[bwb]

Great forum, has been very useful as I've been looking into moving to Hong Kong. I'm self employed and would be opening up a rep office. I wouldn't have a commute since all my work is done over the net.

My question is, is it realistic to think I can find a 1 or 2 bedroom apartment in Hong Kong for 6,000 to 9,000 HKD a month?

Is it possible in that price range to find an apartment in a complex with a pool and gym?

I don't like spending lots of money so like to keep my rent pretty cheap. I keep seeing lots of posts which talk about huge prices on apartments and just can't imagine paying 40hkd a month on a place.

[Caroly]

You could definitely get an apartment for that price range but it's unlikely to be in a modern apartment complex with a pool (unless you were sharing).

It also depends on where you want to live - HK Island, Kowloon or New Territories. It's much cheaper if you want to live in the New Territories but you then have to be prepared to spend more time commuting (which I dislike).

[bwb]

Originally Posted by Caroly

You could definitely get an apartment for that price range but it's unlikely to be in a modern apartment complex with a pool (unless you were sharing).

It also depends on where you want to live - HK Island, Kowloon or New Territories. It's much cheaper if you want to live in the New Territories but you then have to be prepared to spend more time commuting (which I dislike).

Ok thanks! Since I've got no commute I wouldn't mind the 30 min or so mtr ride as it would be for fun and to explore. I just work from home so that is no problem.

Just got a bit paranoid reading all these listings for apartments that cost so much.

[Caroly]

If you don't need to travel then definitely go for something in Kowloon or New Territories. The utilities bills are also cheaper on that side. I would just make sure that you're near an MTR though.

There's a really great free magazine here (forget the name, but can pick it up from cafes and starbucks all over town) that I noticed lists a lot of the properties further out and the prices were in your range and sounded fantastic given the space you get. Some had facilities. I'll see if I still have the latest copy and if so will let you know the name of it.

[bwb]

Awesome thanks!! Please let me know if you find it!

Talking to Sam now about a visa, kinda frustrated as I own my own business and just really enjoy living new places but most countries don't really have a classification for me. It sounds like I would have to open a sub or rep office but then I have to have a physical office as well sam says instead of just my apartment. Makes the costs add up.

[Alby]

You haven't mentioned anything regard sq ft size as 2 bdrm apartments here can be 400 sqft ... the more rooms the higher the utility of the apartment is thought to have for some reasons...depending on your location 400 sqft apartments will cost HKD13000.00/mnth

[Hamton]

You didn't mention size, or how many people, or where you want it, but yes you can definitely get an apartment for $6-9k. That's probably low by expat standards but I think it's pretty reasonable by local standards, for a single person or couple.

There's plenty of places around Wanchai, North Point, Quarry Bay, etc, in the $7-10k range. Kowloon's similar, possibly a tiny bit cheaper. If you want to go to the New Territories it can get a lot cheaper, though you'll probably need a car then.

The expats renting luxury shoebox apartments for $40k aren't the norm. Even the locals aren't that mad - if they were going for something comparable, they wouldn't be stupid enough to RENT and throw their money away.

[Hamton]

Originally Posted by Alby

You haven't mentioned anything regard sq ft size as 2 bdrm apartments here can be 400 sqft ... the more rooms the higher the utility of the apartment is thought to have for some reasons...depending on your location 400 sqft apartments will cost HKD13000.00/mnth

Alby you can easily get a 400sqft apartment for half that, even on Hong Kong Island.

Last year I was looking around the North Point/Quarry Bay area and saw 500-600 sqft apartments for $6-7k. They were a bit small and old though, so I went a higher and in a different location, but regardless, there are plenty of 400-600 sqft apartments in the $7-10k range. The buildings will probably be old and local though, but there's nothing wrong with that.

$10-12k is probably the sweet spot for 500-600sqft apartments in a semi-decent location (no I don't mean the expat-ridden mid-levels). You could get the same for much less if you don't mind long commutes though.

[Alby]

Originally Posted by Hamton

Last year I was looking around the North Point/Quarry Bay area and saw 500-600 sqft apartments for $6-7k. They were a bit small and old though, so I went a higher and in a different location, but regardless, there are plenty of 400-600 sqft apartments in the $7-10k range. The buildings will probably be old and local though, but there's nothing wrong with that.

Yes I agree with you, as I stated "depending on location" not that it couldn't be had but location location location is key!

[Hamton]

Originally Posted by Alby

Yes I agree with you, as I stated "depending on location" not that it couldn't be had but location location location is key!

Agreed, but depending how you mean location.

If location = distance to CBD/work/entertainment, then no, those 'prime locations' aren't necessarily super expensive - there are some very good value apartments in Wanchai, North Point, Quarry Bay (and some Kowloon side equivalents) that are within 10-20 minutes from everything you could possibly need, well connected and vibrant. Or practically anywhere on the MTR line has affordable apartments in the $10k range.

The needlessly expensive places are areas like the Mid-Levels... which ironically are quite poorly connected (even if they're closer to the CBD in pure distance), too far away from an MTR connection, and occasionally have expat bubbles that defeat the point of living in a foreign country.

The 'exclusive' expensive locations in Hong Kong often aren't the best connected or most vibrant areas. It's usually just location snobbery. Like people who go and live somewhere where apartments cost 50% more based on the districts name, but almost everything else about the place is less convenient than somewhere like, ooh, Causeway Bay or North Point.

Though I understand some people like to pay a premium for quieter areas. But the quietest spots on northern Hong Kong Island are like the loudest spots in London, so I don't see the point myself - might as well just live right in the thick of it, or else avoid Hong Kong in the first place.