HK Living Standard vs. New York?!

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  1. #21

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    I think when you compare NYC and HK, you should try to compare suburbs to suburbs and urban to urban. So with that in mind, I compare midtown Manhattan where we lived and still own an apartment (1 BR 700 sq ft doorman bldg rents at 3000 USD) to Central for about 30,000 HKD. However, the huge difference in my mind is that it's hard to find that size apartment NOT configured into a 2 or 3 BR unit. Originally, we looked for a 2BR but realized that our clothes will take up 1 BR due to the lack of closets so eventually we took a 3BR unit.

    Dog friendly apartments were easy to find, especially in Happy Valley. Good Luck with the apt search - it took us about 6 weeks to find a place in Happy Valley.


  2. #22

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    That's a great formula. I think I'll be living in the 'burbs of HK - ie. new territories or something... although HK burbs are very different than NY burbs... in HK, the 'burbs are similar to the city itself with malls / stores etc and the transportation is amazing... in NYC - the 'burbs are 'way out there' and not very convenient.


  3. #23

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    anyplace in central New territories you guy would recommend? shatin etc?


  4. #24

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    Quote Originally Posted by goleoboy:
    anyplace in central New territories you guy would recommend? shatin etc?
    Have 2 friends living in Shatin, they don't seem very happy living there...but then again...it all depends...There's a huge shopping mall though

  5. #25

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    HK is much cheaper than NYC

    I am really surprised to see that a lot of people here posted that they think rent in HK is higher than NYC. HK is much cheaper. I had a two bedroom place in the heart of Wan Chai, right on the tram line, for $700 USD. I think that is super cheap. The place wasn't huge but the view was great, we could see all the way to CWB. Although HK does not have US brand OTC drugs they have all the same items as British brands. You can get whatever you need at Watsons and I think it is cheap. Even birth control is OTC there and it is way cheaper than the US. A visit to the doctor is usually quite cheap as well, I didnt have health insurance while there but I was able to go to a local doctor and pay about the same price as what a copay would be in the US plus prescription drugs were cheaper too. I guess if you aren't a healthy person that is another story. I found clothes to be much cheaper there and food to be super cheap. If you are easy to adapt, buy at the market, and give up your name brands, you will have all you need and more. There are also great outlet stores in HK that sell Japanese toiletries for incredibly cheap as well as US cosmetics for discounts. I was not on the "expat" salary while there, just teacher's salary and I lived super comfortably. Have fun in HK, I really miss it there!


  6. #26

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    i heard from someone yesterday at a party that they think the divide between the rich and the poor is huge in HK. in HK you can live cheap but the quality of life very different... eg. you can either afford starbucks everyday or you can't... whereas in NY (or US) most people can do their morning starbucks run.

    Actually that reminds me, usually our (very unscientific) gauge of living standards when we travel within the U.S. -- the cost of a comparable starbucks coffee... the cities with higher prices = higher cost of living. i know, it's a down&dirty gauge but has worked at least within the U.S. :-)


  7. #27

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    starbucks, who needs starbucks?

    if you measure the gap between rich and poor by Starbucks then you seriously live in some sort of bubble.


  8. #28

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    yes i think so... it's called the U.S.-centric bubble... :-) where "world news" on CNN = any news that involves the U.S. and nothing happens / matters outside of our backyard. :-P


  9. #29

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    Quote Originally Posted by srhatton:
    if you measure the gap between rich and poor by Starbucks then you seriously live in some sort of bubble.
    actually more like measuring the cost of living btwn cities with cost of starbucks hehehh anyways, neither are scientific and is meant to be half-kidding... :-) i know, it's sad how starbucks has taken over lives everywhere.
    Last edited by goleoboy; 27-03-2007 at 01:19 AM.

  10. #30

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    Quote Originally Posted by goleoboy:
    actually more like measuring the cost of living btwn cities with cost of starbucks hehehh anyways, neither are scientific and is meant to be half-kidding... :-) i know, it's sad how starbucks has taken over lives everywhere.
    You should measure your life by how many bowls of Nam Kee noodles you can eat in one day without going broke. Eat a Sei Bo Jee Choi Ho for me! Don't forget to supplement that with a trip to Hoi Lau San. Those mangoes are NOT for sale. I tell you what, the only thing I couldn't afford in Hong Kong was Haagen Daas ice cream. I also developed a serious addiction to that grocery at Times Square. Another wallet emptier. After being away from HK for almost two years I still compare prices. Cell phone plans are so much more affordable there. I get so frustrated with US cell phone plan prices. Totally blowgus.