It’s no secret that here at Eureka Expat we’ve long been singing the praises of Malaysia, as well as the best neighborhoods to live in Kuala Lumpur, which provide quite possibly the most livable and best place for expats to live on the planet, of which is covered even further in-depth in an article listing all the reasons why, right here.
It’s also no surprise that a growing number of well-informed prospective digital nomads, entrepreneurs, retirees, and expats who have already come to to conclusion that Malaysia is easily one of the top destinations to live, work, and play in all of Southeast Asia, have also already become acquainted with the nation’s gorgeous capital city of Kuala Lumpur.
Being home to about a quarter of the nation’s 8.5 million or so people, KL, as the locals affectionately refer to the capital, like its more globally known neighbor city to the south in Singapore, were both he hewn out of the swampy jungles of the Malay peninsula, to become what they are today – some of the most futuristic and gorgeous hubs for travel, finance, investment, etc, on the planet.
But unlike Singapore, Kuala Lumpur still promises a far greater diversity of investment options, far more affordable living standards, without sacrificing one iota on quality, and an overall freer way of life, making it the smartest choice for big city living in the entire Southeast Asian region. But being a massive city of 8.5 million people, and sprawling all throughout the Klang Valley, makes KL somewhat complicated for first-timers, looking for the best places to base themselves out of for the short and long term.
Thankfully, that’s where we come in – after having lived in Malaysia myself, and KL in particular, I can truly attest to where I’ve gauged would be the best neighborhoods to live in Kuala Lumpur for investment, or for simply just renting and settling in to your best new life, here in what may just be the greatest city on Earth. So without further ado, here are my top 5 best neighborhoods to live in Kuala Lumpur!
#1: Bukit Bintang
Possibly one of the most famous neighborhoods in the city, is the hustling and bustling Bukit Bintang, home to some of the nicest shopping centers, hotels, and rental properties in the entire country, and easily one of the best neighborhoods to live in Kuala Lumpur.
Conveniently connected by multiple lines of public transport (monorail, bus, subway), as well as flanked on both sides by world class restaurants, entertainment facilities, nightclubs, and street performers, Bukit Bintang is where all the excitement happens, truly representing the never-sleeping heart of Kuala Lumpur at its absolute finest.
If you are a young professional looking for the time of their life, or just want to experience a fusion of Hong Kong and New York City on the daily, then definitely look closer at Bukit Bintang – one of my favorite places in Malaysia’s capital city, and definitely one of the best neighborhoods to live in Kuala Lumpur.
#2: Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC)
Known for being the heart of KL’s financial district, the ritzy, flashy, and elegant KLCC also pays host to Malaysia’s most famous landmark – the world-renowned twin Petronas Towers, the sixth tallest buildings on Earth, as well as the gorgeous KLCC Park below, illuminated nightly by a colorful water show that puts those of the like at the Bellagio in Las Vegas on notice.
Well connected by multiple subway lines to the rest of the city, KLCC also has some of the best prime real estate for investment and rentals in all of Malaysia, let alone some of the highest class retailers and restaurants that easily rank on the level of those found in Singapore, Tokyo, and Bangkok.
If you are massively business oriented, and plan on working with major multi-national corporations and financial institutions, or would simply like to experience Malaysia’s capital city at its most exclusive and flashy, then look no further than KLCC – truly one of the best neighborhoods to live in Kuala Lumpur.
#3: Brickfields
Yet another amazing district within Kuala Lumpur is Brickfields, which is not only one of the best neighborhoods to live in Kuala Lumpur, but also one of its most culturally interesting as well. Stretching south from the Petaling Street Market, one of the best and varied local shopping streets in the city (and also filled to the brim with convincing, as well as very affordable, fakes from famous brands such as Louis Vuitton, North Face, and adidas), it is here that you will find the city’s sprawling Chinatown heart.
Perhaps one of the most famous attractions in Brickfields is the gorgeous Thean Hou Temple, which offers a lovely view of the city from atop its fiery red pillars, as well as the nearby National Mosque of Malaysia (Masjid Negara), which offers up very unique architectural delights, as well as a beautiful, peaceful fusion of color and culture that Malaysia is well known for.
If you are looking for a bit more of a peaceful neighborhood to settle down in, but still want a daily infusion of cultural diversity, then look no further – because Brickfields is definitely for you, and definitely one of the best neighborhoods to live in Kuala Lumpur.
#4: Chow Kit
A bit farther north from KLCC and Brickfields is Chow Kit, another major core district that serves as not only one of the best neighborhoods to live in Kuala Lumpur, but also host to gorgeous views of Kuala Lumpur’s second most famous landmark – the venerable Menara Tower.
Being very close to major historical icons as well, like the beautiful, British colonial Merdeka Square, which poignantly also became the first site that the Union Jack was lowered, and the Malaysian flag was hoisted, Chow Kit is filled to the brim with KL’s cultural heritage, in addition to all its shopping malls and restaurants galore.
If you are a history lover, looking for a daily taste of Malaysia’s past, present, and future, or simply enjoy gazing out at the beauty of Menara, then Chow Kit, one of the best neighborhoods to live in Kuala Lumpur, is definitely the place for you!
#5: Bangsar
Last but certainly not least is the upscale, almost suburbian neighborhood of Bangsar – another one of the best neighborhoods to live in Kuala Lumpur, and yet also very different then those aforementioned for it’s calmer, quieter nature on the whole, as compared to the constant bustle of KL’s more popular districts.
Bangsar Village, within Bangsar proper, serves as a low-key, but very nice shopping and dining center, and housing for both purchase and renting in this district on the whole offers some of the best value for your money (in an already quite affordable country, by Western standards, in Malaysia).
If you are looking to be close to the action of a major city, but prefer your daily life to be a quieter one, and value peace, calm, tranquility, and options – then Bangsar is right up your alley as one of the best neighborhoods to live in Kuala Lumpur, and definitely the best one for you.
DESTINATION: Malaysia, The Most Fascinating Place on Planet Earth
It really must be said that if you’ve read this far, and you’ve already decided on making both Malaysia and Kuala Lumpur your future home, then I am once again very happy to confirm your choice – as although these may be the top 5 best neighborhoods to live in Kuala Lumpur, you can’t really go wrong in a city as massive and sprawling, yet as interesting and exciting as this.
Malaysia truly is one of the most beautiful countries on Earth, in every single way, and for any prospective expats who decide to move here, I offer my dearest welcome to the best days of the rest of your life – if paradise really does exist, then it couldn’t be too far off from what Malaysia is to me.
So there you have it, the best neighborhoods to live in Kuala Lumpur! But if you are still not convinced that Malaysia’s capital city is your best option, why not take a look at my in-depth article on the other top cities to move to in Malaysia? Meanwhile, if you are still trying to compare and contrast other nations in the Southeast Asia region, feel free to take a look at my thorough analysis of the best nations to live in within the region right here, to better help you make your final moving decisions.
I wish you the very best on your personal journey of discovery, travel, and adventure – terima kasih, thank you for reading!