With the favourable exchange rate and low prices, it’s no wonder that JB appeals to every Singaporean. Shopaholics can go on massive shopping sprees at malls near the border, such as Johor Bahru City Square Mall, while cafe hoppers can have their dainty cakes and cuppa joe at the many cafes in JB.
Should you be looking for more ways to stretch your Singapore dollar, stay thrifty with these supermarkets in JB where you can stock up on groceries while saving money.
Note: Prices are accurate at the time of writing, and are subject to change.
The current exchange rate is RM1 = ~S$0.30 as of 26th June 2025.
Table of Contents
| Nearest checkpoint | Drive time | Supermarket | Best feature | Price range |
| Woodlands Checkpoint | 9 minutes | Giant Leisure Mall JB | Familiar brands & cheap groceries | $ |
| 18 minutes | Aeon Mall Tebrau City | Located opposite IKEA for furniture shopping | $$ | |
| 22 minutes | Lotus’s Bukit Indah | Indoor playground & arcade for kids | $$ | |
| 15 minutes | Village Grocer Mid Valley Southkey | Wide variety of imported goods not found in SG | $$$ | |
| 10 minutes | Mercato Plaza Pelangi | Wide variety of imported goods not found in SG | $$$ | |
| Tuas Checkpoint | 30 minutes | Mydin Mall Mutiara Rini | Indoor playground for kids, nearby food court for meals | $ |
| 20 minutes | NSK Trade City Nusajaya | Wide variety of produce sold at competitive prices | $ | |
| 21 minutes | Jaya Grocer Eco Galleria | Stocks a wide range of Australian-imported goods | $$ | |
| 22 minutes | Ben’s Independent Grocer Mall of Medini | In-house restaurant & bakery | $$$ |
There are a couple of regulations imposed by the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) when bringing your groceries from JB back into Singapore.
For starters, you are only allowed to bring in food strictly for your own consumption and not for sale. Next, you have to check whether the food item is allowed to be brought back into Singapore or not by consulting SFA’s website.
Finally, you must ensure that the amount of food that you’re bringing in falls within the maximum allowance; for example, meat products brought into Singapore have to be under 5kg. Below is a handy table for looking up if your grocery haul is legal to bring into Singapore.
| Food type | Product | Approved sources | Limit |
| Meat | Beef | Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Hungary, Japan, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, Uruguay, USA | 5kg |
| Mutton | Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Ireland, New Zealand, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Uruguay, United Kingdom, USA | ||
| Pork | Australia, Austria, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, USA | ||
| Poultry | Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, New Zealand, Switzerland, The Netherlands, United Kingdom | ||
| Fish | Frozen cooked crabmeat and frozen cooked prawn meat | All countries/regions | 5kg, out of which a maximum of only 2kg of frozen cooked crabmeat and frozen cooked prawn meat |
| Fish products such as live fish, fish fillets, canned tuna, and dried fish | |||
| Live/frozen oysters | Australia, Canada, France, Ireland, New Zealand, The Netherlands, United Kingdom, USA | ||
| Fruits & vegetables | All fruits & vegetables | All countries/regions | A small, reasonable quantity (i.e hand-carry size) |
| Eggs | Shell eggs | Australia, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia (West), The Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Korea, Thailand, Ukraine, USA | 30 eggs |
| Processed food | Cleaned dried bird’s nest | All countries/regions | 1kg, no restriction on the total value |
| All other processed food that is not meat, fish, eggs, or fruits and vegetables | Combined weight of all items < 5kg/5 litres, total value should not exceed $100 per traveller |
Not only is Giant a household name to most Singaporeans, but it’s a staple for most Malaysians too. After all, the ubiquitous supermarket chain was founded in Malaysia, having opened its first supermarket in Selangor back in 1974. Today, it boasts 40 hypermarkets across the country, including one at Pelangi Leisure Mall.
A mere 9-minute drive from Woodlands Checkpoint, Giant at Pelangi Leisure Mall boasts a wide selection of groceries for a fraction of the prices in Singapore supermarkets. For example, 300g of pomfret goes for RM4.99 (~S$1.52) in JB, but the same quantity will cost you a whopping RM29.63 (~S$9) back home.
Price: $
Getting there: 9-minute drive from Woodlands Checkpoint
Giant Leisure Mall JB review: “You can buy everything here, including electrical appliances, clothes, food and drinks, and there are DIY and furniture stores, sports courts, gyms, and theatres upstairs.”
