Forum Hong Kong

[boudboud]

Hi there,
Looking for some feedback on the way of life and cost of living in Hong Kong. We are an Aussie family (2kids, 5 & 2) moving there in July next year.
Thanks
BoudBoud & Co

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[Joan]

Hi BoudBoud,

We have a lot of expats here in HK, and so you can have an international way of life here. For expat professionals earning decent money, areas like Mid-levels, Happy Valley, and Pokfulam are popular among the community, esp. those near int'l schools for your children. I can answer you more if you list your questions more specifically.

Regarding cost of living, I heard comments that HK is expensive. I don't feel that way, except we pay too much on housing. But again it won't be a problem if you're on a nice package or your company pays your apartment. For a family size like yours people normally live in a flat over 1000 sq ft (100 sqm), at about HK$25k-30k+ (exchange rate is floating somehow these days...pls calculate yourself). Yes, 1000-2000 sq ft is considered big and luxurious in HK already. Of course you can pay more for a more spacious flat with nice view, but that will mean a more remote/outskirt place.

If you need a car, it's another most costly thing, e.g. rent, maintenance fees and parking fees. Some people use public transport, but you may want a car for your family.

Other than that food, daily necessities, public transport, clothes so on and so forth are not expensive at all. You can go to nice restaurants in 5-star hotels or western pubs every day to spend fortune, but with regular meals in between and its famous shopping costs, you don't really need to worry about that.

Oh, as you may have known HK is famous for its low tax rate system. Good luck!

[EasyExpat]

Hi Joan,
Thank you for your comments. When you say people normally live in a flat over 1000 sq ft (100 sqm), at about HK$25k-30k+, is it the rental cost per month ? (i.e. about 3000 euros/months)... still cheaper than London.

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[Joan]

Hi Cyril,

Yes, that's monthly rental. We normally count by month here. I think houses here may be a little bit cheaper than those in centre London at this moment. Examples (1 euro = roughly 10 HK$) from current listings:

1100 sq ft HK$23k (3 rooms)
2300 sq ft HK$36k (race course view, low level, 3 rooms)
2100 sq ft HK$50k (race course view, high level, 4 rooms)
1900 sq ft HK$65k (race course view, high level, 3 rooms)
2200 sq ft HK$75k (race course view, high level, 4 rooms)
3270 sq ft HK$90k (mid-levels, harbour view, 4 rooms)
2260 sq ft HK$65k (mid-levels, harbour view, 4 rooms)
2600 sq ft HK$42k (mid-levels, 4 rooms)
1400 sq ft HK$38k (mid-levels, 3 rooms)

You can see the prices vary quite a lot due to:
- location
- building's age
- size (we count by sq ft, not by how many rooms)
- facilities (new blocks normally come with a club house)
- flat's direction
- view (it's important in HK because blocks are very close together)
- low/mid/high level within a building

Oh I'm talking about unfurnished flats. Also, the advantage for non-US expats now is that HK dollars are much cheaper, esp you get your pay in home countries.

Joan

[SybilleM]

Now the prices for apartments are higher....but everything else u will get used to it, like everywhere

[texkourgan]

Also be sure to check out the EasyExpat guide on Hong Kong: http://www.easyexpat.com/en/hong-kong.htm. Info about housing, visas, entertainment, etc.

[JDarwein]

Now the prices for apartments are higher....but everything else u will get used to it, like everywhere

Agree. Nevertheless, Hong Kong is such a great place to live because it is so unique in so many other ways.