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Choose JB City Square if you want variety and everyday prices; choose KOMTAR JBCC if you are after branded beauty, a calmer mall and a quicker visit. The two malls sit next to each other on Jalan Wong Ah Fook, minutes from the Johor Bahru checkpoint, so you can easily do both in one afternoon. The real question is which one deserves most of your time, and that depends on what you are shopping for, who is with you, and the fact that City Square is in the middle of a long renovation. Here is a side-by-side comparison to help you decide.
Side by side
| JB City Square | KOMTAR JBCC | |
|---|---|---|
| Feel | Big, busy, mid-range | Smaller, more polished, branded |
| Size | About 547,000 sq ft of retail space, growing to around 569,000 sq ft and 300-plus retailers after the upgrade | Over 150 outlets across four retail levels |
| Best for | Fashion basics, pharmacies, snacks, hobby shops, massage | Beauty and skincare, international brands, quick meals |
| Status in 2026 | Open during a phased renovation, with completion targeted for Q4 2027 | Open as normal |
| Next door | Overhead bridge towards the CIQ | Holiday Inn Johor Bahru City Centre (part of the KOMTAR JBCC development) |
| Future link | A pedestrian bridge from KOMTAR JBCC to the RTS Link’s Bukit Chagar station is planned; RTS Link passenger service is now expected in February 2027 | |
Figures come from the malls’ owners and recent announcements at time of writing. Tenants change often in both malls, so check a recent directory before a special trip.
JB City Square: variety and value
City Square has been the default first stop for Singaporeans for years. It is reached by an overhead bridge from the JB checkpoint, and signs point the way once you clear Malaysian immigration. It is a large, multi-storey mall with something on every floor and a wide range of price points.
What it does well
- Everyday shopping. Familiar fashion names such as Uniqlo, Cotton On and Bata, plus pharmacies, convenience stores and snack chains.
- Hobby and pop-culture shops. Recent guides highlight a figurine and blind-box store that draws collectors.
- Massage and grooming. Spas and hair salons on the upper floors make it easy to fit in a treatment.
- Easy food. Noodle shops, Korean barbecue, dessert stalls and bubble tea, mostly at casual prices.
What to know in 2026
In November 2025, City Square began a multi-phase upgrade, carried out in five phases, with completion targeted for the fourth quarter of 2027. The mall stays open while zones are refreshed, but some shops have closed, moved or shut temporarily, and its cinema stopped operating in September 2025. Plans include a refreshed façade, a 15,000 sq ft Kids Adventure Park, a large Health & Wellness Hub, event spaces and hotel apartments above the mall. Until the works finish, expect hoardings and the occasional detour inside.
KOMTAR JBCC: branded and calmer
KOMTAR JBCC opened in 2014 on the site of the old KOMTAR complex, as part of a development that also includes the Holiday Inn Johor Bahru City Centre and offices. It is smaller than City Square, and its corridors usually feel less crowded, which makes it easier with children or older relatives.
What it does well
- Beauty and skincare. This is the mall’s strongest suit. It has a Sephora, one of the closest to the Singapore border, along with other cosmetics and skincare brands.
- International labels. A tidier selection of fashion, accessories and lifestyle brands than its neighbour.
- Quick meals. Fast food, Taiwanese street snacks and casual restaurants, plus an al-fresco dining strip facing Jalan Wong Ah Fook.
- Services. The owner has been adding medical and other cross-border service tenants in recent years.
What to know
Its smaller size cuts both ways. You can see it in an hour or two, but it will not fill a whole day. If you plan to buy cosmetics for the price difference, compare prices first: savings depend on the exchange rate and on whether the item is on promotion in Singapore.
Which one should you visit?
| If you are… | Go to |
|---|---|
| Shopping for skincare and make-up | KOMTAR JBCC |
| Buying basics for the family on a budget | City Square |
| Visiting with elderly parents or a pram | KOMTAR JBCC first; it is quieter and easier to get around |
| Looking for anime figures and collectables | City Square |
| Fitting in a massage or haircut | Either; City Square has more choice |
| Short on time, under two hours | KOMTAR JBCC |
| Wanting a full afternoon in one mall | Neither on its own; consider Mid Valley Southkey instead |
Doing both in one visit
Because the malls are next to each other, a combined visit is easy:
- Start at KOMTAR JBCC in the late morning, when it is quiet, for beauty and branded shopping.
- Lunch at either mall, or walk a few minutes into the old town around Jalan Tan Hiok Nee for kopitiam food.
- Spend the afternoon at City Square for basics, snacks and a massage.
- Head home before the evening peak, especially on Fridays, Sundays and the day before a public holiday.
Want more than two malls? Our JB shopping malls guide covers SKS City Mall JBCC, Paradigm Mall, the Tebrau cluster and more.
What the RTS Link will change
The Johor Bahru–Singapore RTS Link will run between Woodlands North and Bukit Chagar, close to both malls. After a delay announced in October 2026, passenger service is now expected in February 2027. A planned air-conditioned pedestrian bridge will link Bukit Chagar station to KOMTAR JBCC. Once both open, rail passengers will be able to walk into the mall without touching the road. For families with luggage, or anyone heading beyond the city centre, a car will still be the more direct option. Our RTS Link guide tracks the latest timeline.
Practical tips
- Weekday mornings are the quietest time in both malls and at the checkpoint.
- Bring your passport even for a short mall trip; you need it at both checkpoints.
- Know your GST relief. Singapore Customs allows up to S$100 of new goods free of GST if you were away for under 48 hours (at time of writing). Declare anything above that.
- Carry a card and a QR app. Both malls accept cards widely; food stalls may prefer QR or cash.
- Agree a meeting point. If you split up between the malls, pick one entrance to meet at so nobody wanders across the road looking for the group.
Arriving by private car
Walking across the Causeway works for a quick solo trip, but it means two immigration halls on foot and a long walk with bags on the way back. With Luxway SGMY, your driver picks you up anywhere in Singapore and you stay in the car through immigration at both checkpoints. Because both malls are right by the checkpoint, the drive is short once you are through, and your driver can drop you at one mall and collect you from the other. Fares are per car and include tolls, checkpoint fees, fuel and parking, from SGD 100 one way in a Toyota Innova. See our Singapore to Johor Bahru private car page for vehicles, and our Johor Bahru to Singapore page for the ride home.
Book your city-centre mall trip
Tell us your date, pick-up address and which mall to start at. Read how to book, use our online booking page, or Whatsapp us. There is no deposit: you pay the driver on arrival.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is JB City Square still open during the renovation?
Yes. The mall is being upgraded in phases with completion targeted for Q4 2027, and it stays open throughout. Some shops have closed or moved temporarily, so check before a special trip.
Are JB City Square and KOMTAR JBCC connected?
They are next to each other on Jalan Wong Ah Fook, a few minutes’ walk apart, so it is easy to visit both in one trip.
Is there a cinema at JB City Square?
Its cinema stopped operating in September 2025. For a film, try Golden Screen Cinemas at Mid Valley Southkey or KSL City Mall.
Will the RTS Link station connect to KOMTAR JBCC?
A pedestrian bridge from Bukit Chagar station to KOMTAR JBCC is planned. RTS Link passenger service is now expected in February 2027.
Which mall is better with elderly parents?
KOMTAR JBCC is usually easier: it is smaller and less crowded. A car that drops you at the entrance avoids the walk from the checkpoint altogether.
Last updated: 14 October 2026
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