Where to live
Neighbourhoods, Housing, The IKAN Method. 9 min read.
01Neighbourhoods
Neighbourhoods we recommend
Bengaluru is a city of very different neighbourhoods, each with its own character. The one you choose decides your daily commute, so take care over it. IKAN arranges viewings of your shortlist within 48 hours of your arrival.
The map of Bengaluru loads here.
Photo: Indiranagar Seller, CC BY-SA 4.01
Indiranagar
Café culture meets tree-lined streets
₹80,000 to 2,50,000 a month
Best forCouples, senior professionals, social butterflies
Indiranagar is where Bengaluru comes to decompress, 100 Feet Road on a Saturday morning, independent bookshops, wine bars, and restaurants from every cuisine imaginable. The residential lanes behind the commercial strips are among the most sought-after addresses in the city. Tree canopy, good schools nearby, and close metro access via the Purple Line make it perennially popular with tech professionals. The downside: premium pricing and weekend traffic on the main road.
Photo: Slyronit, CC BY-SA 4.02
Koramangala
India's startup address
₹50,000 to 80,000 a month
Best forEntrepreneurs, young professionals, ORR commuters
Koramangala is the spiritual home of India's startup generation, every other building seems to house a funded company, a co-working space, or a boutique café run by someone who quit their tech job. For people moving from Hyderabad, Delhi, or Mumbai, this neighbourhood feels instantly familiar: energetic, cosmopolitan, walkable (by Bengaluru standards), and with a social infrastructure built for busy professionals. Embassy Golf Links and the ORR (the Outer Ring Road) are minutes away.
Photo: Santosh4118, CC BY-SA 4.03
Whitefield
IT corridor and gated community belt
₹38,000 to 65,000 a month
Best forFamilies, tech professionals, school-age children
Whitefield is where most Bengaluru tech relocations land, large gated communities, premium schools, ITPL and multiple tech parks within five kilometres, and now the Purple Line metro connecting it to MG Road. The neighbourhood has transformed dramatically since the metro arrival and now feels more like a self-contained township than an IT suburb. Properties are spacious for the price, and the international school cluster is the best in the city. The trade-off: getting to central Bengaluru takes time.
Photo: Devender Goyal, CC BY-SA 4.04
HSR Layout
Planned, walkable, family-ready
₹40,000 to 65,000 a month
Best forFamilies, Electronic City and ORR employees
HSR Layout, Hosur Sarjapur Road Layout, is one of Bengaluru's best-planned neighbourhoods, wide internal roads, sector-organised, with multiple parks and good grocery infrastructure. It sits between Koramangala and Electronic City, making it ideal for ORR-corridor employees. The restaurant scene on Sector 2 and Sector 7 is excellent and growing. ISRO, Wipro, and Electronic City tech parks are all commutable. The Yellow Line metro now connects Silk Board to Electronic City, significantly improving connectivity.
Photo: LittleT889, CC BY-SA 4.05
Jayanagar
Old Bengaluru charm, green and calm
₹45,000 to 70,000 a month
Best forFamilies, those seeking established character and greenery
Jayanagar is Old Bengaluru at its finest, well-established, tree-shaded, with some of the city's best Udupi restaurants, old-money charm, and a sense of permanence that newer areas lack. The 4th Block shopping street is a Bengaluru institution. The Green Line metro runs through here, and the planned Yellow Line extension will improve connectivity further. Ideal for families who want space, quality schools, and the authentic Bengaluru experience rather than a gated township setting.
Photo: कोल्हापुरी, CC BY 3.06
Hebbal / Yelahanka
Airport corridor, upmarket living
₹30,000 to 75,000 a month
Best forMNC employees, frequent flyers, aviation sector professionals
North Bengaluru has transformed into a premium residential and commercial corridor, driven by Manyata Tech Park, one of India's largest integrated business parks, and the airport proximity. Hebbal Lake gives the area green space. The upcoming Airport Metro Line (KR Puram to KIA) will make a big difference here. Properties here are premium but competitive by Bengaluru standards, and the area attracts MNC campuses and aviation-linked professionals in significant numbers.