– Carrick Loh via Google
Another familiar name to us Singaporeans, AEON malls are patronised regularly by Singaporean visitors. Some of them even sport AEON supermarkets, making grocery runs even more accessible after a day of shopping. Prices of household consumables here are relatively affordable too, so stocking up on household essentials is a breeze.
AEON Mall Tebrau City is situated perfectly for your grocery and recreational needs. On top of the budget-friendly supermart, cinema and food and beverage outlets, it’s also conveniently located across the road from IKEA Tebrau, perfect for grabbing some DIY furniture and Swedish meatballs for cheap. It’s also connected to Toppen Shopping Centre, which has an indoor theme park and rooftop skatepark.
Price: $$
Getting there: 18-minute drive from Woodlands
AEON Mall Tebrau City review: “A big mall which is well-lit and clean, with toilets that are plentiful and clean. AEON supermarket is well stocked and offers many varieties of goods.”
– Jon Peng via Google
Hailing from Thailand, Lotus’s first entered the Malaysian market in 2020 when it acquired Tesco Malaysia. Given its predecessor’s reach, including an outlet in the basement of KSL City Mall, it assimilated quickly with those who make frequent trips up north.
Image credit: Mardhiah Md Jizet via Google
Besides stocking a wide range of goods, Lotus’s Bukit Indah features various entertainment outlets in the area as well. If your little ones can’t sit still, they can play and have fun at the nearby playground or have a go in the arcade while you trawl through the grocery aisles.
Price: $$
Getting there: 22-minute drive from Woodlands Checkpoint
Lotus’s Bukit Indah review: “Huge supermarket with a wide variety of things, covering everything from electronics to stationery, furniture, fresh produce, frozen foods, and personal wear like clothes and shoes, etc… It’s not as crowded as the KSL supermarket, as it is further from the customs.”
– Clement Lim via Google
Full list of Lotus’s supermarkets.
Image credit: Lester Chua via Google Maps
Nestled away in the corner of Mid Valley Southkey, one of JB’s largest malls, lies Village Grocer. Here, in addition to locally-sourced fresh produce, you can find a wide variety of imported goods as well, with some exclusive items unavailable in Singapore.
Image credit: Flo Yeow via Google Maps
Some examples include French Lactel yoghurt (from RM2.90/~S$0.88) or a variety of fruit and vegetable juices from Cyprina, which are available from RM8.90 (~S$2.70) for a 1L bottle.
Price: $$$
Getting there: 15-minute drive from Woodlands Checkpoint
Village Grocer Mid Valley Southkey review: “Great supermarket that has a wide variety of international products here! Although the prices of the items here are a little bit higher than those of other supermarkets, there is a wide variety of products here. You can get products from almost any part of the world.”
– Wilfred Loy Yong Kang via Google
Image credit: Mercato Pelangi Plaza via Google Maps
Those looking to class things up for their next meal but remain under a budget will love Mercato. Similar to Cold Storage or FairPrice Finest, they stock a wide range of upscale products, but at a comparatively more affordable price point.
Carnivores will rejoice knowing that premium cuts of imported meat like Australian beef are available at discounted prices of RM39.99/kg (~S$12.15), while seafoodies can consider Norwegian fjord trout fillets, which are available at just RM89.90/kg (~S$27.31).
They’ve even got seasonal catalogues to browse through so you can plan around your budget before heading down to the store.
Price: $$$
Getting there: 10-minute drive from Woodlands Checkpoint
Mercato Plaza Pelangi review: “Lots of variety from fresh items to household items. They have their own RTE (Ready to Eat) section which is affordable.”
– Mista Kay via Google
From its humble beginnings as a wooden general store in Kelantan, Mydin has since grown to become Malaysia’s largest Halal hypermarket chain. It’s been coined the “FairPrice of Malaysia” due to its affordable prices and boasts 65 stores nationwide. 3 of these are conveniently located across the Causeway in Pelangi Indah, Taman Rinting, and Mutiara Rini.
In addition to the supermarket, Mydin Mall Mutiara Rini also houses a variety of other stores for food, clothing, and other miscellaneous goods. Those wanting to entertain their tykes will be glad to know that a playground complete with a ball pit is available, while the onsite bowling alley offers sessions for prices as low as RM10 (~S$3.04).
