Moving and living in Hong Kong as an expat
Regardless of where you decide to relocate to, your country of choice will present several advantages and disadvantages. This week, here at Santa Fe Relocation we’re taking a closer look at the pros and cons of moving to Hong Kong and whether the pros outweigh the cons. From the choice of accommodation, to the local lifestyle, here’s everything you need to know.
An international lifestyle
Many question how friendly the expat community abroad is, but when it comes to moving to Hong Kong, you can be confident that you will be welcomed by expats and locals alike. Here, people come and go on a regular basis and so you won’t have to worry about entering a new circle of friends. What’s more, Hong Kong boasts an incredible array of restaurants and bars such as the Quinary and the Lobster Bar & Grill at Island Shangri-La to suit all preferences and requirements and so you can be confident that you find something to suit your tastes. With there always being something new to try, you can be certain that you won’t have to endure endless boredom. However, the humid summers often make being outdoors unpleasant and even if you enjoy the warm weather, you may be forced to head inside to avoid the oppressive humidity.
Tips on accommodations in Hong Kong
Like in many places, there’s always a new building being constructed in Hong Kong meaning it’s easy to find a new apartment. So, even though there is a very high demand for property, you can be confident that you’ll be able to find a suitable form of accommodation for you, whether it be in the form of an apartment, a townhouse or a duplex. Despite there being lots of options, if you are considering renting a property in Hong Kong, you are likely to face high rental prices. Nevertheless, taxes are significantly lower here, meaning you are able to save in other areas.
Custom made home furnishings
One of the major benefits of moving to Hong Kong is that almost anything can be custom-made. Whether you’re looking for a sofa which is a specific colour, shape or size, you can be confident that it can be found here. Despite this, depending on the supplier, you may be forced to wait up to two months for your specially made item to be delivered – but it’s certainly worth the wait! Due to this, however, there are very little mid-range options available to choose from here, so it can be significantly challenging to find nice furnishings at an affordable price.
Most popular food in Hong Kong
One of the biggest benefits of moving to Hong Kong for foodies is that there is a fantastic selection of food available to eat, with some exclusive dishes such as Wind Sand Chicken and Sago Mix to try. In fact, you can find every type of cuisine here, so it doesn’t matter whether you’re looking to head to a Michelin-starred restaurant or cheap café for brunch. Despite the great range of eateries, supermarkets significantly lack selection and the prices can be high when compared to other countries around the world. Unless you head to budget grocery stores such as USelect and Prizemart here, you may find it challenging to stick to a budget.
If you’re planning to move to Hong Kong, we’re here to help. Get in touch with a member of our friendly expert team to find out how we can assist you.
