[Horizzon]

What would be in your opinion the minimum salary to have a comfotable life in hong kong ? (by comfortable i mean, not to have to live far away from the center, and be able to go out for restaurants and so on...)

[carang]

it really depends on the kind of life you want to have....

do you want a 3000' house with a garden or will you make do with a 900'flat without a balcony?

do you insist on being members of a "club" or will you utilise the public swimming pools and libraries?

when you buy your groceries, will you go for the local produce, meat, varieties of products or will you want imported stuff, so it's just like home?

will you want to get away for every long weekend, or will you stay in hk?

is a night out on the town a moonlit walk along a beach or partying in Lan Kwai Fong?

when you say that you might need a car, does that mean that you will buy a 10 year old volvo or a newish benz?

what do you consider a "date" with you husband, a quick bite at mcdonalds and a movie or a 4 couse meal including wine?

what i'm trying to say is, there are a lot of variables in a question such as this...


for us... we have 2 dogs, and a year old boy...

$21,000 rent(a 960' flat, 3 brm, 750' garden)
$3,800 helper(including levy, not including
bonuses)
$500 telephone (including IDD)
$500 gas
$1000 electricity(around $1500 in summer)
$5-6,000 food (including eating out, nappies, formula, dog food etc.)

[Horizzon]

ok let's say I would like to live in the center in a 45m2 appartment.
I would like to go out every week end to party and once or twice in the week at the restaurant.
I like to buy electronic stuff from time to time, as well as nice clothes.

[Mat]

As we do not have much info regarding : industry/age/number of ppl in your family....
I would say, to give a broad answer that if single and willing to save a bit also 25 to 35K should be ok. You could break it down into:
7.000 rent for a 500 sqfeet flat (Sheung Wan, Wan Chai...)
8.000 saving
10.000 spending (food, party, bills, clothes...)
Partying every week end in HK will cost you a lot...food, transportataion, bills are usually cheap.
If you get more than the 25K then u can upgrade everything...

[tx75070]

Originally Posted by carang

it

$21,000 rent(a 960' flat, 3 brm, 750' garden)
$3,800 helper(including levy, not including
bonuses)
$500 telephone (including IDD)
$500 gas
$1000 electricity(around $1500 in summer)
$5-6,000 food (including eating out, nappies, formula, dog food etc.)

$500 gas? You either have a very fuel efficient car or do not drive very much. I spend at least that much a week.

Nice post by the way on drawing out lifestyle variations.

[rani]

Originally Posted by tx75070

$500 gas? You either have a very fuel efficient car or do not drive very much. I spend at least that much a week.

Nice post by the way on drawing out lifestyle variations.

I think Cara was referring to TownGas

[tx75070]

Originally Posted by rani

I think Cara was referring to TownGas

OK, I feel a little dumb, but got a little laugh.