Standard of living in Hong Kong

[santoshgokhale]

Hi,

I need to tell my prospective employer about my expected salary...I have no idea about the standard of living in Hong Kong...I would appreciate if anybody out there would throw some light on various expenses which a family of 3 (3 mths daughter) would incur in HK...

I need to know expenses on Accomodation, travelling, medicenes, food, tax etc which a family would generally spent in a month...

Regards

Santosh

[KnowItAll]

http://www.geoexpat.com/forum/showth...p?threadid=247

[JJexpat]

Santosh, there are way too many variables to know how to answer your question. Where will you work and what is your tolerance for living somewhere else? Will your spouse/partner be working or at home? Will that influence location? Do you like urban living or prefer something green? Hong Kong is extremely convenient in terms of transportation, so you have a lot of options.

For myself, I chose to live on Kowloon side equidistant from my too offices and boss in Central. That puts me in Mongkok (actually Prince Edward) which many expats can't seem to get over...but I love it. Old building with no services, the trade-off is a high ceiling, nicely finished flat with light and spaciousness that is very hard to find here. I pay twice what I would in Tseung Kwan O at the eastern extreme of the greeen MTR line. Some say I pay too much ;-) but I like my landlord and vice versa--so am content (at least until my next of three pay cuts!).

Rent is the biggest cost - be prepared to pay 2 months deposit plus your first month on signing a lease for two years - make sure to get a break clause.

I run at about 600/month for my Octopus card (transportation). Food all depends on how you like to eat, in or out, etc. You can get but with a few hundred in a month....or blow a thousand in one dinner.

Good luck - and welcome ;-)
J

[JohnnyQ]

For myself, I chose to live on Kowloon side equidistant from my too offices and boss in Central. That puts me in Mongkok (actually Prince Edward) which many expats can't seem to get over...but I love it. Old building with no services, the trade-off is a high ceiling, nicely finished flat with light and spaciousness that is very hard to find here.

Ah ... Prince Edward. Lived in a big old flat on Sai Yeung Choi South Street when I first moved to HK 7 years ago. Both locals and expats thought I was crazy for living there. All the expats in my company lived on south HK island or discovery bay and some of them probably haven't been across the harbour in months or years. All the locals lived in hermetically sealed developments in new towns and would never be caught outside their developments/attached malls walking around the villages.

Of course since then, I moved to Shenzhen instead of taking advantage of my HK working visa to continue living in Hong Kong. At the time I moved, my coworkers thought they had it figured out: I must want to live near cheap hookers. Then my little boy came along, and I think some of my co-workers plan to report me to the police for criminal neglect due to my making my kid live in a busy urban environment with all that dangerous street life. But I'm used it. I'm even beginning to forgive everyone all their past sniggering comments and can say with at least a small degree of conviction: to each his own.

[fly]

JohnnyQ, that is a cool story, I like your adventurous spirit!

[stylecode]

Then my little boy came along, and I think some of my co-workers plan to report me to the police for criminal neglect due to my making my kid live in a busy urban environment with all that dangerous street life. But I'm used it. I'm even beginning to forgive everyone all their past sniggering comments and can say with at least a small degree of conviction: to each his own.

Hmm.. Why? Was there no other young kids living where you were?