DELICIOUS local coffee, cheaper groceries and value-added services are some of the things that keep Singaporeans returning to Johor Baru.
However, a quick hop across the Causeway is not just about stretching their dollar – some of them told StarMetro that Johor Baru is a great place for precious “me-time”.
Singaporean Muhammad Rafig Irwan Sahh Sahhiran, 30, said crossing into Johor Baru allowed him to stretch his legs and get an immediate change in scenery.
“I enjoy taking day trips once a week to Johor Baru on my motorcycle to look for good food.
“Sometimes, I extend my ride to Desaru or Melaka for two to three days.
“Malaysia has vast open spaces compared to Singapore, so I enjoy riding here to explore the different landscapes,” said the audiovisual technician.
In Johor Baru, he has a routine – a motorbike wash at Taman Maju Jaya, followed by a meal at his favourite eatery.
The wash, which includes restoring black plastic surfaces, costs him RM27.
“In Singapore, a basic wash ranges from S$25 (RM76.90) to S$30 (RM92.20), with plastic restoration charged separately. The savings are quite significant.”
Muhammad Rafig said he tended to avoid packed malls, preferring neighbourhood eateries.
“One of my favourite eateries serves Malay and Western fusion dishes such as spaghetti masak lemak cili api, which was a recommendation from my Malaysian friend.
“I have introduced the place to my friends and family, and they all love it too.”
For finance executive Christina Zhang, 50, Johor Baru is synonymous with affordable self-pampering.
She and her husband usually take a weekday off to drive across the Causeway once or twice a month, starting the day with dim sum before heading to a popular mall in the city.
“I recently coloured my hair and had treatment while my husband enjoyed a massage session at the mall.
“We usually spend about RM500 to RM600 on meals and services per trip, which is bang for our buck.
“I prefer getting my hair done in Johor Baru because of the value for money and comfortable environment,” said Zhang, adding that they typically have a meal before heading back to Singapore ahead of the evening jam.
A Singaporean retiree, who wanted to be known only as Wong, 70, said he would often make the journey across the Causeway with his friends.
“I am on my third trip here in a month.
“The cheap and delicious Hainanese coffee and toast served in Johor Baru kopitiam outlets are enough to keep me coming back.
“There is a difference in the taste and atmosphere compared to Singapore.
“The coffee and food are tastier in Johor Baru and of course, cheaper,” he said, adding that he would usually take the public bus across the Causeway.
On his last visit, Wong said he bought an electronic gadget at a fraction of the price it would have cost him in Singapore.
He also made a stop at a hypermarket where he and his friends stocked up on local coffee powder.
Singaporean public sector officer N. Nila, 36, also crosses the border once or twice a month.
“My husband and I enjoy food hunting, especially for Indian and vegetarian fare.
“There is so much to explore, as many of such restaurants have opened in Johor Baru in recent years,” she said.
The couple, who usually drive to Johor Baru, would also slot in a massage session or some shopping for clothes before heading home.
Nila added that they would sometimes check in at a hotel in the city for a quick and affordable weekend holiday.
Business operators say the Singaporean presence is unmistakable.
Bridget Shen, who works at a Thai massage outlet at a shopping mall in the city, estimated that between 85% and 90% of its customers were Singaporeans.
To meet demand, the company operates six outlets within the same shopping centre, she said.
“Weekends are mostly fully booked. Couples and groups of friends or families form the bulk of the visitors.
“The most popular options are 90-minute and 120-minute massage packages, costing between RM100 and RM200 per session.
“From what I have heard, a typical RM100 session in Johor Baru costs about S$100 (RM307.60) in Singapore,” Shen said.
Nail technician Lew Bao Hui estimated that about 90% of her customers were Singaporeans or Malaysians who work in Singapore.
She said her outlet was located in Taman Pelangi, an area frequented by Singaporeans for its array of food and beverage outlets, carwash service and petrol stations.
“My customers tell me it is much cheaper to get their nails done in Johor Baru, compared to Singapore.
“They usually spend RM180 to RM320 per person on manicures, depending on the complexity of the design.
“My customers said they preferred it here because they were not pressured into signing up for packages. Here, they can just make an appointment for a one-off experience without commitments,” said Lew.
Lindy Lim, senior advertising and promotion executive at a mall in Taman Abad, said the majority of the mall’s visitors were Singaporeans who combined errands in one trip.
She said the mall, which incorporates a hotel, positioned itself as a one-stop centre with a range of facilities including grocery store, grooming and massage services, electronics shops, snack vendors and eateries.
“It is common to see Singaporean customers shopping for groceries and other items on weekdays, and they usually have luggage bags to store their shopping.
“This trend is on the rise as we have seen an increase in mall visitors compared to the pre-Covid-19 days.”
“The peak period is from Friday to Monday,” said Lim.
“Visitors like to do their shopping before visiting the Monday night market for delicious local fare,” she added.
