Singaporeans love travelling to Johor Bahru for a short getaway or grocery shopping, thanks to the favourable exchange rates. There are multiple ways of travelling to JB from Singapore, but which is the cheapest way to get there? We compare 4 common modes of transport: train, bus, car, and taxi.
Read Also: Guide To Johor Premium Outlets: Brands To Shop, And How Much Can You Save
Cost Of Travelling To Johor Bahru By Train
For those who want a quick and reliable way to travel to JB, taking the train may be your best option.
Compared to the other methods, the journey time to cross the Singapore-Johor Causeway via train only takes 5 minutes. That said, you’ll need to arrive at the checkpoints at least 20 minutes before departure to clear customs. Even with adding these to your total travelling time, train travels are one of the fastest and most cost-effective ways to cross the border.
These Shuttle Tebrau trains are operated by Malaysia’s KTM Berhad and runs daily on regular timings. You can purchase the train tickets on KTM’s official website before your trip for SGD5 (or RM16.50) for a one-way ticket or $10 (RM 33) for a round-trip.
| Destination | Booking Cut-Off Time | Price | Traveling Time |
| Woodlands CIQ – JB Sentral | 20 mins before departure | RM16.50 (or S$5) | 5 mins (gates for boarding opens 40 mins before departure and closes 20 mins before departure time) |
| JB Sentral – Woodlands CIQ | 20 mins before departure | RM16.50 (or S$5) (if booked as a return trip) or RM5 (or S$1.51) (if booking originated from JB) |
5 mins (gates for boarding opens 30 mins before departure and closes 10 mins before departure time) |
Read Also: Guide To Travelling From Singapore To JB Sentral Via The KTM Shuttle Tebrau
Cost Of Travelling To Johor Bahru By Bus
Singapore Bus Operators
Beyond your usual SBS and SMRT buses that charge by distance travelled, you can also opt to travel on buses that charge a flat fare. The table below lists the locations that each bus picks up from, and the fees they charge:
| Bus | Route information | Fare |
| SBS 160 | Jurong East Interchange to Kotaraya II Terminal via: – Bukit Batok Road – Choa Chu Kang Road (BP5 Phoenix LRT) – Woodlands Road (BP14 Ten Mile Junction LRT & NS7 Kranji MRT) – Woodlands Checkpoint |
– Normal distance-based trunk fares. – From opp Kranji MRT to JB Checkpoint: SGD 1.50 (adult) |
| SBS 170 | Queen Street Terminal to Larkin Terminal via: – Bukit Timah Road/Dunearn Road (NE7 Little India MRT & NS21 Newton MRT) – Upper Bukit Timah Road – Woodlands Road (BP14 Ten Mile Junction LRT & NS7 Kranji MRT) – Woodlands Checkpoint |
– Normal distance-based trunk fares. – From opposite Kranji MRT to JB Checkpoint: SGD 1.50 (Adult) |
| SBS 170 | NS7 Kranji MRT to Kotaraya II Terminal via: – Woodlands Checkpoint |
– Normal distance-based trunk fares. – From opposite Kranji MRT to JB Checkpoint: SGD 1.50 (adult) |
| SMRT 950 | Woodlands Regional Interchange to Kotaraya II Terminal via: – Woodlands Avenue 3 (NS8 Marsiling MRT) – Woodlands Centre Road – Woodlands Checkpoint |
– Normal distance-based trunk fares. – From Woodlands MRT to JB Checkpoint: SGD 1.50 (adult) |
| Transtar Express TS1 | Changi Airport to Kotaraya II Terminal limited-stop via: – TPE – Sengkang/Punggol (SE1 Compassvale LRT) – Jalan Kayu – Sembawang Road – Woodlands Avenue 5 (NS9 Woodlands MRT) – Woodlands Avenue 3 (NS8 Marsiling MRT) – Woodlands Checkpoint |
