City Comparison
Johor Bahru vs Cincinnati
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Johor Bahru scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Johor Bahru
Cincinnati
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Johor Bahru is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
54% lower than in Cincinnati.
Housing costs are a major driver: Johor Bahru's average rent is
63% lower than Cincinnati's.
| Metric | Johor Bahru | Cincinnati | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $527 | $1,410 | -63% |
| Groceries | $266 | $493 | -46% |
| Utilities | $180 | $178 | +1% |
| Transport | $13 | $120 | -89% |
| Healthcare | $150 | $250 | -40% |
| Monthly Total | $1,136 | $2,451 | -54% |
| Cost Index | 37 | 103 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Cincinnati offers 99% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Cincinnati delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Johor Bahru is estimated at
$2,137 vs $55,000 in Cincinnati.
| Metric | Johor Bahru | Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $1,106 | $79,000 |
| Salary Needed | $2,137 | $55,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 2,989 idx | 76,699 idx |
| Household Income | $1,896 | $52,909 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Johor Bahru runs warmer on average — a 81.6°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Johor Bahru comes out ahead with 106 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Johor Bahru sees 0 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Johor Bahru | Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 81.60°F | °F |
| Summer High | 88.90°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 74.10°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 96.20 in | in |
| Snowfall | 0.00 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 106 | |
| Humidity | 84.00% | 70.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Cincinnati has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
6,500 minutes (108 hours) per year compared to Johor Bahru.
Cincinnati scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Cincinnati leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Johor Bahru | Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 35 min | 22 min |
| Transit Score | — | 40.0/100 |
| Walkability | — | 49.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 50.00 | |
| Car Dependency | Medium | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Johor Bahru is the larger city
— approximately 13.3x the population of Cincinnati.
From a growth perspective, Cincinnati is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Johor Bahru has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Johor Bahru | Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,190,000 | 314,915 |
| Pop. Growth | — | 0.70% |
| Median Age | 33.2 | |
| Unemployment | 2.50% | 3.20% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Johor Bahru
Advantages
Johor recorded the highest GDP growth rate among all Malaysian states in 2024 at 6.4%.
The cost of living in Johor Bahru is considerably lower than in major global cities and Kuala Lumpur.
Johor Bahru offers a high quality of life, ranking third highest in Southeast Asia after Singapore and Kuala Lumpur in 2024.
The unemployment rate in Johor was stable at 2.5% as of end-2025, lower than the national average.
The RTS Link, set to open in January 2027, will significantly reduce travel time and congestion between Johor Bahru and Singapore.
Drawbacks
Property prices in Johor Bahru have risen significantly, with serviced apartments up 20.4% and double-storey terrace houses up 8.6% in Q2 2025, potentially outpacing wage growth for some.
The Consumer Price Index in Johor was 141.8 as of July 2026, indicating a rise in prices of over 30% since 2010.
The proposed city center rapid transit project, crucial for alleviating traffic once the RTS Link opens, has not yet commenced physical work as of June 2026.
Despite leading in economic growth, Johor's GDP per capita of around RM37,000 in 2024 remains significantly below the national average of RM56,734.
The property price-to-income ratio in Johor is 9.5x, exceeding the internationally accepted 5x affordability threshold, indicating that housing is relatively expensive compared to household incomes.
Cincinnati
Advantages
The cost of living in Cincinnati is 3% lower than the national average, making it more affordable than many major U.S. cities.
Cincinnati boasts a diverse and growing economy, with strong sectors in healthcare, manufacturing, and professional services.
The city offers a vibrant arts and culture scene, including museums, theaters, and a symphony orchestra.
Several neighborhoods, such as Over-The-Rhine and the Central Business District, are highly walkable, with Walk Scores of 94 and 92 respectively.
The median property value in Cincinnati was $230,900 in 2024, significantly lower than the national average, making homeownership more accessible.
Drawbacks
While some areas are highly walkable, the city's overall Walk Score of 49 indicates a car-dependent environment for most errands.
Public transportation, while available, is not considered the most dependable, often necessitating a personal vehicle.
The city's poverty rate was 25.5% in 2024, which is higher than the national average.
Cincinnati experiences extreme seasonal variations in humidity, with muggy summers and very cold, snowy winters.
The average commute time in the Cincinnati metropolitan area was 2 hours daily in 2023, which is relatively long compared to some other cities.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Johor Bahru
#69Johor, Malaysia
66.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$527
Avg Salary
$1,106
Cost Index
37
Commute
35 min
Transit Score
—
Walkability
—
Sunny Days
106/yr
Avg Temp
81.60°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
2.50%
Livability
74
Business
68
Cincinnati
#501Ohio, USA
52.6 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,410
Avg Salary
$79,000
Cost Index
103
Commute
22 min
Transit Score
40.0/100
Walkability
49.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.70%
Unemployment
3.20%
Livability
70
Business
72
Calculate Your Cost Impact
Estimate the salary you'd need when moving between Johor Bahru and Cincinnati.
Open Cost Calculator