[saree]

Hello

I might move to Hong Kong for 6 weeks (Hong Kong Island) on a project and the company will provide for my accomodation plus $800-$1000 HK per week for food, transporation, launry, etc. Is $800-$1000 HK per week for living expense enough? I am hoping to be able to save a little of the allowance. If I live a simple life, will I be able to save a little from the $800-$1000 HK per week allowance considering that I will be living in Hong Kong Island.

In addition, how much is average meal (nothing fancy) in Hong Kong? The company office is in Cyberport. It doesn't have to be Western food.

How much is average laundry?

Lastly, how much would average transporation be?

Any information would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!
Regards

[fly]

The avg meal in Cafe de Coral (fast food local chinese style) is $30, while a McDonalds meal will run you about ~$20. If you want something a bit fancier, $60 can get you a decent fried rice or noodles in many places, but do you really want to do this 3x a day, for 6 weeks? That is really up to you. Transportation from Cyberport to rest of the island will be the most $$ part. Laundry is relatively cheap if you don't use the hotel and get it washed by weight. But if you're working (and presumably staying) at Cyberport, not sure if there are any local laundymats around!

Anyways, $1000 sounds like the bare minimum.

[saree]

Thanks Fly!

When you said "transportation from Cyberport to rest of the island will be the most $$ part.", how much am I looking at? The client is in Kowloon so I will need to travel to Kowloon for the first week.

Also, if I buy breakfast from the groceries (say an apple or cereals) and dinner also (say noodle cup), will this be less that $20 HK and will this allow me to save?

[JJexpat]

Well, I spend 150-200/week on dry cleaning/laundry, and maybe the same on transportation (8.50 one way by MTR to work) except when I take the faster but more expensive taxi). Chinese colleagues working at Cyberport tell me the food on-site is relatively expensive (captive audience perceived to make big bucks). On the other hand, working there you could live on Lamma!

[KnowItAll]

>> The company office is in Cyberport. It doesn't have to be Western food.

Plenty of western options. Our office is in Cyberport.

By the way, if you have to go to a client, you should really expect your office to pick up the transportation for those costs.

There is a laundy in Cyberport but I don't know if they do the wash / dry per kilo deal.

Seriously speaking, unless you're working for an "offshoring" outfit, I'd strongly recommend asking for a bit more than $1000 / week allowance. Keep in mind that your employer is making a lot more.

JJExpat -- its not that expensive. Specially for the Gubmint and PCCW employees .. they've got their salaries padded a fair bit to move to the prison. Also, they have busses to Aberdeen and a couple of other places (free transport) during the morning, at lunch and in the evenings.

[Wee Kean]

First of all, I need to know where are you going to live? If it is in HK Island, where? After knowing this, then only I would be able to offer information as to where to find cheap laundry and food. Whether HD$1000 is enough is very much depending on where you live.

I know some laundries offer washing men working shirt at HK$10 per shirt and of course, washing by weight is even cheaper.

As to transportation, taking a bus is cheaper than MTR and taxi. Bus service in HK is really good and reliable. If you let me know where you live, I will try to help you to find the number of the buses that you can take.

If you want to buy food from shop, I know some supermarket and bakery sell their food and bread half price in the evening. Local restaurants/stalls sell noodle as cheap as HD$10 per bowl.

[saree]

Thanks Wee Kean!

I don't know where exactly I'm going to stay in HK because the company is arranging for that. I should know within 1 week. When I do, I'll post another thread.

Regards

[KnowItAll]

Make sure they take care of transportation to and from the office to your residence. At $1000/week, if you're spending $20-40 / day on travel, you'll have problems.

[Geraldmu]

My office is near Hong Kong Central district. When we have secondment from outside Hong Kong, we provide a daily allowance of HKD200 (thus for a week, it would be HKD1,400). We take care of the accomodation (just the room without meals or laundry) which generally is within easy reach to office by MTR.

Most of the secondment is about 1 month and from feedback, it is more then enough with room for a good treat once in a while as well as savings.

[KnowItAll]

Just noticed that there is a free shuttle at lunch time, going to Chi Fu Gardens (a housing estate close to Cyberport), which has several cheaper options for lunch.