Price: $
Getting there: 30-minute drive from Tuas Checkpoint
Mydin Mall Mutiara Rini review: “One of my favourite places to buy groceries. The prices there are quite cheap. The quality of the products meets the standard requirements expected of a shopping mall.”
– Zulfahmi Zaimi via Google
Image credit: Endro Sunarso via Google Maps
A close competitor of Mydin, NSK Trade City Nusajaya is another supermarket chain that stocks a wide variety of goods at affordable prices. It includes a “wet market” section within its supermarket premises where customers can hunt for the freshest seafood, fruits, and vegetables of their choosing.
Image credit: Endro Sunarso via Google Maps
They currently have 2 outlets in JB. One is located near Mount Austin, while the other is situated within Sunway Big Box, perfect for a grocery run after a fun-filled day.
Price: $
Getting there: 20-minute drive from Tuas Checkpoint
NSK Trade City Nusajaya review: “Nice big supermarket with very competitive prices compared to the common go-to hotspots like AEON Tebrau or Bukit Indah. The differentiator is its large “wet market” section for fresh fish, seafood, and vegetables. Very fresh and cheap.”
– Cassidy Andrew Goh via Google
Image credit: Ivan Lam via Google Maps
Alternatively, you can also consider Jaya’s Grocer Eco Galleria. In addition to their 3 existing outlets in Austin Heights, Sunway Citrine, and R&F Mall, they opened their largest outlet to date in Iskandar Puteri.
Standing at 35,000sqft, the supermarket lists nearly 400,000 items for sale, enough for your weekly grocery runs. Thanks to its tie-up with Australian supermarket chain Coles, the store also stocks a wide range of Australian products, so yes, you can grab some Aussie honey (RM23.90/~S$7.26) and marmite (RM37/~S$11.24) while you’re there.
Price: $$
Getting there: 21-minute drive from Tuas Checkpoint
Jaya Grocer Eco Galleria review: “The best grocery in Johor: from fruits and vegetables to meats and ice creams, they carry a lot of imported international ingredients. They also have a non-halal section that has pork and alcoholic beverages.”
– Marc Dominguez via Google
Image credit: Andre Santoso via Google Maps
For those wanting something a little more atas, Ben’s Independent Grocer Mall of Medini might be just the place for you. Besides the usual fruits and veggies that other supermarkets stock, they carry a wide range of rare imported products that aren’t available at other supermarkets, such as Japanese snacks and muesli bars.
If you’re looking for a bite to eat, head over to their in-house restaurant, The Grocer’s Kitchen. There, you can have the chefs cook the meat or seafood you just bought for RM15/300g. Alternatively, you can opt for staple menu standards such as the Spaghetti Beef Bolognese (RM20) or the Pepperoni Pizza (RM26).
Sweet tooths will want to stop by Crumbs, their in-house baker, to grab artisanal bread and pastries like their signature chocolate rolls (RM3.59/~S$1.09) and kaya twists (RM4.20/~S$1.28) before heading off.
Price: $$$
Getting there: 22-minute drive from Tuas Checkpoint
Ben’s Independent Grocer Mall of Medini review: “Love that there’s a higher-end supermarket at Medini. This is relevant, as there are a lot of expats, tourists, and Singaporeans here. This is where you can find rare imported goods, and the quality is always at its best.”
– Sarah Kamaruddin via Google
If you head to JB really often for your grocery runs, some supermarkets in JB offer loyalty programmes that allow you to enjoy membership privileges. You can stay up to date on upcoming promotions and redeem points for cash vouchers for even more discounts. Here’s an overview of the available loyalty programmes at a glance:
No membership fee is required for these programmes. To register, simply download the app and enter your details (Singapore phone numbers are accepted), and you’re all set!
Sure, we have plenty of supermarkets and grocery stores in Singapore. But, with the favourable exchange rate as far as the Singapore dollar is concerned, JB proves to be an attractive alternative for grocery shopping, traffic notwithstanding.
Whether you intend to shop for exclusive imports unavailable in Singapore or are simply looking for a cheaper alternative to your local grocer, save this list of supermarkets in JB for you to shop at.
If you like to cross the Causeway, check these out:
Cover image adapted from: Lester Chua via Google Maps, Jason T Via Google Maps, Ivan Lam via Google Maps
Last updated by Adriel Ang on 26th June 2025.
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