What is INFINITY8 and Where Are its JB Locations?
INFINITY8 is a Malaysia-based corporate solutions provider offering premium coworking spaces, private offices, HR, recruitment and Employer of Record (EOR) services — all under one roof. With over 14 locations across Malaysia and 9 branches in Johor Bahru alone, it is one of the most established coworking networks in the country.
This article focuses on two of its most strategically significant JB locations within the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ): INFINITY8 Reserve JBCC, near the Johor-Singapore Causeway, and INFINITY8 Reserve IIB, near the Second Link (Tuas). For Singapore-based professionals and businesses looking to reduce overhead without sacrificing quality, these two locations represent a practical, fully serviced alternative to Singapore CBD office space.
The Story
If you’ve ever spent an hour stuck in Causeway traffic just to get to your desk, you already know the answer: commuting from Singapore every day is exhausting, expensive and completely unnecessary.
The numbers tell the story. The Johor-Singapore Causeway is one of the busiest border crossings in the world, averaging 350,000 travellers and 100,000 vehicles daily. During peak periods, especially on school holidays and weekends, the figure surges past 400,000. On a record-breaking day in March 2024, immigration authorities recorded 510,000 crossings in a single day. When you’re stuck in that queue at 7:45am, that stat feels very real.
On top of the commute, the cost gap between the two sides of the Causeway is substantial. Singapore’s prime office space (Category 1 – Downtown Core and Orchard) runs at around SGD11.52 per sq ft per month. Johor Bahru, by comparison, recorded a modest 0.1% rental growth in 2024 – a market that still strongly favours tenants. For a growing startup or an SME expanding regionally, that difference matters enormously.
More Singapore-based professionals, remote workers and corporate teams are setting up their workspace on the Johor Bahru side – and for good reason. Office space costs a fraction of what you’d pay in the CBD and with the right coworking provider, you don’t give up a single amenity in the trade.
INFINITY8 isn’t just a coworking space – it’s a full-suite corporate solutions provider offering coworking, recruitment and HR solutions. Think of it as your complete back-office infrastructure, minus the overhead.
And right now, they have two standout locations for the JB-Singapore corridor: INFINITY8 Reserve IIB and INFINITY8 Reserve JBCC. Each one is strategically positioned near a different Singapore crossing, which changes everything depending on how you commute.
What Are the Two JB-Singapore Crossings?
For anyone new to the JB-Singapore crossing, there are two main entry points:
The Causeway (Johor Bahru City Centre side) is the older, more central crossing. It connects the heart of JB directly to Woodlands, Singapore. It’s the busiest international land border in the world by volume – convenient if you’re heading into central or eastern Singapore, but notorious for peak-hour queues. Waiting times average 45 to 90 minutes and during peak periods like Friday evenings or public holiday weekends, queues can exceed 3 hours.
The Second Link / Tuas Link connects the west of JB to Tuas, Singapore’s industrial and western hub. It’s significantly less congested than the Causeway, making it the preferred choice if your destination is Jurong, Tuas, Boon Lay or the western MRT corridor. For many professionals, choosing the Second Link alone saves 30-60 minutes each way.
Here’s some good news on the horizon: the JB-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link, connecting Bukit Chagar in JB to Woodlands North MRT in Singapore, is expected to open by the end of 2026. The 4km journey will take approximately 5 minutes, with capacity for 10,000 passengers per hour in each direction – projected to reduce Causeway crossing numbers by up to 35%.
Now here’s why this matters: INFINITY8’s locations are anchored to one of these crossings. Your commute pattern should be a key factor in deciding which one to call your workspace.
What is the JS-SEZ and Why Does It Matter for Businesses?
On 7 January 2025, Malaysia and Singapore formally signed the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) agreement – a landmark bilateral commitment spanning over 3,500km² of southern Johor (more than four times the size of Singapore itself). The JS-SEZ covers nine flagship zones, including Johor Bahru City Centre and the Iskandar Malaysia region – precisely where INFINITY8’s two locations sit.
Since the initial JS-SEZ MOU in January 2024, Singapore-based companies have committed more than $5.5 billion in investments into Johor. The zone is projected to generate 20,000 high-skilled jobs through 100 high-impact projects over the next decade. Property transactions in Iskandar Malaysia have already jumped 16%, with total investment value up to 36%.
For businesses, the practical benefits are already taking shape:
- Customs procedures have been simplified (a single transhipment permit now replaces the previous two)
- Passport-free QR clearance is live at land checkpoints
- A dedicated Invest Malaysia Facilitation Centre-Johor (IMFC-J) launched in February 2025 to fast-track approvals for companies setting up in the zone.
In short: JB isn’t just a cheaper alternative to Singapore anymore. It’s an officially designated economic powerhouse, with both governments actively competing to attract businesses here.
Which INFINITY8 Location is Right for Your Commute?
If you’re still unsure, the simplest rule: think about where you go in Singapore most often. That destination, more than anything else, should guide which crossing and therefore which INFINITY8 location makes sense for your daily working life.
