# School Construction Cost Planning: Johor Bahru, Malaysia > Johor Bahru school cost planning using the World Bank ICP 2021 national construction price-level index of 44.5, plus a GeoNames-based local comparable-search shortlist. - Canonical: https://harth.build/resources/construction-costs/school-construction-cost-johor-bahru-my/ - Last updated: 2026-09-15 - Data source: National screening observation from the [World Bank ICP 2021 API](https://api.worldbank.org/v2/sources/90/country/MYS/classification/PX.WL/series/1501200/time/YR2021/data?format=json) and [ICP data documentation](https://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/icp/data); locality and population from the [GeoNames MY dump](https://download.geonames.org/export/dump/MY.zip) (CC BY 4.0 snapshot 2026-08-26, GeoNames ID 1732752). The PLI is not a city cost/m² rate, current escalation series or tender estimate. ## Key facts | Fact | Value | | --- | --- | | National construction PLI | 44.5 (World Bank ICP 2021; World = 100) | | Screening ratio to world | 0.445 (dimensionless PLI ÷ 100; not a city location factor) | | Locality reference | 1.4655, 103.7578 (GeoNames ID 1732752) | | Snapshot population | 858,118 (2 of 50 listed Malaysia places) | | Nearest listed peer | Kampung Larkin Lama · 4 km (great-circle distance between GeoNames reference points) | | Estimate currency | MYR (obtain a current local rate and named base date) | ## Direct answer For early school construction cost planning in Johor Bahru, the World Bank ICP reports a 2021 Malaysia construction price-level index of 44.5, with the world equal to 100. This is a national comparison—not a Johor Bahru MYR/m² rate or tender estimate—so replace it with current local evidence before budgeting or procurement. The observation covers construction across Malaysia in 2021; it does not measure a Johor Bahru market basket or current school tenders. GeoNames 1732752 records the locality at 1.4655, 103.7578, with snapshot population 858,118. That ranks Johor Bahru 2 of 50 listed places, while Kampung Larkin Lama is the nearest listed peer at about 4 km. Use these facts only to plan the comparable search. Obtain current local rates on a consistent area basis, then reconcile scope, taxes, fees, contingency and escalation. Retain the source, base date and reviewer when local evidence replaces the screening ratio. *Content and cited inputs reviewed by [Scott Barrington](https://nz.linkedin.com/in/barrington), Harth founder and architectural technology specialist · Published 2026-08-26 · Updated 2026-09-15.* ## What does the 44.5 construction index mean? The World Bank ICP 2021 construction PLI for **Malaysia is 44.5**, compared with a world benchmark of 100. It is a national spatial price comparison assembled for the 2021 reference year. It does not say that school work in Johor Bahru costs 0.445 times a current world rate. ## Which Johor Bahru inputs are known? The reproducible locality point is **1.4655, 103.7578** (GeoNames 1732752). Its snapshot population is **858,118**, ranked 2 of 50 listed places; GeoNames classifies it as a first-order administrative seat in administrative area 01. These facts shape the local comparable search, not the price. ## What must a project estimate add? For a Johor Bahru school project, reconcile teaching spaces, specialist rooms, safeguarding, sports provision and external works. Use a consistent gross-floor-area basis and record the following before reliance. | Estimate field | Screening record | Project requirement | | --- | --- | --- | | National context | ICP 2021 PLI 44.5 | Retain only as dated cross-country context | | Local MYR/m² rate | Not supplied | Current comparable with named source and base date | | Area and scope | Gross floor area; scope unresolved | Measurement standard, specification and procurement route | | Additions | Not supplied | Taxes, fees, site work, contingency and escalation | | Review | Automated source and arithmetic QA | Qualified local cost review | ## Johor Bahru comparable-location search screen This shortlist is computed from the checked GeoNames snapshot. Distance and population help prioritize where to request comparables; neither is used as a cost multiplier. | Listed place | Great-circle km from Johor Bahru | Snapshot population | Admin area | | --- | ---: | ---: | --- | | Kampung Larkin Lama | 4 | 500,000 | 01 | | Kampung Kangkar Teberau | 7 | 412,373 | 01 | | Pelentong | 