Cost of living comparison

China

compared to

Malaysia

Johor Bahru vs. Ningbo Cost of Living Summary

Johor Bahru is 20.4% more expensive than Ningbo.

Restaurants: pay 37.5% more in Johor Bahru
Groceries: pay 19.6% more in Johor Bahru
Transportation: pay 21.2% more in Johor Bahru
Housing: pay 91.8% more in Johor Bahru
Childcare: pay 66.8% less in Johor Bahru
Entertainment and Sports: pay 55.3% more in Johor Bahru
Clothing: pay 16.0% less in Johor Bahru

The cost of housing, entertainment and sports, restaurants, transportation, and groceries in Johor Bahru are more expensive than in Ningbo. Expenses including childcare and clothing are lower in Johor Bahru. Notably, housing is significantly more expensive in Johor Bahru.

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Johor Bahru vs. Ningbo Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Johor Bahru instead of Ningbo, you would:

Display currency: USD

pay 37.5% more for restaurants

	Ningbo	Johor Bahru
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant	$3.50 CN¥23.75	$3.55 MYR14.56	+1.4%
Fast food combo meal McDonalds, or similar	$4.21 CN¥28.50	$4.74 MYR19.41	+12.7%
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz)	$0.43 CN¥2.92	$0.78 MYR3.21	+82.2%
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz)	$0.31 CN¥2.08	$0.47 MYR1.93	+53.6%
Average			+37.5%

Ningbo vs. Johor Bahru - Cost of restaurants

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pay 19.6% more for groceries

	Ningbo	Johor Bahru
Bread 1 loaf	$2.46 CN¥16.69	$0.98 MYR4.01	-60.2%
Local cheese (8 oz)	$8.76 CN¥59.37	$5.33 MYR21.84	-39.2%
Milk (1 gallon)	$7.56 CN¥51.24	$7.01 MYR28.72	-7.3%
Eggs 1 dozen	$1.90 CN¥12.85	$1.86 MYR7.63	-1.8%
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb)	$1.74 CN¥11.81	$2.20 MYR9.01	+26.3%
Apples (1 lb)	$0.70 CN¥4.74	$1.24 MYR5.06	+76.7%
Bananas (1 lb)	$0.64 CN¥4.31	$0.68 MYR2.78	+6.6%
Oranges (1 lb)	$0.71 CN¥4.83	$1.15 MYR4.70	+61.0%
Tomatoes (1 lb)	$0.49 CN¥3.34	$0.56 MYR2.31	+14.2%
Potatoes (1 lb)	$0.31 CN¥2.07	$0.53 MYR2.17	+73.8%
Onions (1 lb)	$0.37 CN¥2.53	$0.62 MYR2.54	+66.0%
Average			+19.6%

Ningbo vs. Johor Bahru - Cost of groceries

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pay 21.2% more for transportation

	Ningbo	Johor Bahru
Gasoline (1 gallon)	$4.43 CN¥30.04	$1.84 MYR7.55	-58.4%
Monthly public transit pass	??	$11.85 MYR48.53
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition)	$21,029.61 CN¥142K	$35,545.02 MYR146K	+69.0%
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles)	$4.37 CN¥29.64	$6.69 MYR27.42	+53.0%
Average			+21.2%

Ningbo vs. Johor Bahru - Cost of transportation

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pay 91.8% more for housing

	Ningbo	Johor Bahru
Internet connection 50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl	$7.01 CN¥47.49	$30.15 MYR123.51	+330.2%
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area	$382.04 CN¥2,588.38	$494.94 MYR2,027.24	+29.6%
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center	$259.37 CN¥1,757.25	$375.20 MYR1,536.77	+44.7%
Utilities for two (700 sq ft apartment) including electric, gas, water, heating	$50.27 CN¥340.59	$31.51 MYR129.08	-37.3%
Average			+91.8%

Ningbo vs. Johor Bahru - Cost of housing

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pay 66.8% less for childcare

	Ningbo	Johor Bahru
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly	$599.73 CN¥4,063.31	$153.04 MYR626.84	-74.5%
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters	$15,304.88 CN¥104K	$6,279.62 MYR25,720.70	-59.0%
Average			-66.8%

Ningbo vs. Johor Bahru - Cost of childcare

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pay 55.3% more for entertainment and sports

	Ningbo	Johor Bahru
Domestic/local beer (1 pint)	$0.98 CN¥6.65	$3.55 MYR14.56	+262.2%
Cappuccino in mid-range area	$3.41 CN¥23.11	$2.91 MYR11.90	-14.8%
Pack of cigarettes Marlboro or similar	$4.21 CN¥28.50	$4.25 MYR17.42	+1.1%
Monthly membership at local gym	$21.91 CN¥148.42	$34.36 MYR140.74	+56.9%
Movie ticket to theater/cinema	$7.01 CN¥47.49	$4.98 MYR20.38	-29.0%
Average			+55.3%

Ningbo vs. Johor Bahru - Cost of entertainment and sports

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pay 16.0% less for clothing

	Ningbo	Johor Bahru
Regular jeans Levi's brand	$43.46 CN¥294.46	$49.76 MYR203.82	+14.5%
Regular dress from H&M or similar store	$29.41 CN¥199.28	$16.59 MYR67.94	-43.6%
Running shoes Nike or Adidas	$70.06 CN¥474.70	$71.09 MYR291.18	+1.5%
Men's business shoes (leather)	$63.05 CN¥427.20	$40.23 MYR164.76	-36.2%
Average			-16.0%

Ningbo vs. Johor Bahru - Cost of clothing

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The statistics used to build this comparison are calculated using data from users just like you. We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Learn more about our data sources. Page last updated: July 2026

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