As the federal capital and most populous city in Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur has emerged as a major attraction for white-collar, Western expats throughout the years. Much like Singapore, expats from the United States and Britain are attracted to Kuala Lumpur due to its rising quality of education and health care, as well as its improving infrastructure. Unlike Singapore, however, Kuala Lumpur offers expats a cost-effective place to say while sustaining a high standard of living. There are many diverse areas throughout Kuala Lumpur in which to reside, but expats clearly seem to favor certain neighborhoods over others. Although the increasing expat population has driven up property values slightly, there are still many affordable options available to those looking to relocate to Kuala Lumpur.Mont Kiara
Mont Kiara is a prosperous township located northwest of Kuala Lumpur’s city center. Composed of mostly residential condominiums and office complexes, Mont Kiara is just a 15 minute drive to the downtown district. As the fastest growing expat neighborhood in this city, many families are attracted to Kuala Lumpur due to the existence of high quality international schools and centrally located commercial districts. Kuala Lumpur features a well-developed highway system to help expats get around, providing a short ride to other major locations such as Bangsar and Damansara.
Bangsar
Bangsar is a wealthy residential suburb situated on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, just southwest of the city’s center. As one of the oldest expat destinations in Kuala Lumpur, Bangsar has a historical, retro feel to it. Many expats that choose to live here are quite wealthy, as it has achieved the status of being one of the city’s trendiest neighborhoods. Consequently, the neighborhood is now home to many shopping districts, cafés and bars. Located near other popular areas such as Mont Kiara and Damansara, Bangsar is a great option for those needing to be close to the central city for work. Additionally, the neighborhood is located a short distance from Kuala Lumpur Sentral, a central transportation location.
Damansara, Selangor
Damansara is named after the Damansara River located nearby the neighborhood and is easily one of the most densely populated areas of Kuala Lumpur. Unlike Mont Kiara and Bangsar, expats looking for more moderately priced housing can find such in this area. Therefore, those just starting their expat ventures can expect to find reasonably priced residences here.
Home to the most diverse of all of the expat neighborhoods in Kuala Lumpur, Damansara is a great area for families. There are multiple private schools located here and higher learning institutions are also situated nearby. Additionally, there are multiple commercial shopping areas, providing everything that a family may need in one area. Located further away from the city center, it can take up to 30 minutes to travel back to the city center and about 15 minutes to reach either Mont Kiara or Bangsar.
Kuala Lumpur City Center
Western expats looking for the perfect and most central of locations should definitely focus their house-hunting expeditions in Kuala Lumpur’s City Center. Although extremely busy during the day, nighttime brings solace to expats living in their choice of either condominiums or apartments. Because of the location, expats living in this area can expect to find a wide variety of restaurants, shopping and entertainment, allowing them to explore and acclimate to the culture of Kuala Lumpur. While not ideal for families, living in the City Center can be great for couples or individuals looking to be close to work and play.
Desa ParkCity
Desa ParkCity is a community located in the affluent northwestern area of Kuala Lumpur. It is connected to the city center by major highways and is just a short distance from Mont Kiara and Damansara. Made up of a combination of different neighborhoods, expats that choose to live in this family-oriented community can expect to find community ties and values hard to come by in other areas of the city. The community also includes neighborhood conveniences, parks and sports centers.
Expats in Kuala Lumpur have a vast array of options when it comes to seeking out residency in their new location. Choosing a neighborhood is dependent on an expat’s needs, requirements and budget. Known to be more affordable than other locations, expats can expect many options of neighborhoods to live in when deciding on a place to live in this Malaysian metropolitan destination.