Why are Singapore Professionals Choosing to Work from Johor Bahru?
It’s a fair question. Here’s the honest answer: office space in Singapore, even shared coworking, costs dramatically more per square foot than comparable quality in JB. Prime Singapore office space runs at SGD11.52 per sq ft per month. JB’s market, by contrast, grew just 0.1% in 2024 and remains firmly tenant-friendly.
The cost-of-living differential is equally stark. Research puts the overall cost of living in Singapore at 186% more expensive than in Johor Bahru – meaning the standard of living that costs RM8,500 a month in JB would require roughly RM24,300 (SGD7,832) in Singapore.
For a growing startup, an SME, MNC or a regional team, the savings are meaningful. Add to that:
- JS-SEZ tax incentives for qualifying industries – applications are open from 2025 through to 2034
- Simplified cross-border operations with a single-permit customs clearance from January 2025
- The “twinning” model endorsed by the JS-SEZ: keep your Singapore HQ for high-value functions, base cost-efficient operations in Johor
- Less congestion and noise compared to Singapore’s CBD neighbouroods
- Modern, high-spec coworking infrastructure that matches anything you’d find in Singapore
The tradeoff used to be access – JB felt far. But with the QR-code immigration clearance already reducing wait times by more than 30% and the RTS Link due by end-2026 for a 5-minute crossing, that equation is shifting fast. Many professionals already cross two or three times a week rather than daily and spend the rest of their time working from a JB base.
INFINITY8’s model is specifically designed for this reality. You’re not just renting a desk – you’re plugging into a corporate infrastructure that lets a JB-registered entity operate with the same professionalism as any Singapore office.
The Bottom Line
Whether you’re a solo professional looking to cut overheads, a Singapore company exploring regional expansion under the JS-SEZ or a remote team that wants a professional base without the CBD price tag – Johor Bahru is no longer a compromise. It’s a strategy!
And within JB, the crossing you use every day should shape your workspace choice:
- Heading into central Singapore? INFINITY8 Reserve JBCC puts you on the Causeway side, right in the city centre – with the future RTS rail connection on the way.
- Heading to Jurong or Tuas? INFINITY8 Reserve IIB near the Second Link gets you there faster, with less stress, inside a thriving Iskandar investment zone.
Both locations give you the same premium INFINITY8 experience: modern coworking spaces, private offices and a full roster of HR, recruitment and Employer of Record (EOR) services – if you need one.
Interested in visiting either location? INFINITY8 offers a FREE tour. Reach out today to find out more about the available plans at INFINITY Reserve JBCC and INFINITY Reserve IIB.
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FAQs
- Which INFINITY8 location is better for Singapore commuters using the Causeway?
INFINITY8 Reserve JBCC is the better choice for professionals who cross via the Johor-Singapore Causeway into Woodlands, central Singapore or the eastern corridor. It is situated in Johor Bahru City Centre, a JS-SEZ flagship zone, and will benefit directly from the JB-Singapore RTS Link, expected to open by the end of 2026, reducing the crossing to approximately 5 minutes by rail.
- When will the JB-Singapore RTS Link open and how does it affect the commute?
The JB-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link is expected to open by the end of 2026. It will connect Bukit Chagar station in Johor Bahru to Woodlands North MRT in Singapore, covering 4km in approximately 5 minutes. The system is designed to carry 10,000 passengers per hour in each direction and is projected to reduce daily Causeway crossing numbers by up to 35%. INFINITY8 Reserve JBCC, located on the JB City Centre side, is directly positioned to benefit from this rail link.
- What is the JS-SEZ and how does it benefit businesses?
The Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) is a bilateral economic agreement signed by Malaysia and Singapore on 7 January 2025. It covers over 3,500 km² of southern Johor across nine flagship zones — including Johor Bahru City Centre and Iskandar Malaysia, where INFINITY8’s locations sit. Benefits for businesses include JS-SEZ tax incentives (open for applications from 2025 to 2034), simplified customs with a single transhipment permit, passport-free QR border clearance, and a dedicated facilitation centre (IMFC-J) to fast-track company set-up approvals.
- How much cheaper is office space in Johor Bahru vs Singapore?
Singapore’s prime office space (Category 1 — Downtown Core and Orchard) costs approximately SGD 11.52 per sq ft per month. Johor Bahru’s office rental market recorded only 0.1% growth in 2024 and remains strongly tenant-friendly, meaning comparable workspace in JB can cost a fraction of equivalent Singapore CBD rates. Beyond office costs, the overall cost of living in Singapore is estimated at 186% higher than in Johor Bahru.
- Can a Singapore company set up operations at INFINITY8 in Johor Bahru?
Yes. INFINITY8 is well-suited for Singapore companies expanding into Malaysia under the JS-SEZ “twinning” model — keeping the Singapore entity for high-value or client-facing functions while basing cost-efficient operations in Johor. INFINITY8 provides Employer of Record (EOR) and HR services that allow companies to onboard Malaysian-based staff without having to immediately set up a full local entity, making it a practical entry point for regional expansion.
