[goleoboy]

it's really the unlimited data plan that i'm looking for. and txt messaging :-) i'm an email whore so need to check emails every 2 seconds to make sure nothing is blowing up... talk minutes are fine but roaming gets you since whenever you're outside HK, you're officially roaming... it's like everytime you leave New York City - you're charged roaming... HK mobile carriers should offer national roaming for free for China/Macau... (or do they..)

[Hamton]

Goleoboy, most phone providers do big bundles. I'm amazed you're paying for the minute on anything.

I'm with Smartone, who give me unlimited local minutes, unlimited texts (well, 1000 a month I think, but that's unlimited for me) and practically unlimited 3G internet data download (well, 20Mb daily allowance) for hk$120 a month. The only thing that goes over that allowance for me, is phoning abroad (I use the 1638 service, or Skype, which works out very reasonable).

My phone bill here is practically nothing compared to what it was in London. Excluding my international calls, my local bill here is literally still about hk$120 a month, in London it was easily close to hk$1000 each month.

[Sleuth]

Originally Posted by goleoboy

- owning a car is ridiculously expensive here compared to the U.S. - parking spaces as well as registration fees are expensive... not to mention the cars themselves... but then again, you really don't need to drive in HK even if you live away from the city - the transport system rocks.
- your cellphone bill might get outta control. we're not used to monitoring our minutes / data usage...
- not sure if you're a shopper (clothes) but it's surprising that we found MUCH BETTER shopping deals back in NYC -

If you own a car here, you forfeit the right to complain about the levels of air pollution.
If you are going to call (not data)international all the time, use Skype. Sype on each end, with a web cam, is a free video call. Even if it is only your Skype, the bill won't be much.
There are better deals in NYC/USA because of the amount of volume being done back there and the competition driving the price down. Especially with the Western brands. If you are hung up on specific, Western, brands I'd suggest stocking up and shipping what you can because either you can't find it here or it will be more expensive. If you don't mind off or Asian brands or items which might or might not be authentic, there is a ton of savings.
And just about everything is cheaper across the border in Shenzen (not that you can get a visa to go there right now).

[Skyhook]

In my experience, telecommunications in Hong Kong are as cheap as chips. In Australia, our combined telephone, broadband internet and cable TV ( which were bundled as a package ) cost us $1200AUS ( $8400HKD ) inc 2 mobiles a 1/4.

In Hong Kong our total communications expenditure is $2900 per yearly 1/4, all inclusive for two cell phones, our landline, cable TV bundle.


Owining a car in Hong kong isnt all that bad, its cheaper than Australia as far as spare parts and servicing goes. I replaced a windscreen due to a stone chip that developed into a crack, cost me $500 hkd inc fiitting and took them less than 30 minutes to replace it lol. It would have been 3 times that back in Aus.

For the exception of paying double the road registration, insurance costs are about line ball with Aus, and fuel cost is about 50% more here, but we drive a 1/4 of the distance we did back home. We dont drive all that much, maybe 2 trips a week to the airport on average, costing us less than what a taxi would have to the Airport and back. $1.70 per km in our case. Parking at home and at the airport doesnt cost us anything, so again, it depends on you specific circumstances, if a car is costly or not.

If we lived in the city, i'd agree that owning a car isnt really required.

[goleoboy]

I think it's time to review our CSL contract then. We did get a package but have been going over (txt msg + data). Too bad our contract is 2 years. :-)

[KnowItAll]

goleoboy : CSL is the most expensive provider in HK ... not suitable in my opinion for cost conscious users. Take a look at the plans from 3, Smartone, PCCW and you'll be suprised.

[Sleuth]

We like 3 because calls to the US, PRC, Ireland and a few other places just come off your total minutes without any extra charge.

[Tulip]

Hamton,
Does your package include sms to other operators as well? I'm also with Smartone but pay 50 cts for inter-op sms and 2 dollars for international ones.
If it does, please tell me which package you are using. Thanks!