Chow Kit, Jalan TAR & Jalan Raja Laut Shops for Rent & Sale
Chow Kit, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman (Jalan TAR) and Jalan Raja Laut make up the northern half of the old city centre, famous for fabric shops, the Chow Kit market and Hari Raya shopping. Long rows of older shoplots on busy main roads give ground-floor tenants constant passing traffic.
Chow Kit, Jalan TAR & Jalan Raja Laut shop rent and price guide
Ground-floor shops and whole shoplots only, middle half of recent market adverts
| Type | Typical price | Typical size | Per sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (monthly) | RM 8,000 to RM 13,000 | 1,500 to 2,010 sq ft | RM 4.5 to RM 7.3 |
| Sale | RM 4.28M to RM 9.20M | 4,740 to 6,500 sq ft | RM 760 to RM 1583 |
Tenure of shoplots for sale: Mostly freehold (57 of 57 adverts)
For reference only. Actual prices depend on frontage, corner position, condition and lease terms.
Compiled by Tok Ginstee (REN 37505), CID Realtors Sdn Bhd (E (1) 1855). Updated November 2026
Main shop streets in Chow Kit, Jalan TAR & Jalan Raja Laut
Chow Kit, Jalan TAR & Jalan Raja Laut shops for rent and for sale: market examples
Ground Floor Shop for Rent, Jalan Raja Laut, Chow Kit
Whole Shoplot for Sale, Jalan TAR, Chow Kit
4 Storey Shoplot for Sale, Jalan Raja Laut, Chow Kit
Where is Chow Kit and what is it known for?
Chow Kit lies north of the old city centre, between Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Raja Laut and Kampung Baru. Jalan TAR is one of Kuala Lumpur's oldest shopping streets, lined with fabric, carpet, baju Melayu and songkok shops and department stores such as SOGO, and it becomes one of the busiest retail strips in the country in the weeks before Hari Raya. The Chow Kit market (Bazar Baru Chow Kit) draws wholesale and grocery buyers early every morning, while Jalan Raja Laut adds office towers, hotels and government buildings. The result is heavy foot and vehicle traffic from early morning to evening.
Main shop streets: Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Raja Laut, Lorong Haji Taib and Jalan Chow Kit.
How much is shop rent in Chow Kit?
Chow Kit and Jalan TAR have a healthy number of recent adverts, so the ranges below are a fair guide.
| Type | Typical range | Typical size | Per sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (ground floor) | RM 8,000 to RM 13,000 a month | 1,500 to 2,010 sq ft | RM 4.5 to RM 7.3 psf |
| Sale (whole shoplot) | RM 4.28 million to RM 9.2 million | 4,740 to 6,500 sq ft | RM 760 to RM 1,583 psf |
| Tenure (sale adverts) | Mostly freehold (57 of 58) | - | - |
Typical (middle half of recent adverts), based on recent portal listings of ground-floor shops and whole shoplots.
Most shoplots for sale here are freehold (57 of 58 adverts).
The rent figures mostly reflect standard ground-floor lots; main road frontage on Jalan TAR and corner units near the monorail stations ask more. Sale prices are high because most whole shoplots here are large, older four or five-storey buildings on freehold land. Compare with the shop rent index and the Kuala Lumpur shop page.
Which ground-floor businesses do well in Chow Kit?
- Textiles, carpets and Muslim fashion: Jalan TAR's core trade, with a strong festive peak.
- Malay, Indonesian and mamak F&B: nasi campur, nasi padang and roti canai for traders, workers and shoppers.
- Wholesale and grocery: dry goods and fresh produce suppliers near the Chow Kit market.
- Pharmacy, clinic and optical: dense residents and workers give steady year round demand.
- Phone, money changer and remittance: strong demand from local and foreign workers.
- Convenience store: high passing traffic on the main roads keeps these busy all day.
What should tenants and investors check before signing?
- Main road versus back lane: frontage on Jalan TAR and Jalan Raja Laut is worth far more than inner lanes; compare footfall carefully.
- Festive seasonality: textile and fashion shops earn a large share of the year before Hari Raya; plan rent and stock around it.
- Parking and loading: roads are congested and kerbside loading is limited, which matters for wholesale and F&B.
- Building condition: many shoplots are decades old; check wiring, lifts if any, fire safety and roof.
- Licensing: the area is under DBKL; confirm approved use, signage and any five-foot way trading.
- Investment: nearly all whole shoplots for sale are freehold. Owning the whole shoplot means the upper floors add a second rental income, and the ground floor attracts covenant tenants such as banks, convenience chains, pharmacies, clinics and F&B chains.
Nearby hubs and access
The KL Monorail stops at Chow Kit and Medan Tuanku, and LRT Sultan Ismail, Bandaraya and Kampung Baru stations are within walking distance. Nearby hubs include Kampung Baru, Medan Pasar and Masjid Jamek and KLCC and Jalan Sultan Ismail.
The best units are offered privately first, so WhatsApp MCE with your area, size, budget and trade.
Chow Kit, Jalan TAR & Jalan Raja Laut: FAQ
How much is shop rent in Chow Kit and Jalan TAR?
How much is a shoplot in Jalan TAR?
What businesses do well in Chow Kit?
When is Jalan TAR busiest?
Is a Jalan TAR shoplot a good investment?
What makes a ground-floor unit in Jalan TAR prime?
Is there service tax on shop rent in Chow Kit and Jalan TAR in 2026?
The best shops in prime hubs never go online
Every shop and price on this site is a market range, so you know what an area costs. Prime ground-floor units in busy hubs are usually let or sold quietly, before any banner or portal advert, and we offer them first to people who have already told us what they need. If you want to rent, buy or sell in a prime area, WhatsApp us your area, size, budget and trade, and we will send matching units as soon as they come up.
Free location advice: Not sure where your brand fits? Tell us your trade, target customers and budget, and we will recommend the hubs and streets that suit you best, free of charge.
Free location adviceWhy work with MCE:for tenantsfor buyers and investorsfor landlords
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Commercial centres
Southgate Commercial Centre
Southgate Commercial Centre is an established shop-office and commercial address off Jalan Chan Sow Lin, on the southern edge of Kuala Lumpur city centre. Its rail connectivity and mix of offices and residences make it a steady choice for F&B, services and brand outlets.
Brickfields
Brickfields is Kuala Lumpur's Little India, a lively mix of old shophouses, temples, Indian restaurants and textile shops right next to KL Sentral, the city's main rail hub. Ground-floor shops here trade on a blend of local residents, office workers and visitors passing through KL Sentral every day.
Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI)
Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI) is an affluent, leafy neighbourhood on the western edge of Kuala Lumpur whose commercial centre is known for cafés, restaurants, bakeries and its popular wet market. High-income residents and visitors from Damansara and Bukit Kiara keep ground-floor shops in steady demand.
Chinatown, Petaling Street & Jalan Sultan
Chinatown around Petaling Street and Jalan Sultan is the oldest trading quarter of Kuala Lumpur, packed with pre-war shophouses, street food, temples and tourist markets. Restored heritage units now house cafés, bars, boutique hotels and food brands alongside long-running family trades.