Month in Asia this November — JB or somewhere better?
Been going back and forth on this. Originally had Hong Kong in mind — been four times but never stayed a full month, had plans to cross into Shenzhen too. Accommodation costs for a decent long stay killed that idea pretty quickly.
Stumbled across Johor Bahru while researching cheaper alternatives. The 30 min bus to Singapore caught my attention immediately — want to spend weekends there and explore. Budget around USD $1,500/month, remote worker, solid internet matters more than nightlife.
Two things giving me pause — transport and safety. Everything I read says you need a car which doesn't work for me. Curious if Grab covers you well enough day to day or if that's more of a full-time resident complaint than a month-long visitor problem.
Done Bali, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines so comfortable moving around the region solo. Ubud and Da Nang beachside set a high bar for that low-friction settled vibe. Wondering if JB actually gets there or if it's more of a transit city that loses its appeal after a week.
Open to other suggestions — walkable, relaxed enough to not think about safety, under $1,500, good food and decent transport.