– SGD 3 – SGD 11 (in Singapore) – Only cash is accepted |
| Transtar Express TS8 | Resorts World Sentosa to Kotaraya II Terminal limited-stops via: – Outram Road (EW16/NE3 Outram Park MRT) – Zion Road/Kim Seng Road – Scotts Road/Paterson Road (NS22 Orchard MRT) – Whitley Road – PIE – BKE – Woodlands Checkpoint |
– SGD 3 – SGD 8 (in Singapore) – Only cash is accepted |
| Advance Coach AC7 | Yishun Interchange to Kotaraya II Terminal via: – Yishun Avenue 7 – Sembawang Road – Sembawang Way (NS11 Sembawang MRT) – Woodlands Avenue 9 – Woodlands Checkpoint |
SGD 4.80 (for cash payment in Singapore and all ez-link card payments) |
| Singapore-Johore Express | Queen Street Terminal to Larkin Terminal non-stop via: – PIE, BKE & Woodlands Checkpoint |
SGD 4.80 (in Singapore – Queen Street) – RM4.80 (in JB – Larkin) – Passengers boarding at Larkin Terminal must pay RM1 facilities charge separate from bus fare. |
Sources: Taxi Singapore, LTA Fare Calculator
Malaysia Bus Operators
Alternatively, you could also opt to take a bus from a Malaysian bus operator. Do take note that if you’re using cash, pay the exact fare. Alternatively, you can also use a credit card (Visa) or ManjaLink.
| Bus | Route information | Fare |
| Causeway Link CW1 | NS7 Kranji MRT to Larkin Terminal via:: – Woodlands Checkpoint – Kotaraya II Terminal |
– SGD 2.60 (max) towards JB/Larkin – Only cash is accepted |
| Causeway Link CW2 | Queen Street Terminal to Larkin Terminal non-stop via: – Bukit Timah Road, PIE, BKE & Woodlands Checkpoint |
– SGD 4.80 (max) towards JB/Larkin – Only cash is accepted |
| Causeway Link CW3 | Jurong East Interchange to Perling Mall Terminal via: – AYE – Tuas Checkpoint – Taman Bukit Indah (Jusco, Tesco & Giant) |
– SGD 5 (max) towards destinations in JB – Only cash is accepted |
| Causeway Link CW3S | Jurong East Interchange to Sutera Mall Terminal via: – AYE – Tuas Checkpoint – Taman Bukit Indah |
– SGD 6 (in Singapore) – Only cash is accepted |
| Causeway Link CW4 | Jurong East Interchange to Pontian Terminal via: – AYE – Tuas Checkpoint – Gelang Patah Terminal |
– SGD 5 (in Singapore) – Only cash is accepted |
| Causeway Link CW4S | Jurong East Interchange to Sutera Mall Terminal via: – AYE – Tuas Checkpoint – Gelang Patah Terminal |
– SGD 6 (in Singapore) – Only cash is accepted |
| Causeway Link CW5 | Newton Circus to Johor Bahru Customs Checkpoint via: – PIE/BKE – Woodlands Checkpoint |
– SGD 4.60 (in Singapore) – Only cash is accepted |
| Causeway Link CW6 | EW27 Boon Lay MRT (bus stop along Boon Lay Way) to Bukit Indah via: – AYE – Tuas Checkpoint |
– SGD 5 (in Singapore) – Only cash is accepted |
Sources: Taxi Singapore, Land Transport Guru
Due to the dedicated bus lanes at the Singapore-Johor Causeway, travelling time during off-peak hours tends to be under 10 – 15 minutes. However, during peak hours, there might be a longer waiting time to hop on one of these buses, as well as some probability that traffic might be slowed down to allow for the passing of passenger or commercial vehicles.
Cost Of Travelling To Johor Bahru By Car
Planning to drive in by car instead? You will have to pay the relevant toll charges at both the Singapore & Malaysia Checkpoints. The toll charge at Tuas Checkpoint is higher than that at Woodlands, and differs based on the time that you are travelling in.
You also need to take into account that on top of toll charges, you have to pay for fuel and parking in JB.
