Moving to HK in July - working in Kowloon Tong

[kirstyhill96]

Hi all,

I am moving to HK in July and have never even visited before.
I am going to be working in Kowloon Tong - so would anybody have an ideas of areas that would be good to live in that have a bit of an expat community, close to bars and restaurants to socialise and meet people and that wouldn't be more than a half an hour commute?

Thanks

[Kowloon Goon]

Half an hour commute to Kowloon Tong from an area with expats will be difficult. Kowloon Tong itself is a strange place with many car-driving families... Also, you have basically one "bar" in the area: Dan Ryan's (in Festival Walk). Ugh.

I guess, Central is an option. But what's your budget????

[Golem]

Two options are Sai Kung if you want to be in a slightly more open area near water but it means a 30 min commute driving so you either cab it every day or get a car. Otherwise, anywhere from Causeway Bay to Kennedy town could be within 30 minutes commute by MTR if you live not too far from the station but you'll be dealing with massive crowds in the MTR every day and getting the full HK experience.

The usual good advice is to get temporary accommodation for at least a month to get a feel of what is best for you. HK can be a miserable experience if you end up making a choice that isn't right for you.

[kirstyhill96]

My budget is around 15k but could increase slightly and I am looking for a 1 bedroom place not a studio but I don't know if my expectations are too high for my budget. Think I want to definitely live on the island and get the full experience.

Any thoughts?

[Kowloon Goon]

you can find cheap serviced apts in Wanchai for about that...

[pin]

Don't live in Kowloon Tong lol.

Maybe have a look at Jordan as an option?

[MandM!]

15k is tough and you are looking at a rough apartment. You should try to get an extra 10k and spend 25k on rent. Your life would be much much better.

[PKS_2000]

you can get decent 1BHK i.e. 200 to 300 sq feet for that price. You can check end of east side as well. i heard its decent place.

[Golem]

If you want to live alone with 15K rent a month on the island. You will have to look hard to find a nice place. Either it will be 2-300sqft, an older building without facilities and/or away from the main central districts. It's certainly possible but there will have to be compromises.

If you are coming to HK to have a good time and save money and you don't care too much and just want a place to lay your head at night, it'll be just fine. Keep your expectations very low and you might find a pleasant surprise.

[chingleutsch]

People here tend to socialise a whole lot more with people they have met through work or avocational/hobby groups than with neighbours (it is more likely you will never even see your neighbours). Also, even in an "expatty" area less than 10% of the population will be foreigners (maids aren't human right, so I don't need to count them? [insert sarastic emoji]).

But seriously, 1 br, on HK island, <15K, within 30 minutes commute of Kowloon Tong is probably not going to happen. If you insist on living on the island, you will be living outside the 30 minute commute zone for that rent.

Sai Kung has been mentioned as an option - also outside the 30 minute zone, but there is definitely more of a "community" vibe there than you get on HK island (note that this district includes a whole lot of villages of varying degrees of accessibility as well as the town itself). At the diagonally opposite end of the New Territories, there is HK Gold Coast and surrounds - also plenty of expats and more of a community feel - and also outside the 30 minute commute zone.

There are also plenty of expats living around Shatin District, specially in village areas like Pai Tau Tsuen. That would be inside the 30 minute zone, but it oesn't have the number of "western-friendly" restaurants/ pubs/ clubs that some other areas do.

Totally agree with th above advice to get a serviced apartment for the first month so you can have a look around for yourself.