THOUSANDS of Malaysians make their way across the Causeway even before the break of dawn daily in search of better wages. Many more live on the island.
The exchange rate differentials mean that many Malaysians are willing to bear the horrendous commute and other inconveniences as their wages usually end up being several times more than equivalent jobs in Malaysia.
However, pro-Madani keyboard warrior CIKYANie (@lady_bugg11) queried whether it would still be worthwhile to earn a living in Malaysia’s affluent neighbour given the ringgit’s strengthening value against the Singapore dollar in recent times.
Tukaran Ringgit ke SGD ialah RM3.08 dan jika turun lagi sehingga RM2.80 bermakna yg berkerja di Singapura mcm tak pulang modal.
— CIKYANie (@lady_bugg11) February 23, 2026
The self-proclaimed chef and entrepreneur noted that S$1 which is currently hovering around RM3.08/S$1 could head further south in the coming days.
“If the exchange rate dips further in favour of the ringgit to RM2.80/S$1, it means that those working in Singapore won’t even recoup their capital (break-even),” she observed on X.
The post has generated 234.3K views at time of writing with many commenters keen to share their two sen on the topic.
One commenter expressed surprise that the poster felt that exchange rate was unfavourable to Malaysians working in Singapore.
He contended that it still translates into a tidy sum post-conversion at RM2.80/S$1 given the Lion Republic’s >S$1,700 basic salary level would enable employees to earn close to RM5,000 excluding other allowances.
Another reckoned that concerns of cannot recoup one’s capital is only true for “those with high commitments. “If you’re good at saving, maybe the rate is still okay,” he added.
Editor’s Note: While there is no universal minimum wage, Local Qualifying Salary (LQS) for workers is S$1,600 (increasing to S$1,800 from July 2026) while Employment Pass (EP) holders require a minimum salary of S$5,600+.
A few also noted that many Malaysians were seeking greener pastures in Singapore back when the exchange rate was as low RM2.30/S$1. Even that was considered minting it.
It was surmised that a salary of S$4,000 would translate to RM11,000+ at RM2.80/S$1. Imagine what a person has to do to earn RM11K in Malaysia.
Revealing that people have been “chasing Sing dollars since S$2.45/RM1”, another commenter noted that an engineer with a decade’s experience was still earning RM5,000 in Johor Bharu.
The poster’s seemingly off-the-cuff remark didn’t seem to go down well with some individuals who thought it was clearly a worthwhile endeavour for many who made a living in Singapore.
It was insinuated that her judgement was ill-informed and seemingly a click bait content.
The cooking enthusiast maths skills were also ridiculed with some commenters wondering aloud what formula did she use to come to her conclusion?
Some currency speculators opined that the Singapore dollar would soon rebound to its lofty heights. The dip in value was only temporary. Another commenter simply declared that this was not a reason to just suddenly quit.
Earning in Singapore currency allowed many Malaysians to have savings if one was careful with their spending. One’s lifestyle – “sans owning properties and cars” – would determine whether it is worth the effort to work in Singapore.
Taking a more considered view was Dezmi (@dezmi3) who argued that whether working in Singapore was a positive or negative experience would very much depend on individual circumstances.
Currency performance aside, the many thousands seeking a living in Singapore would indicate that it is still highly attractive. As pointed out, with prudent financial planning, salaries earned in Singapore can go a very long way here in Malaysia. – Feb 26, 2026
