For all this long list of buying stuff, I find the cost of living here a lot, lot cheaper than the UK. I'm spending more on food and beverage, but:
- don't have kids. I suppose that's the big one
- no need for a car. You don't have to travel far to get what you want. Taxis and public transport are dirt cheap.
- rent in London isn't that much cheaper than HK, and is more than offset by the lower taxes here
- utilities and mobile phone bills are negligible.
- durables and clothing are available online, and when shipped from the UK they are VAT free.
- there is a limit to the shit you can buy before your flat is full.
- I haven' sought to buy, maintain or repair a boat. Mind you I didn't do that when I lived in London.
Property and education are the only truly unavoidably expensive things that blow a massive hole in one's budget. The rest of the OP list are optional rather than essential items that you don't really have to have to live in HK.
If you take away cost related to housing or education, it is possible to live reasonably frugally in HK. Of course, how many of us are in the fortunate position to not consider housing cost though?
Reading this thread just made me think of some local friends who used to just go across the border at the weekend because everything was so much cheaper - food, drinks, entertainment, shopping. And if you live there, you are pretty spoilt by Taobao and a delivery services etc.
That could be an option for people who want to kind of live in Hong Kong but find it expensive.
Having a girlfriendHong Kong is one of the most expensive places on earth for
Hmmmm...depends on how you define "fun". There are a few interesting spots in this city where it may not be so convenient to get to by public transport (or take a long time) where a car might be useful in that case. Places like going up Route Twisk to Tai Mo Shan, Bride's pool at Tai Po, Inspiration Lake at Disneyland or sampling some seafood at Lau Fau Shan. You can either pay $$$ for the taxi or be willing to be willing to sit in the bus a long time to get there. But with a car, its a lot more direct and quicker.
Of course, now you can ask, is it worth getting a car just to go to those places on the rare occasion? Good point, well, that's no right or wrong answer to that, it all depends on your personal preference.