Cheapest way to travel to JB: Train, bus, car or taxi?
PUBLISHED ONJune 17, 2019 9:09 AMByVivian Yeong
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.
COST OF TRAVELLING TO JOHOR BAHRU BY TRAIN
For those who are in a hurry to get to JB and want to avoid the traffic jams on the Johor-Singapore Causeway, taking the train may be your preferred route. While travelling via the Causeway can take up to 6 hours during peak periods, going by train will take merely 5 minutes.
The trains are operated by Malaysia's KTM Berhad and runs daily on regular timings. You can opt to purchase train tickets on KTM's official website before your trip, or buy tickets on the spot at Woodlands Train Checkpoint.
It is slightly cheaper for you to buy your tickets at the KTM counter itself, but there is a risk that tickets have been all sold out by then.
| Train Ticket Sales Channel | Cut-Off Time | Price |
| KTM website | 4 hours before | RM16 (Around S$5.25) |
| KTM counter @ Woodlands Train Checkpoint | 15 min before | S$5 |
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: S$1.13 (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: S$1.13 (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: S$1.13 (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 opposite Kranji MRT to JB Checkpoint: S$1.13 (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 |
– S$3 – S$7 (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 |
– S$3 – S$7 (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 |
S$2 (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 |
S$2.40 (in Singapore) – RM2.40 (in JB) – Only cash is accepted |
MALAYSIA BUS OPERATORS
Alternatively, you could also opt to take a bus from a Malaysia bus operator. Do take note that you are only able to pay in cash for these buses.
| Bus | Route information | Fare |
| Causeway Link CW1 | NS7 Kranji MRT to Larkin Terminal via:: – Woodlands Checkpoint – Kotaraya II Terminal |
– S$1.50 (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 |
– S$3.30 (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) |
– S$4 (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 |
– S$4 (in Singapore) – Only cash is accepted |
| Causeway Link CW4 | Jurong East Interchange to Pontian Terminal via: – AYE – Tuas Checkpoint – Gelang Patah Terminal |
– S$4 (in Singapore) – Only cash is accepted |
| Causeway Link CW4S | Jurong East Interchange to Sutera Mall Terminal via: – AYE – Tuas Checkpoint – Gelang Patah Terminal |
– S$4 (in Singapore) – Only cash is accepted |
| Causeway Link CW5 | Newton Circus to Johor Bahru Customs Checkpoint via: – PIE/BKE – Woodlands Checkpoint |
– S$4 (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 |
– S$4 (in Singapore) – Only cash is accepted |
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.
| Woodlands Checkpoint (SGD) | Tuas Checkpoint (from 21 January 2019) (SGD) |
||
| All Day | Peak Hours: 5am – 10am 3pm – 11pm |
Off-Peak Hours: 11pm – 5am 10am – 3pm |
|
| – | $1.00 | $2.50 | $1.30 |
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 | S$2 per person (Share-a-cab) |
| Larkin Sentral, Larkin Taxi & Bus Terminal | S$48 |
| – Rate per taxi vehicle per trip. – Additional charges for each extra stop. |
|
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 |
| Ban San St. Taxi Kiosk | Larkin Sentral, Larkin Taxi & Bus Terminal | S$12 per person (Share-a-cab) |
| Ban San St. Taxi Kiosk | Larkin Sentral, Larkin Taxi & Bus Terminal | S$48 |
PRIVATE HIRE
Singapore-Malaysia cross-border private hires can pick up and drop off passengers from anywhere within Singapore and JB. Here, we list some popular private hire options and their fees:
| Company | Fees (excluding toll fees, unless otherwise stated) |
| SGMYTAXI | – Toyota Innova (6 pax): S$80 – Toyota Alphard (6 pax): S$130 |
| SG2JB | – Toyota Innova (6 pax): 90 – Toyota Alphard (6 pax): S$110 – Hyundai Starex (6 pax): S$30 |
| Klook | S$100 (5 pax, inclusive of toll fees, fuel fees, and insurance) – Extra S$20 for child seat – Extra S$5 for luxury car – Extra S$10 for 10 pax |
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. 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 | Private Hire | |||
| 1 pax | S$5 | S$1.13 | S$1.50 | S$1 | S$8 | S$48 | S$80 |
| 4 pax | S$5 | S$1.13 | S$1.50 | S$0.25 | S$12 | S$12 | S$20 |
Before factoring in the amount spent on fuel and parking, driving in to JB is still the cheapest option, and it's even cheaper if you are travelling with a group of people. If you don't have a car, your next best option would be to take a SMRT or SBS from Kranji MRT.
Taking a train may not be the cheapest way to travel to JB, but it definitely is the fastest way, especially if you are heading to JB during peak periods. Taking a taxi is the most expensive transport mode: however, it does become cheaper if you travel with more people, and can be more convenient if you are planning to travel beyond City Square and KOMTAR JBCC.
| Group Size | Train | Bus | Car | Taxi | |||
| SG Operator | MY Operator | SG Taxi | MY Taxi | Private Hire | |||
| 1 pax | S$5 | S$1.13 | S$1.50 | S$1 | S$48 | S$48 | S$80 |
| 4 pax | S$5 | S$1.13 | S$1.50 | S$0.25 | S$12 | S$12 | S$20 |
This article was first published in Dollars and Sense.
ALSO READ: Train to JB guide (2019) - How much KTM train tickets cost & how to get there