AC7 (Ridewell Travel)
Best for SG residents in the northeast — Yishun, Sembawang, Khatib, Ang Mo Kio. Cheapest of the three at SGD 2.50 by EZ-Link.
- SG → JBSGD 2.50 EZ-Link
- JB → SGRM 6 cash
Cross-border bus from Singapore to JB
Three operators run the SG-JB route — AC7, Causeway Link, and SJE. Which one suits your starting point, destination, and group size? Plus when door-to-door private chauffeur wins outright.
If you’re crossing the Causeway by bus, three operators cover the bulk of cross-border traffic. They start from different corners of Singapore and end at different parts of JB. Pick the wrong one and you add 30+ minutes to your trip — pick the right one and the bus is one of the cheapest cross-border options around.
The three main operators
Causeway Link (CW1–CW7)
Largest operator with 7 routes covering Kranji to JB Sentral, Bugis to Larkin, Newton to JPO, Jurong to Perling. Most route flexibility.
- SG → JBSGD 5 (EZ-Link / Visa / MC)
- JB → SGRM 6
SJE (Singapore-Johore Express)
Most frequent of the three — every 7-20 min from Bugis. Goes to Larkin (long-distance bus connection) rather than JB Sentral. Cash-friendly.
- SG → JBSGD 3.30 cash
- JB → SGRM 4.80
Other cross-border operators worth knowing if your trip isn’t a straight JB Sentral run: Transtar Cross Border (TS1) runs Changi Airport ↔ Larkin JB at S$11/head and onward long-haul to KL / Malacca / Genting; Causeway Link Express + Skybus covers the SG ↔ KLIA combo; WTS Travel is a private-hire alternative; Woodlands Transport serves Singapore-side suburban routes feeding the Causeway. Each has its own use case — the comparisons above pair them honestly with our chauffeur option.
Which bus should I take?
Match your starting SG corner to the most direct operator:
- From Yishun / Sembawang / Khatib: AC7 from Yishun ITH
- From Woodlands / Marsiling / Kranji: Causeway Link CW1 from Kranji MRT
- From Bugis / Bras Basah / River Valley: SJE or Causeway Link CW2 from Queen Street Terminal
- From Newton / Orchard / River Valley: Causeway Link CW5 (to JB Sentral) or CW7 (to JPO for shopping)
- From Jurong / Boon Lay / Pioneer: Causeway Link CW3 (Jurong Town Hall) or CW6 (Boon Lay)
- From Sentosa: Causeway Link CW4 (to Larkin)
- Going to JPO for shopping: Causeway Link CW7 — direct, no transfers
- Going to Larkin for onward bus to KL / Mersing / Desaru: SJE or Causeway Link CW2/CW4
- Going to JB Sentral or City Square: AC7 (from Yishun) or Causeway Link CW1 (from Kranji)
Cost comparison: bus vs private chauffeur
| Group size | Bus total (cheapest) | Private chauffeur (Jumppy) | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 pax, JB Sentral only | ~SGD 5 (one bus + walk) | SGD 75 (Std Car) | Bus |
| 2 pax, JB Sentral + onward Grab | ~SGD 16 + Grab | SGD 75 | Roughly even |
| 3 pax door-to-door | ~SGD 30 + 2 Grabs | SGD 75 | Chauffeur |
| 4 pax with luggage | Awkward — buses don’t fit luggage | SGD 90 (7-seater MPV) | Chauffeur |
| Multi-stop or fixed timing | Bus schedule rigid | SGD 75–140 by tier | Chauffeur |
Door-to-door time on a clear day: bus is ~95 min (home → Grab/MRT to bus stop → bus board → SG immigration → MY immigration → bus arrive at JB Sentral → onward Grab to final dest). Chauffeur is ~60 min (home → causeway → final dest, no transfers).
When the bus isn’t the right call
- Heavy luggage — overhead racks fit hand bags, not check-in suitcases
- Hospital admission with bags — multi-transfer is hard for the patient
- Group of 3+ — fares add up; chauffeur becomes per-person cheaper
- Friday evening / Sunday return peaks — Causeway queues stretch 60–120 min for buses; chauffeurs use dedicated lanes
- Going beyond JB Sentral / Larkin — onward Grab eats the savings if you’re going to Iskandar Puteri / Bukit Indah / Mount Austin / KSL
- Onward to KL, KLIA, Penang — chauffeur runs the entire trip in one vehicle, no Larkin transfer