Here’s how much you’ll need to pay in toll charges to drive into Malaysia from Singapore.
| Singapore Woodlands Check Point (Departure) | S$0.80 |
| Singapore Tuas Check Point (Departure) | S$2.10 |
| Malaysia Check Point (Arrival) | RM20 (~S$6.10) |
| Malaysia PLUS Toll Charge | RM2.90 (~S$0.88) |
| Malaysia Check Point (Departure) | – |
| Singapore Woodlands Check Point (Arrival) | – |
| Singapore Tuas Check Point (Arrival) | S$2.10 |
| Total | S$7.78 – S$11.98 |
While travelling by car offers the most convenience, it may also be one of the slowest ways to cross the Causeway, especially during peak hours or holiday seasons. Do tend to have a wider buffer to cater for the jam in your travelling time.
VEP; Touch ‘n Go; Traffic Regulations: Guide To Driving Into Malaysia
Cost Of Travelling To Johor Bahru By Taxi
For those who are travelling with young children or elderly and don’t want to have to get off the car at customs, but do not have a car, you can opt to travel by taxi.
Singapore Taxi
Singapore cross-border taxis can pick-up or drop off passengers from anywhere in Singapore, but only pick-up or drop off passengers from Larkin Sentral, Larkin Taxi & Bus Terminal with effect from 1 Nov 2014 (previously Kotaraya Taxi Terminal) in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.
| To (via Woodlands Checkpoint) | Rate |
| Larkin Sentral, Larkin Taxi & Bus Terminal | SGD 15 per person (Share-a-cab) |
| Larkin Sentral, Larkin Taxi & Bus Terminal | SGD 60 |
| – Rate per taxi vehicle per trip. – Additional charges for each extra stop. |
|
Source: Taxi Singapore
Malaysia Taxi
On the other hand, Malaysia cross-border taxi (yellow) can drop off passengers from anywhere in Malaysia, but only pick-up or drop off passengers from Ban San St. Taxi Kiosk in Singapore. Prices are the same as that of Singapore cross-border taxis.
| From Singapore | To (via Woodlands Checkpoint) | Rate |
| Larkin Terminal | Ban San Street Terminal | RM 120 |
| Larkin Terminal | Anywhere in Singapore | SGD 60 (no booking) / $70 (advance booking) |
Source: Taxi Singapore
Is It Cheaper to Travel To JB Alone Or In A Group?
Here is an overview of the cheapest prices you can pay for each mode of transport based on a return-trip. If you are considering whether you should make that solo trip to JB or jio your family and friends for a cheaper ride, we calculate how much you would pay per pax for each mode of transport.
We make a few assumptions here:
- You opt for the cheapest available options that you can get for each transport mode.
- Each pax pays adult fare.
- For distance-based fare, Kranji MRT is the starting point of your journey.
| Group Size | Train | Bus | Car | Taxi | ||
| SG Operator | MY Operator | SG Taxi | MY Taxi | |||
| 1 Pax | S$10 | S$3 | S$3.42 | S$9.90 | S$15 | S$60 |
| 4 Pax | S$40 | S$12 | $13.68 | S$9.90 | S$60 | S$60 |
Public buses (both Singapore and Malaysian) are the most affordable way to travel the Causeway from Singapore to JB and back. Before factoring in the amount spent on fuel and parking, the second-best option is to drive in. It’s also more cost-effective to do so if you’re travelling in a group.
While the train isn’t the cheapest mode of transport, especially if you start your return trip from Singapore, it’s one of the fastest (and most predictable) modes of transport, especially during peak periods. Alternatively, taxis offer the greatest convenience for direct travel, though they are also the most expensive option.
Read Also: How Much Does It Cost For Singapore Cars To Enter Malaysia? And Is It Worth Your Time (And Money)?
The post Which Is The Cheapest Way To Travel To Johor Bahru (JB): Train, Bus, Car or Taxi? appeared first on DollarsAndSense.sg.
