28 28 schools$1,700/mo avg rentLarge expat community
KL's diplomatic enclave alongside Embassy Row, home to foreign embassy staff and senior expatriates. Close to ISKL and HELP International School.
5/5
Safety
4/5
Family Friendly
5/5
Quality of Life
4/5
Expat Friendly
5/5
Healthcare
Large
Expat Community
24-33°C
Temp Range
High
English Level
☀️ Climate & Weather
Monthly temperatures, rainfall, and sea conditions
33°C
Hottest (Jun)
23°C
Coolest (Dec)
16
Sunny days/mo avg
2475mm
Annual rainfall
Avg highAvg lowSea tempRainfall
28°
🌊 Jan
28°
🌊 Feb
29°
🌊 Mar
30°
🌊 Apr
30°
🌊 May
29°
🌊 Jun
29°
🌊 Jul
29°
🌊 Aug
29°
🌊 Sep
29°
🌊 Oct
29°
🌊 Nov
28°
🌊 Dec
💰 Cost of Living
Monthly family budget estimates (USD)
At a Glance
$1,700
Avg. rent /mo
$4.00
Budget meal
$25
Mid-range dinner (2 ppl)
Dining & Drinks
Cappuccino$3.50
Domestic beer$5.00
Imported beer$7.00
Water (1.5L)$0.55
Groceries
Loaf of bread$1.40
Milk (1L)$2.20
Dozen eggs$1.70
Chicken (1 kg)$3.40
Transport
Taxi flag-drop$0.70
Taxi per km$0.35
Monthly transit pass$28
Gasoline (per liter)$0.52
Monthly Bills
Internet$25 /mo
Utilities (avg.)$80 /mo
Gym membership$55 /mo
Domestic help$500 /mo
Preschool / nursery$500 /mo
Comfortable
A mid-range condo in the Ampang area, local or modest international school, using a mix of public transport and ride-hailing.
$4,100/mo
Rent$1,400
Groceries$500
Lifestyle & leisure$250
Transport$250
Utilities$170
Dining out$300
Healthcare$180
School fees (per child)$700
Domestic help$350
Established
A semi-detached house or large condo, mid-tier international school, car, regular dining out, and full-time domestic help.
$8,200/mo
Rent$2,800
Groceries$700
Lifestyle & leisure$480
Transport$450
Utilities$220
Dining out$550
Healthcare$300
School fees (per child)$2,000
Domestic help$700
Premium
A large bungalow or diplomatic-grade residence, top international school such as the International School of Kuala Lumpur, driver, live-in help, and country club membership.
$16,000/mo
Rent$5,500
Groceries$1,100
Lifestyle & leisure$1,200
Transport$800
Utilities$400
Dining out$1,200
Healthcare$600
School fees (per child)$3,800
Domestic help$1,400
Ampang Hilir is one of KL's most exclusive diplomatic enclaves. Housing costs are high due to large bungalows and gated compounds, though condos nearby offer more affordable options.
🌬️ Air Quality
Average monthly AQI (US EPA scale)
55Jan
58Feb
62Mar
57Apr
52May
65Jun
68Jul
88Aug
108Sep
85Oct
56Nov
52Dec
Good (0–50)Moderate (51–100)USG (101–150)Unhealthy (151+)
Yearly average AQI is 67. Best air quality Jan–Dec (best: Dec at 52). Sep–Sep air quality worsens due to heat, humidity, and dust (peak: Sep at 108). Families with children who have asthma or respiratory conditions should plan indoor activities during summer months.
👥 Demographics
45%
Expat Population
high
Income Level
~35,000
Population
Nationalities
Malay30%
Chinese20%
Japanese12%
Korean10%
European8%
Other expat10%
Other local10%
Languages Spoken
🏘️ Community & Culture
Over 40 embassies create KL's most international neighborhoodLarge Japanese and Korean expat communities with dedicated facilitiesEmbassy-hosted events and international social clubs year-roundChildren grow up in genuinely multicultural, multilingual environmentActive parent associations centered around international schools
The Diplomatic Quarter
Ampang Hilir is KL's premier diplomatic enclave, home to over 40 embassies and high commissions. This concentration of diplomatic missions gives the neighborhood a distinctly international atmosphere, with security guards, flagpoles, and gated compounds lining Jalan Ampang and its side streets.
🌳 Parks & Recreation
KLCC Park with 50-acre grounds, playground, and children's wading poolRoyal Selangor Club offering family sports and swim membershipsJapanese Club of KL with sports facilities and cultural activitiesAquaria KLCC oceanarium and Petrosains science centre for kidsTree-lined embassy boulevards ideal for morning walks and jogs
Embassy Row Green Spaces
Ampang Hilir's wide, tree-lined boulevards and embassy compounds create an unusually green streetscape for central KL. Many embassies maintain manicured grounds that contribute to the area's leafy character, and several small pocket parks dot the neighborhood.
🚗 Getting Around
ISKL campus located within the neighborhood for easy school commutesAmpang Park LRT and KLCC MRT stations for rail connectionsJalan Ampang provides direct arterial route to city centerGrab ride-hailing widely available with short wait timesSchool bus services connect to all major international schools
Driving and Traffic
Ampang Hilir sits along Jalan Ampang, one of KL's main arterial roads that connects the city center to the eastern suburbs. Morning rush hour heading toward KLCC and the city center can be heavy between 7:30 and 9:00 AM, while the return trip slows down from 5:00 to 7:30 PM. School runs to ISKL or the Japanese School are generally manageable due to their proximity.
🛒 Daily Life
Village Grocer and Japanese specialty stores for imported groceriesGleneagles and Prince Court hospitals within 10-minute driveSuria KLCC mall for shopping, dining, and entertainmentAuthentic Japanese and Korean restaurants along Jalan AmpangAffordable domestic help and household services readily available
Grocery Shopping
Great Eastern Mall and Ampang Point are the closest shopping options, with a mix of local and imported goods. Village Grocer and Jaya Grocer outlets carry a wide range of Western, Japanese, and Korean products that cater to the expat community. For authentic Japanese groceries, several specialty stores along Jalan Ampang stock imported items directly from Japan.
📝 Living with the Climate
Temperatures steady at 24-33C year-round with no cold seasonMature tree canopy provides meaningful shade along embassy rowAfternoon thunderstorms typically clear within 1-2 hoursAugust-October haze season may restrict outdoor school activitiesAll residences and schools equipped with air conditioning
Year-Round Tropical Heat
Ampang Hilir shares KL's equatorial climate with temperatures hovering between 24C and 33C throughout the year. The mature tree canopy along embassy row provides meaningful shade, making outdoor walks more bearable than in more exposed parts of the city.
