If you already work from home most of the week, renting a place in Johor Bahru (JB) can be a straightforward way to cut expenses. You could keep your Singapore job, pay less in rent and cross the Causeway whenever you need to be in the office.
It can work if your employer agrees and you have permission to live and work remotely in Malaysia. Before signing a lease, find out how the move would affect your tax bill, CPF contributions, and medical coverage. Even if your gross salary stays the same, your take-home pay and benefits can change.
Get Your Employer’s Approval To Work From Malaysia
To begin, it can work if your employer agrees and you have permission to live and work remotely in Malaysia. So start by asking whether your company allows employees to be based overseas. Your manager might be comfortable with you working remotely for a week while visiting family, but a permanent move may need approval from HR and payroll. Your company may also have rules about accessing client data from overseas.
Get the arrangement in writing. Agree on how often you’ll need to return to Singapore and whether your salary and benefits will change. Two office days a month and two days a week make for very different routines when you live across the Causeway.
Check What Permission You Need To Live & Work In Malaysia
If you’re a Singapore citizen, check which Malaysian pass covers both your intended stay and your remote work. Entry as a visitor and permission to work remotely are separate matters. One route for eligible employees of overseas companies is Malaysia’s DE Rantau Nomad Pass. The Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) lists an active employment contract with a foreign employer among the requirements. Its document checklist asks for details of the remote arrangement, your role and your salary.
MDEC has paused new applications from 1 to 30 November 2026. Applications are due to reopen on 1 December under an enhanced framework that allows eligible holders to stay for up to four years in total, including approved renewals. Check the requirements for your occupation and income, and confirm that the pass suits your proposed pattern of travel before committing to a tenancy.
Read Also: Renting In Malaysia, Working In Singapore: How Feasible Is It For Singaporeans
Work Out Where You May Owe Income Tax
Being paid in Singapore dollars into a Singapore bank account doesn’t mean that you will definitely be paying tax in Singapore. IRAS says that if you’re contracted to be based overseas and perform all your employment duties outside Singapore, that employment income is sourced overseas and isn’t taxable in Singapore. Malaysia’s tax authority generally treats income from duties performed in Malaysia as Malaysian-sourced, even if the employer pays you from abroad.
If you work from JB and regularly come back to Singapore for office days, the pay attributable to duties you perform in Singapore may also be taxable here. The Singapore–Malaysia tax treaty can affect which country gets to tax the income. Its 183-day exception has conditions involving where your employer is resident and who bears the cost of your pay, so counting days alone won’t settle the question. Keep a record of when you’re in each country and where you perform your duties, and ask payroll how it will report your income.
Find Out What Happens To Your CPF And Employee Benefits
CPF Board says compulsory contributions continue for eligible employees on Singapore-based contracts who work overseas temporarily, including those doing so for personal reasons. Contributions aren’t compulsory on wages paid to employees employed to work overseas, although employers can make voluntary contributions. If your plan involves working in both countries regularly, give HR the details and ask it to confirm the treatment with CPF Board.
If compulsory contributions stop, your cash pay could rise because your employee contribution is no longer deducted, while you could also lose the employer contribution that used to go into your CPF accounts. That matters if you count on CPF for housing or retirement. Check whether your company’s medical plan covers routine care and hospital treatment in Malaysia. If you’re offered a Malaysian employment contract, ask for the proposed pay, leave and insurance terms before agreeing to the switch.
Compare What You’d Actually Save By Moving To JB
Say you’re a Singapore citizen renting in Singapore for $1,800 a month and have found a place in JB that costs the equivalent of $950. Assume that each Singapore office day adds $20 in transport costs above your current commute, and that you budget another $100 a month for healthcare or insurance.
| Monthly comparison | Two office days a month | Two office days a week (about nine a month) |
|---|---|---|
| Rent savings | $850 | $850 |
| Extra transport | −$40 | −$180 |
| Extra healthcare or insurance | −$100 | −$100 |
| Cash savings before tax and CPF changes | $710 | $570 |
The extra office days narrow the cash savings by $140 a month in this example, before you put a value on the time spent travelling. To finish the comparison, adjust the cash figure for any change in income tax and employee CPF deductions. Then look separately at any employer CPF you’d give up. Even with cheaper rent, you’ll want to know how much money you’ll have available each month and how much less may be going towards your longer-term savings.
Read Also: Guide To Travelling From Singapore To JB Sentral Via The KTM Shuttle Tebrau
