Relocating to Yangon

About the City

Yangon (d믭 Rangoon by the British) is the former capital of Myanmar (previously Burma) and is still its most important city. It has a population of roughly 5.5 million, is the capital of Yangon region and lies near the coast and the Gulf of Martaban.

The city is a melting pot of ethnicities; although nowadays the Bamar (Burmans) form the majority group, there are also large pockets of Indians, other South Asians, and Chinese living in adjacent neighborhoods. Intermarriage occurs frequently between these groups.

The official language is Burmese, although English is widely spoken. Some inhabitants are now learning other languages in hopes of moving away for jobs, including Mandarin Chinese, French, Japanese, and Korean.

The Climate in Yangon

Yangon has a tropical monsoon climate, meaning conditions are usually hot and wet in the rainy season, which lasts from May to October. Conversely, the dry season from November to April sees hardly any rain at all. Temperatures remain fairly constant throughout the year, with highs ranging from 29–36°C and lows in the region of 18–25°C.

Finding Accommodation in Yangon

There is a variety of good apartments and condos that are suitable for expats moving to Yangon. Search engines where you can look for housing include Myanmar Housing, Myanmar YP, and House Myanmar.

Rents have been increasing as of late, but there has also been a boom in good quality accommodation, including several new condominiums, so you should be assured of a comfortable home without problems. Most expatriates will probably live in an apartment, at least to start with.

There is also a selection of houses available, particularly in neighborhoods such as Golden Valley, which predominantly has bungalows. These are sought after for being close to the US and Korean Embassies and the popular International School Yangon. There are also supermarkets here such as the well-equipped Citymart chain.

Condos are also common in the downtown grid-like area, which was the center of operations in the British Colonial days, near to the bustling Yaw Min Gyi district that has attractive cafes and restaurants. The suburbs are also set for development as land is more affordable for builders than in the center. Look out for high-rise properties coming in places such as Mingaladon and North and South Okkalapa.