Offered jobs, almost ready to move - need advice/guidance!

MandM! · 07-01-2017, 02:20 PM

Welcome to Hk.

First off, walk up buildings are old. That's the fact of it.

Happy Valley is dog friendly but your budget of 19k is for a studio. Realistically aim for 25-30k and you'll be alright, if you get an older place you might even get a view of the race course.

Do not plan to walk 18 minutes in the heat to work. You would literally die. Look at buses but going though the old tunnel is going to be your new annoyance. But we all have our issues.

Is this your salary for one person or two? You also need to consider your tax bill too.

You will be able to save but you have to be disciplined. Clothing and shopping, food at the supermarket are expensive.

HK_Katherine · 07-01-2017, 05:26 PM

Two people for 119k is easily doable and with savings. We do with less than that and live like kings here – fly all over the place on holiday and I never even think about what I spend. We eat out and we eat in. We hike a lot too – there is pretty much nowhere in HK that’s far from a trail. Even Mongkok is only 30 mins to Tuen Mun trailheads; 45 mins to Sai Kung trailheads and less to Lantau Island trailheads. I wouldn’t worry about exact location for hiking – getting around HK on buses and MTR is easy.

As others indicated, get to know the buses. They are excellent, frequent and if you are on the Kowloon side you can download the KMB app and know when the bus is coming too, which makes life much easier.

Don’t live on the Island. There is no need, it costs more and you travel more. Find somewhere reasonably close to work.

For “nicer” head towards Kowloon Tong (but recognize these places may be xpensive).

For cheaper, look around Kowloon Bay and that kind of area. Just get out and walk. Yes, walkups are older but some of them have been nicely done up inside.

For a slightly longer commute, consider places on the East Rail or Ma On Shan lines – they will drop you down into Kowloon pretty quickly but you can live very cheaply and very close to nature in many places up there.

Enzos · 09-01-2017, 10:48 AM

thanks claire. DO you know how long the commute is from there to Mong Kok?

Enzos · 09-01-2017, 10:50 AM

Originally Posted by Claire ex-ax:

Perhaps Tseung Kwan O/Lohas Park would be a suitable area to live. You could even get a green view out there.

Thanks claire. DO you know how long the commute is from there to Mong Kok/Ho Man Tin area?

MandM! · 09-01-2017, 10:53 AM

The traffic can get quite backed up so it depends exactly what part to where. Let's say Kowloon Bay/Kwun Tung by the waterfront to Mongkok, less than 30 minutes during peak, and less than 15 minutes during off-peak, plus waiting time for the bus. Taxi is also cheap and faster.

Enzos · 09-01-2017, 10:54 AM

Originally Posted by HK_Katherine:

Two people for 119k is easily doable and with savings. We do with less than that and live like kings here – fly all over the place on holiday and I never even think about what I spend. We eat out and we eat in. We hike a lot too – there is pretty much nowhere in HK that’s far from a trail. Even Mongkok is only 30 mins to Tuen Mun trailheads; 45 mins to Sai Kung trailheads and less to Lantau Island trailheads. I wouldn’t worry about exact location for hiking – getting around HK on buses and MTR is easy.

this definitely eases my anxieties. thanks!

MandM! · 09-01-2017, 10:55 AM

Check the MTR website for exact times too. It's usually 2 minutes between each stop, give or take. Lohas park is less convenient as only every other train goes there and you need to change. Tiu Keng Leng would be more convenient for you. But you can also look at Choi hung, Kowloon Bay, Diamond Hill, etc. You can find new buildings 2 bed 450 sq ft for about 18-20k.

Claire ex-ax · 09-01-2017, 10:59 AM

About 30 minutes from TKO to Mongkok. Another 5 minutes to Ho Man Tin.

But having read you'll not actually be working by the MTR station, perhaps it's not an prospective area for you.

You can check train trips here:
http://www.mtr.com.hk/en/customer/tourist/index.php

You can check all routes for all means of transport around Hong Kong here:
HKeTransport - Route Search

For bus routes on Kowloon side, and tunnel buses, you can separately check routes here:
The Kowloon Motor Bus Co. (1933) Ltd 九龍巴士(一九三三)

For bus routes on Hong Kong island side, and tunnel buses, you can separately check routes here:
Citybus & NWFB - Members of Chow Tai Fook Enterprises and NWS Holdings - Home