10 | 583,640 | 01 | | Mukim Pulai | 13 | 505,661 | 01 | | Bandar Seri Alam | 14 | 220,000 | 01 | | Kampung Baru Subang | 310 | 833,571 | 12 | | Petaling Jaya | 301 | 807,879 | 12 | | Ipoh | 457 | 759,952 | 07 | ## Price-level normalization worksheet For a validated reference rate **R** from a country with construction PLI **P**, the transparent screening calculation is **R × (44.5 ÷ P)**. At P = 100 the dimensionless ratio is 0.445; no world cost rate is asserted. Keep the reference rate's currency, base date, area basis and scope attached. | Input | Recorded value | Release condition | | --- | --- | --- | | Target national PLI | 44.5 (World = 100, 2021) | Screening context only | | Reference construction PLI P | User-supplied from the same ICP classification/year | Must match reference rate country | | Validated reference rate R | User-supplied | Named source, currency, date, area and scope | | Local Johor Bahru adjustment | Not asserted | Replace with current local comparable evidence | | Result status | Screening normalization | Not a budget, quote or tender estimate | ## Where can you explore related guidance? - [Explore all construction costs guidance](https://harth.build/resources/construction-costs.md) - [Office Construction Cost Planning: Johor Bahru, Malaysia](https://harth.build/resources/construction-costs/office-construction-cost-johor-bahru-my.md) - [House Construction Cost Planning: Johor Bahru, Malaysia](https://harth.build/resources/construction-costs/house-construction-cost-johor-bahru-my.md) - [Retail Construction Cost Planning: Johor Bahru, Malaysia](https://harth.build/resources/construction-costs/retail-construction-cost-johor-bahru-my.md) - [School Construction Cost Planning: Kampung Larkin Lama, Malaysia](https://harth.build/resources/construction-costs/school-construction-cost-kampung-larkin-lama-my.md) - [All construction costs guidance for Malaysia](https://harth.build/resources/construction-costs/malaysia.md) - [Daylight & Orientation: Johor Bahru, Malaysia](https://harth.build/resources/solar-data/daylight-orientation-johor-bahru-my.md) - [Solar Altitude & Azimuth: Johor Bahru, Malaysia](https://harth.build/resources/solar-data/solar-altitude-azimuth-johor-bahru-my.md) - [Solar Shading Design: Johor Bahru, Malaysia](https://harth.build/resources/solar-data/solar-shading-design-johor-bahru-my.md) - [Sun Path: Johor Bahru, Malaysia](https://harth.build/resources/solar-data/sun-path-johor-bahru-my.md) ## Sources and method National screening observation from the [World Bank ICP 2021 API](https://api.worldbank.org/v2/sources/90/country/MYS/classification/PX.WL/series/1501200/time/YR2021/data?format=json) and [ICP data documentation](https://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/icp/data); locality and population from the [GeoNames MY dump](https://download.geonames.org/export/dump/MY.zip) (CC BY 4.0 snapshot 2026-08-26, GeoNames ID 1732752). The PLI is not a city cost/m² rate, current escalation series or tender estimate. ### Source links - [api.worldbank.org](https://api.worldbank.org/v2/sources/90/country/MYS/classification/PX.WL/series/1501200/time/YR2021/data?format=json) - [worldbank.org](https://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/icp/data) - [download.geonames.org](https://download.geonames.org/export/dump/MY.zip) ## Frequently asked questions ### Does the 44.5 index give a school cost per m² for Johor Bahru? No. 44.5 is the World Bank ICP 2021 national construction price-level index for Malaysia, with the world equal to 100. It is a cross-country screening statistic, not a Johor Bahru MYR/m² rate, escalation index, quote or tender estimate. ### How should a Johor Bahru school estimate replace this screening benchmark? Collect current Johor Bahru comparables on a consistent gross-floor-area basis, reconcile teaching spaces, specialist rooms, safeguarding, sports provision and external works, and state base date, currency, taxes, fees, site work, contingency and escalation. A qualified local cost professional should review the resulting project estimate. --- - Continue in Harth (open this topic in the Harth agent): https://app.harth.build/agent?context=%2Fresources%2Fconstruction-costs%2Fschool-construction-cost-johor-bahru-my%2F - View this page in a browser: https://harth.build/resources/construction-costs/school-construction-cost-johor-bahru-my/ - All resources for agents: https://harth.build/llms.txt