How Much Does It Cost For Singapore Cars To Enter Malaysia? And Is It Worth Your Time (And Money)?

Singaporeans who drive into Malaysia will know the drill. You head over to a restaurant for an inexpensive but satisfying seafood meal and stock up on household necessities such as milk powder, Milo, detergent and toilet paper, followed by a car wash and a full top-up of petrol before heading back to Singapore.

Before leaving, remember that Singapore-registered petrol vehicles must have at least a three-quarter tank of fuel, under Singapore Customs’ rules.

Getting these things done in Johor Bahru allows Singaporeans to save money thanks to differences in prices and the exchange rate. However, the RM20 road charge for foreign private vehicles entering Malaysia from Singapore, along with tolls and petrol, reduces the amount we save.

For the calculations below, we use an illustrative exchange rate of S$1 = RM3.30, rather than a quoted current rate. Your actual costs will depend on the exchange rate you receive.

The Cost To Drive Into Malaysia Today?

Here are the charges to account for when one Singapore car enters and exits Malaysia.

The Singapore tolls are S$0.80 for a round trip through Woodlands and S$4.20 through Tuas. Malaysia’s RM20 road charge is separate from its toll charges.

For the Second Link, PLUS lists the Class 1 toll at Tanjung Kupang as RM6.14 per passage. Passing through it in both directions adds RM12.28, or about S$3.72 at our assumed exchange rate. Other highway tolls depend on your route.

If we assume that travelling from your home to the Causeway and then into Malaysia takes 25km one-way, we need to factor in 50km worth of fuel for that trip. If your car’s fuel consumption is 10km/litre, you will use 5 litres of petrol for the journey. For this example, we assume 2.5 litres are bought in Singapore and the remaining 2.5 litres in Malaysia.

Remember, Singapore-registered petrol cars are not allowed to pump RON95 in Malaysia. You have to use RON97.

Read Also: What Is RON95, And Why Can Only Malaysian-Registered Vehicles Pump In Malaysia?

How Much Must You Spend To Recover The Cost To Drive Into Malaysia

Since drivers travelling to Malaysia already incur tolls, the road charge and petrol costs, the question now turns to how much one needs to save in Malaysia to make the trip worth their time.

A favourable exchange rate doesn’t automatically mean everything in JB is cheaper. For a simple comparison, let’s assume meals and goods cost 50% less than their equivalents in Singapore. This is an assumption for our calculations, rather than a measured price difference across all purchases.

For example, if we spend S$100 on restaurants and groceries in Singapore, the same basket would cost S$50 in Malaysia under this assumption.

Read Also: Can You Save Money Staying In Malaysia? A Singaporean Shares With Us How His Life Really Is.

If you spend RM330 (S$100) in Malaysia on a basket that would cost S$200 in Singapore, you save S$100 before travel costs. Assuming S$20 in tolls, road charge and petrol, this leaves S$80 in savings. The S$20 figure is a calculation assumption, not a confirmed trip cost.

Here is an overly simplified breakdown of how much you may spend in JB, what a similar basket could cost in Singapore, and how much you save per hour based on a 10-hour trip.

Calculations use unrounded amounts. Figures exclude parking, additional driving, vehicle wear and tear, VEP setup costs and any GST payable when returning to Singapore.

For this comparison, we have allowed 10 hours for travelling, groceries and at least one meal in JB. Your trip could be shorter or longer depending on traffic and what you plan to do. To us, it starts being worth your time and money if you can save more than S$15 per hour. Think of it as a job and how much you expect to be paid for that extra work.

For example, suppose you intend to buy a basket of goods and meals that would cost about S$364 in Singapore. Under our assumptions, you could get the same basket in Johor for RM600 (about S$182), giving you savings of about S$162 after the assumed travel cost, or S$16.18 per hour.

If that increases to a basket costing about S$485 in Singapore, spending RM800 (about S$242) in Malaysia would save about S$222 after the assumed travel cost, or S$22.24 per hour.

Read Also: Is It Better To Change Your SGD For MYR In Singapore Or Malaysia?

Reduced GST Relief Since 19 February 2019

Travellers who qualify for GST import relief and spend less than 48 hours outside Singapore receive relief on up to S$100 worth of eligible goods purchased overseas. Those away for 48 hours or more receive relief on up to S$500. GST is payable on the value exceeding the applicable relief.

This is based on each eligible traveller’s entitlement. Certain pass holders, including employment pass and work permit holders, do not qualify. Alcohol, tobacco and goods imported for commercial purposes are also excluded from this relief. Any GST payable will reduce your shopping savings.

Read Also: Shopping Across the Causeway: 15 Things You Can And Cannot Buy

Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) Enforcement Started On 1 July 2025

Malaysia began phased VEP enforcement at its land border with Singapore on 1 October 2024, with full enforcement starting on 1 July 2025. Drivers should register, install and activate their VEP RFID tag before travelling. Registration is through the official JPJ VEP portal.

The VEP requirement is separate from the RM20 road charge payable each time a foreign private vehicle enters Malaysia. Any initial tag and installation costs should also be considered if you are preparing to drive across for the first time.

Read Also: What Happens If Your Singapore Car Gets Stolen In Malaysia?

A Personal Preference

Whether the additional savings you enjoy are worth the time you spend in Malaysia is a personal preference. For some people who might have spent about S$364 in Singapore, heading to Malaysia to get the same goods and meals for RM600 (about S$182) could be worth their time. For others, it may not be.

The savings shown in this article are based on a simplified assumption about price differences between Singapore and Johor Bahru. How much you save will depend on what you buy, your actual travel costs, the exchange rate and any GST payable.

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