if your tone-deaf friend hogs the mike all day.
Neway Karaoke Box, a karaoke chain with an
outlet at City Square Mall just across the Causeway, charges about
33 MYR (11 SGD) for their dinner buffet package, which includes a
whole culinary spread.
Singapore is the most myopic country in the
world, and if you meet someone who’s not wearing glasses
he’s almost definitely wearing contacts or has gone for LASIK.
That’s why it’s such a relief to hear that disposable contact
lenses, contact lens solution and spectacles are all cheaper in
Malaysia. At least being broke doesn’t have to mean going blind
now.
So your parents have insisted you throw a lavish wedding banquet
and you’re already worried that it’s going to be 10 years before
you’ll be able to afford to buy your marital home. If you’re set on
booking a bridal package in Singapore that includes photography,
makeup and outfits, you can save quite a bit by patronising a
bridal studio in JB instead.
Some JB-based bridal studios even hold roadshows in Singapore, but
you can save even more by compiling a list of studios and then
calling to inquire about their charges before you head to
Malaysia.
moneysmart