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I've just been sent an email with some useful information regarding monthly rental in HK. I thought I'd share with everyone as there seems to be a lot of people with similar questions to me at the moment:

The prices have gone up slightly post SARS. Here is a good benchmark -
-All prices are inclusive of management fee.
-No water fees to pay in HK.
-Phone Bill is fixed at about HK$100 per month (GBP6).
-Electricity in summer is about HK1,200 and in winter about HK200.
-Gas is very low but also depends if you have gas hot water.
-Cable TV & Broadband install yourself
Don't forget the higher you go the pricier it gets. General view regardless of where you live in HK.

Assuming all in Good Location - 6 minutes to Lan Kwai, 4 minutes to SOHO and about 15 minutes to walk to work in Central.

Old style Hong Kong apartment.
Tend to be larger with better use of space.
Downside is there may be no lift and the condition may be not as good. Although having said that some are done up very well.
You can get a 700 sq.ft. (63 sq.m) for about HK$ 8,000- 10,000 /month (GBP 536-671) Expect to throw in some money to do the place up.
No clubhouse, no carpark, no security guard, don't expect anything fancy.
Oh plus - Some of these are on top of shops and restaurants and I have heard this is bad because of rat and cockraoches plus the noise.
If you are lucky you may get a roof terrace so that is great for BBQ's and pet owners.

Normal Rise Buildings (type of thing I am living in)
Average 600 sq.ft. One bedroom (could be two in some cases but the second room acts as wardrobe or storage - expect very small rooms)
Average HK$ 12,000- HK $ 15,000
No clubhouse, Security Guard, Can be very high floors - not good if you have vertigo but great for harbour views.
Tend to be in relatively good condition. Could have washer dryer etc.

Better developments
Robinson Road type developments.
Clubhouse, car park
range from 800 sq.ft plus
Can be from HK$ 20,000 up. With this type of place tends to be hassle free and you will not have to do much work to this place. Expect to have built in facilities.
Some have a shuttle bus to take you to and from the office. Very convenient.

Of course there are a lot of exceptions and all down to negotiation. You can decent places for very cheap or the other end of the spectrum spend like HK$35,000 a month. Really depends on the type of thing that ya want. I like the mid-levels but also very nice is Happy Valley (15 minutes by cab from central and 5 minutes from Causeway Bay).

EXPECT very different living conditions than in London. You want a plush Notting Hill/ Kensington type apartment then you PAY FOR IT. If budget is absolutely no issue at all and you want to either rent a serviced apartment, a furnished or unfurnished duplex apartment on the beach with the most stunning views and brilliant facilities then let me know I can arrange it through work but we are talking HK$65,000 per month.

[rani]

Very minor issue -- there is a water bill that the govt sends to you, depending on your consumption. Fairly minimal.