Adults 35-44 top Johor spending intent before RTS Link debut

Households earning under $4,000 shift spending far less often.

Forty-three percent of Singaporeans aged 35 to 44 expect to shift more than $250 of monthly spending to Johor Bahru once the RTS Link begins operations, the highest share of any age group, a survey by Blackbox Research found.

Respondents aged 45 to 54 followed at 37%, then those aged 18 to 34 at 29%, aged 55 to 64 at 24%, and aged 65 and above at 23%.

“This is not just young bargain hunters taking their money across the causeway,” Blackbox said.

It noted that intent also rose sharply with income as 23% of respondents earning below $4,000 expected to shift more than $250 monthly, compared with 39% of those earning $4,000 to $6,999 and 51% of those earning $7,000 and above.

“Mid-career professionals and high earners pose the biggest commercial threat because they are taking their real purchasing power over the border,” Blackbox said.

Amongst employed respondents specifically, intention to move spending to Johor Bahru more broadly also rose with income, with 70% amongst those earning below $4,000, 88% amongst $4,000 to $6,999 earners, and 87% amongst those earning $7,000 and above.