Cost of living, budgeting plan- your inputs please!

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  1. #1

    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Hong Kong N.T
    Posts
    17

    Cost of living, budgeting plan- your inputs please!

    I am doing a simple budget for our (hubby, infant son & I) living in HK after moving there in Aug. I was wondering if you guys would be kind to share your opinions or suggestions on how much should be set aside for the following. I don't need in detail figures but just a rough estimation will do. This way, at least we know how much can be put away for savings and such.

    1) Rent - our maximum is HKD24,000 for a 3-4br and it better be a good place for that price . Location can be 30 mins commute to Kowloon.
    2) Utilities (Electricity,water & gas) - ??
    3) Broadband - ??
    4) Home phone with an option call overseas - ??
    5) TV tax - if any. (In Singapore, I had to pay for it)
    6) Cable television - ??
    7) Water dispenser - ?? (I am ok will tap water but would prefer mineral water, since I am breastfeeding)
    8) Helper services - ?? (Need a nanny for our son since hubby will be working and I will be studying)
    9) Mobile phone - ?? (We both have smart phones)
    10) Groceries/food - ?? (I love cooking and prefer home cooked food. Am willing to shop at both wet and supermarkets. Mostly wet markets.)

    I have posted other questions in this forum. Links are as attached. Hopefully someone else might find it useful as I do.

    What do I do first when looking for a place to live?
    http://hongkong.geoexpat.com/forum/6...ml#post2026730

    Moving to Hong Kong in August 2012
    http://hongkong.geoexpat.com/forum/61/thread232214.html

    Thank you in advance for your kind advise and time.


  2. #2

    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    HK
    Posts
    14,624
    Quote Originally Posted by Singaporegal:

    1) Rent - our maximum is HKD24,000 for a 3-4br and it better be a good place for that price . Location can be 30 mins commute to Kowloon.
    2) Utilities (Electricity,water & gas) - electricity: max 900hkd/2months, min around 400hkd/2 months, water 100hkd/4 months, gas (200/300 HKD/ 2 months)
    3) Broadband - 226/month
    4) Home phone with an option call overseas - 0 I use Skype or google+
    5) TV tax - none
    6) Cable television - 150 HKD/month
    7) Water dispenser - no idea
    8) Helper services - minimum wage for a full time domestic helper is 3500hkd, else a part time helper is paid 50-80hkd/hour
    9) Mobile phone - wife iPhone 218hkd/month, my android 238hkd/month
    10) Groceries/food - very much depend on u and ur habits, we eat out a lot so for us groceries budget is rather low (below 2000hkd/month)

    Thank you in advance for your kind advise and time.
    See my answers above.

  3. #3

    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    HK
    Posts
    14,624

    and for housing, check here, plenty of flats (3 bedders) for 24K or less within 30 minutes of Kowloon:

    Centadata.com - Search Result
    Centadata.com - Search Result
    Centadata.com - Search Result


  4. #4

    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Sham Tseng, N.T
    Posts
    599
    Quote Originally Posted by Mat:
    8) Helper services - minimum wage for a full time domestic helper is 3500hkd, else a part time helper is paid 50-80hkd/hour.
    The current minimum wage is 3,740/month + food allowance of 775hkd (or provide free food)
    I know, not a big deal in the total budget, but important to point out so that no one would trust to pay 3500hkd only

  5. #5

    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    HK
    Posts
    14,624

    yeah sorry was rounding it as I couldn't recall if it was 36XX -

    3740 it is then