Photo: Kailash Naik, CC BY-SA 3.07
CBD / MG Road / UB City
Central business district, walkable luxury
Best forSenior professionals, couples, those who want a central, walkable base
Bengaluru's historic core, MG Road, Brigade Road, Lavelle Road, Cunningham Road and the UB City luxury enclave. Premium apartments and serviced residences sit beside five-star hotels, fine dining and flagship retail, with the city's best-connected metro interchange at MG Road and Cubbon Park. Central to everything and walkable in the evenings, but the most expensive square-footage in the city.
Photo: Bharath Achuta Bhat, CC BY 2.08
Sarjapur Road / ORR / Bellandur
Tech corridor, newer gated communities
₹35,000 to 1,20,000 a month
Best forORR and tech-corridor employees, families wanting newer gated communities
Bengaluru's biggest technology corridor, the Outer Ring Road links Sarjapur Road and Bellandur to the Microsoft, Cisco, Wipro and Intel campuses and to Embassy Tech Village. Newer gated communities (Sobha Dream Acres, Adarsh Palm Retreat, Prestige Sunrise Park) offer modern amenities and good value for space. The catch is well known: ORR peak-hour traffic is among the heaviest in India, so live within a few kilometres of your office. Some low-lying stretches near Bellandur and Varthur lakes flood in heavy monsoon: check before signing.
Photo: Rameshng, CC BY-SA 3.09
Domlur
Central, leafy and well-connected
₹45,000 to 90,000 a month
Best forFamilies, senior professionals, those wanting a central, green base
Domlur is one of east-central Bengaluru's most established residential pockets, quiet, tree-lined layouts sitting just off Old Airport Road, a short hop from Indiranagar and the CBD. Its central position is the real draw: Indiranagar, Koramangala, the MG Road business district and the Embassy Golf Links / ORR offices are all within easy reach, and the Purple Line metro is close by. The mix of older independent houses and newer apartments suits families and senior professionals who want a calm, green base without the long tech-corridor commute. Inventory is tight and prices reflect the location, but it remains one of the most convenient addresses in the city.
IKAN's area advice: For tech corridor professionals, Whitefield or HSR Layout offers the best balance of school quality, community, and proximity to work. For lifestyle-first relocators, Indiranagar or Koramangala delivers the liveliest urban experience. IKAN shortlists three neighbourhoods matched to your priorities and arranges viewings within 48 hours of your arrival call.
| Area | 2BHK/month | 3BHK/month | 4BHK/month | Why people choose it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indiranagar / Old Airport Road | ₹23,000 to 55,000 | ₹80,000 to 2,50,000 | ₹85,000 to 4,00,000 | Social scene, metro connectivity, walkability |
| Koramangala | ₹35,000 to 55,000 | ₹50,000 to 80,000 | ₹1,35,000 to 3,50,000 | Startups, ORR access, cafés and nightlife |
| Domlur | ₹30,000 to 50,000 | ₹45,000 to 90,000 | ₹80,000 to 1,50,000 | Central, leafy, metro-adjacent, close to CBD, Indiranagar and ORR |
| Whitefield / Mahadevpura | ₹22,000 to 38,000 | ₹38,000 to 65,000 | ₹65,000 to 1,00,000 | Larger homes, schools, tech parks, metro access |
| HSR Layout | ₹25,000 to 40,000 | ₹40,000 to 65,000 | ₹95,000 to 1,80,000 | Planned layout, parks, ORR proximity |
| Jayanagar / JP Nagar | ₹18,000 to 45,000 | ₹45,000 to 70,000 | ₹70,000 to 2,50,000 | Heritage character, schools, green streets |
| Hebbal / Yelahanka | ₹17,000 to 45,000 | ₹30,000 to 75,000 | ₹45,000 to 3,10,000 | Airport connectivity, Manyata Tech Park proximity |
| Sarjapur Road / Outer Ring Road | ₹20,000 to 70,000 | ₹35,000 to 1,20,000 | ₹95,000 to 3,20,000 | Newer gated communities, schools, tech corridor access |
02Housing
What rent costs in 2026
Bengaluru's rental market is one of India's busiest. Tech workers keep demand high, so good homes go quickly, especially in the October-March joining season. Be ready to decide fast.
