Woman Asks If She Should Accept RM6.1K Salary As A Nurse In Malaysia Or SGD4.4K In S'pore
Her package in Singapore would be more than three times what she would earn in Malaysia.
A Malaysian woman working as an allied healthcare provider here has found herself at a crossroads after receiving two job offers
One offer is from a private hospital in Malaysia, while the other is from a public healthcare polyclinic in Singapore.
While the Singapore role offers significantly higher earnings, along with attractive bonuses and career growth opportunities, the uncertainty about commute and work demands is making her question if it's worth it.
Taking to the Singaporean subreddit r/askSingapore last week, the woman outlined the pros and cons of both offers, seeking advice from others who may have faced a similar dilemma.
In her post, the woman detailed the two options she is considering:
Option 1: Job in Malaysia
Salary: RM6,100
Benefits: Good medical coverage for herself and her family
Downsides: No bonuses, difficult to get annual increments, fewer leave days (14), no career development
Commute: 1-hour daily
Option 2: Job in Singapore
Salary: SGD4,400 (RM14,450)
Benefits: Bonuses (3.6 months), annual increment, 21 leave days, opportunity to further studies
Downsides: Work location changes daily, includes home visits
Commute: Estimated 2-3 hours daily from Johor Bahru
While the Singapore offer seems significantly better in terms of salary and benefits, the woman — who is married with no kids yet — is concerned about the logistics of working across the border
She explained that if she takes the job in Singapore, she will need to live in Johor Bahru because her husband will be moving with her as he does not have a Singapore work visa.
"I'm not too sure what the average pay for this sort of position looks like in Singapore," she said, adding, "If I do accept the Singapore offer, my husband will move with me, but he can't work there."
She also questioned whether the long-term effects of exhaustion and time spent in transit would outweigh the financial benefits, which are more than three times what she would be paid in Malaysia.
"Is the commute between JB-SG worth it in the long run? How much time and money does it take? Or is it better to just avoid the hassle of working in Singapore entirely?" she asked.
File photo of commuters crossing the Woodlands Causeway to Singapore from Johor.
Image via Edgar Su/Reuters
Redditors were quick to weigh in, with many advising her to take the Singapore offer due to the significantly higher salary and benefits
One commenter did the math to highlight the pay difference, "Malaysia total package: RM73,200, Singapore annual package: SGD68,640 = RM223,080 (aka, 3x what you earn in Malaysia)."
Many encouraged her to take the Singapore offer, pointing out that since she has no children yet, this might be the best time to prioritise financial growth and career development. Some suggested renting a small room in Singapore on weekdays to avoid the exhausting daily commute. Others emphasised that working in a Singapore hospital might actually be less stressful due to better funding and processes.
"From what I've been told by those who have worked in both SG and MY hospitals, it is easier as well to work in an SG hospital due to lots of funding and highly efficient processes," said one.
To this, the woman responded: "Oh, that's interesting… It would be good to get a different kind of exposure. I guess the easier workload can offset the longer commute."
However, not everyone was convinced that the move was worth it.
Some users warned that the long commute could take a serious toll on her physical and mental health.
"Healthcare itself is already quite a physically demanding job and commute time matters. I cannot imagine being so tired and having to commute 2-3 hours daily," reminder a redditor.
Another redditor advised her to consider how this decision would affect her long-term lifestyle: "If you want vast working experience and money, then SG. If you don't intend to migrate or travel so far, then MY. Try it out for a few years and see how. No harm trying if you're still young."
The woman's predicament is not unique.
Many Malaysians opt to work in Singapore due to the higher salaries, even if it means enduring long commutes:
Additionally, in the woman's case, she might wanna consider the fact that Singapore is offering a bonus of approximately RM356,600 to incentivise nurses to remain in the public health system:
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