Everyone says Johor Bahru is cheaper. Almost nobody publishes by how much. Here are the figures we could actually source, and the part that most articles leave out.
Last updated: August 2026 ・ Rate used: SGD 1 ≈ RM 3.3
| What you are buying | Johor Bahru | Singapore |
|---|---|---|
| Trial or first classYour first session at a striking gym | RM 30≈ SGD 9 — our published trial price | SGD 30–45Typical intro or drop-in rate |
| Day passOne-off gym access | RM 25–40≈ SGD 8–12 | SGD 20–40Varies widely by chain |
| Monthly membershipUnlimited or near-unlimited classes | RM 160–250≈ SGD 48–76 — our published range | SGD 150–250Boutique striking gyms sit at the top of this |
| Personal training, per sessionOne-to-one coaching | RM 85–120≈ SGD 26–36 — our published packages work out to this | SGD 80–150Commonly quoted range |
| 10-session PT blockRoughly a 12-week programme | SGD 300–700 | SGD 700–1,500 |
| Studio rental, per hourPrivate use of the floor | RM 150≈ SGD 45 — our published rate | Rarely offered to individuals |
Where these numbers come from. Anything marked "our published" is Motion Strong Studio's own listed price. The multiplier and the PT block figures come from public cost-of-living and cross-border guides. Singapore ranges are typical market rates, not a survey — treat them as a guide, not gospel.
Exchange rates move. At the time of writing, SGD 1 was roughly RM 3.3.
Here is the part that gets left out of "JB is so much cheaper" articles, and we would rather you hear it from us.
Crossing the border purely to work out does not add up. A round trip across the Causeway or the Second Link for a one-hour class can eat three to four hours. Do it by private hire and a single trip can wipe out a month of the savings. If you live in Singapore and your only reason to cross is a gym session, stay in Singapore.
1. People who live in Johor Bahru and earn Singapore dollars. This is the real answer. Thousands cross daily for work in Singapore, are paid in SGD, and spend in ringgit. For them the gap is not a trip — it is just how their money works. If you commute through the Second Link to Tuas, a gym in Gelang Patah is on your way home, not a detour.
2. Weekend and second-home owners in Johor. If you are already in JB on weekends, training here is simply cheaper than training there.
3. People who want something Singapore prices out of reach. Twice-weekly one-to-one coaching is a luxury at SGD 100+ a session. At SGD 26–36 it is an ordinary habit. The gap does not just save money — it changes what you can afford to do consistently.
Our honest position. We run a gym in Gelang Patah, minutes from the Second Link. So yes, we benefit if you decide JB makes sense for you. That is exactly why we put the catch in bold instead of burying it. If crossing does not work for your life, it does not work, and we would rather you know that before paying anyone.