HOME
3BHK, good society
₹45k to 75k
per month
A tool
What a month costs
Pick a home and tick what you will pay for. Every figure is from this guide, as written.
3BHK, good society
₹65k to 1.1L a month
- Rent, 3BHK, good society₹45k to 75k
- Monthly groceries (family)₹8k to 15k
- Full-time housekeeper₹12k to 18k
One off, before you move in: the deposit, six months' rent, ₹2.7L to 4.5L at this rent.
Indicative figures from this guide. Your IKAN consultant confirms rents and fees before you act on them.
Police-verify household staff: Before engaging a full-time maid, cook, nanny or driver, complete police verification, submit the worker's ID and photo at your local police station or through the Karnataka Police app. It is quick, free and the recommended safeguard for live-in or daily household staff.
Rental Rules in Bengaluru
- Security deposit: 6 months is standard in Bengaluru, higher than many Indian cities (typically 2 to 3 months elsewhere) and worth budgeting for upfront. Negotiate hard; 3 to 4 months is achievable in a slower market.
- Lease: 11-month Lease is standard market practice, renewable annually.
- Furnishing: Most premium gated community apartments are semi-furnished (modular kitchen, wardrobes, light fittings). Fully furnished options exist but command a 20 to 30% premium.
- Documentation: Aadhaar, PAN. IKAN helps negotiate and prepare your Lease.
- TDS: Applicable when monthly rent exceeds ₹50,000 (2% TDS under Section 194-IB).
- Maintenance: Most gated societies charge ₹3 to 8 per sq ft per month separately from rent. Confirm this before signing.
A tip on the deposit: Bengaluru's 6-month deposit is a lot of money: for a ₹60,000/month apartment, that's ₹3.6 lakh upfront. IKAN's negotiators regularly bring this down to 3 to 4 months without affecting your relationship with the landlord. Factor deposit return into your move-out planning, allow 4 to 6 weeks.
03The IKAN Method
How your move works
Every relocation runs on fixed clocks. These are the sequences your IKAN consultant drives for you, from the first viewing to the day you have keys in hand.
Move-in
How your move-in inspection works
Every fixture and meter is photographed in move.report, then locked as your baseline. See a sample report.
- 1Move-in inspection with IKAN consultant
- 2Check-in: meters, keys, fixtures photographed
- 3Record made in move.report
- 424 hours to comment from receipt
- 5Report locked as move-in baseline
Lease
From walk-through to keys
Your consultant runs the term sheet, review and registration for you.
- 1Shortlist walk-through with your IKAN consultant
- 2Term sheet agreed within 48 hours
- 3Six-Eyes review: lease vetted by three IKAN reviewers
- 4e-stamp paid and agreement registered
- 5Keys handed over on possession day
Where should you live in Bengaluru?
A quick route to the right shortlist, built from the neighbourhoods in this guide.
What matters most?
- If you wantPremium, central, top schoolsLook atHSR LayoutCBDDomlur
- If you wantClose to work and the tech hubsLook atIndiranagarKoramangalaWhitefield
- If you wantMost space and value for moneyLook atJayanagar
Already moving with IKAN?
Your homes, dates and papers are in i-Navigate, IKAN's app for families. It opens with the email address your IKAN consultant has for you, then sends you a six digit code.
Open your move Not moving with IKAN yet? Write to relo@ikan.com and a consultant will reply.