Receiving a Compensation Package Offer for a job in HK

[Phaeax]

New guy here.

Over the past couple months I have been doing my research and going through several interviews. I am now closing in on the final set of interviews for "my" hopeful position for an International US company who operates their Hong Kong office independent of the US Company but same brand name, ect. As far as I know, this does not affect the pay scales, benefits ect for this company.

Like most, I would like a comparison so i have an idea of what to expect when we begin the negotiation process. I dont necessarily want to quit my job and move to HK only to find myself barely making it in the city.

I am in the field of Architecture but making a slight shift to the client side of Architecture. I perform work in the applications and support the applications that designers use to produce their designs. AutoCAD, Revit, Sketchup, Photoshop ect

If a the pay range of a US employee is 45K to 70K DOE. What are the realities of getting similar pay and what are those numbers equated to in HKD. So far the numbers I am coming up with seem fine, but when compared with the cost of rent in HK it really puts a damper on it.
Assuming what I make now, the high cost of living, Relocation, ect, my rule of thumb is you should only be paying 20 - 30% of your total gross income / month on rent. When I run this and everything else and I get numbers that are between 600,000 HKD and 1,000,000 HKD gross annual salary. Opinions on this method? Is this too high, ect.

This is just for me and I will be living abroad by myself

Assume that I will not be receiving relocation assistance.

I understand I cannot retain my American lifestyle (which is why I am relocating) and am prepared for living a normal life in HK.

[PDLM]

I've no idea what payscales are for architects, but the abbreviation for "et cetera" is "etc", not "ect"!

[jimbo]

What's American lifestyle exactly?

Gas guzzling V8's? Large food portions?
Right to carry arms? Wearing moo moo's to work?

[MovingIn07]

It's easier to quote HK salaries in HKD per month. So USD45 - 70k pa = 29-45,000 hkd per month.

You gain by lower taxation - on that salary, less than 15% and no US tax.
You lose by higher housing - you could probably get a cheap bachelor pad for 10-12k somewhere ok, but not large and not fabulously located.
Food and eating out are cheap; electricity is cheap; internet/phones are cheap.
But if you are an organic food freak or want US brand, not cheap.

I wouldn't relocate for 29k a month; but 45k would be fine.