A Guide to Living Abroad in Hong Kong

‍Getting to Know Hong Kong

Hong Kong has three major areas: Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and New Territories.

‍Kowloon is just across the Victoria Harbor from the Island but is pretty tiny. New Territories make up most of the sprawling city, even without considering that the outlying islands are also in that group. That’s nearly 90% of Hong Kong!

Even so, Hong Kong Island and Kowloon are where half of the population live and where most expats I know work and choose to live.

Hong Kong Island and Kowloon are the "typical" Hong Kong: skyscrapers, crowds, metro, and the city feel. In New Territories, beaches, mountains, buses, and more space are the norm.

While Hong Kong feels spacious from here, it’s actually a small place and I love how quickly I can pop to the beach and how often I run into friends unexpectedly.

The Weather

‍Typhoon season is strongest June through September when it rains nearly every day. July is the hottest and stickiest. It is definitely good to get an umbrella quickly if you’re landing in these months.

The end of September through January is the best weather with less humidity and the temperature drops down so you don’t drip with sweat at every step. You might want a jacket for a month or two, but definitely leave your winter coat at home and bring instead plenty of your favorite summer clothes. ‍

The Lifestyle

Hong Kong is a fast-paced city with a ‘work hard, play hard’ attitude. This is common in many cities in Asia, with friends who teach English in South Korea and in Japan telling me about a similar lifestyle.

Many expats, like myself, enjoy the city’s vibrant nightlife, with popular areas like Lan Kwai Fong and Wan Chai. Daily life in Hong Kong can be busy and stressful but the city also offers many opportunities to relax and unwind, which I'll dive deeper into farther down in the article.

The Local Language

While most guess the official language is Chinese, it's actually Cantonese.

Since Hong Kong is a former British colony, English is widely spoken, especially in business and education. Many street signs are written in both English and Cantonese, making it relatively easy to navigate the city. While English is widely spoken, some Hong Kongers may only speak Cantonese, so learning a little can be helpful.

Study some Cantonese, or Mandarin, with language classes. At the VTC in Wan Chai, an 8-lesson course is only HK$1,000 and much is reimbursed at the end with good attendance. Prices are from the time of publication and not guaranteed.

Depending on your goals, I'd recommend the following apps to learn Cantonese:

• Drops: Use the free version of this app for 5-minutes of vocab lessons a day. This is good for improving vocab but little else.
• Mondly: If you want to have a little bit more practice, this app is similar to Duolingo but has less silly prompts and more realistic phrases and sentences.
• Babbel: Babbel is similar to Mondly but also teaches cultural tidbits during the language lesson.
• iTalki: If you're more serious about learning to speak the language, this platform allows you to have 1:1 or group lessons with native teachers.
  

The Best Areas of Hong Kong to Live

This is definitely a tricky one, as it totally depends on what you want!

• Prefer a coast view or cityscape?
• Would the ribbiting and chirping of island creatures relax you or keep you from sleeping?
• Is living in a flat with a balcony a must or are you fine with a little less space?
• Want to be close to the airport?

Hong Kong has so many choices that it really helps to narrow down your wish list by answers! However, be warned, it’s hard to find somewhere that has it all, at least with my price range!

Personally, I'd skip living on Hong Kong Island since the cost of living will be even higher than what other parts of the city offer.

Instead I'd consider...

Lantau Island

If you want to live near the beach or a bit of nature sounds, it’s common for expats to live on Lantau Island

‍The commute on the ferry is pretty quick and the ferries depart often, only stopping in the wee hours of the morning.

Many airline employees stay on Lantau to stay an arm’s reach from the airport; also handy if you plan to take a lot of trips! Lantau Island is also where Hong Kong Disneyland and Discovery Bay are. Even with those major attractions, in general the island is still quieter than Kowloon.

📍Stay at a hotel or at a vacation rental home when you first arrive to get a feel of Lantau Island before you move there. I recommend one of these:

• Budget Stay: City Oasis Guesthouse: If you're moving here for the location to explore other cities in Asia, using this guesthouse as your temporary accommodation will give you a feel for what it's like living near the international airport.
• Mid-Tier Stay: Lantau Lodge: Located on the southern coast of Lantau, a stay here is ideal for those looking to find accommodation near the beach and hiking trails.
• Luxury Stay: Tai O Heritage Hotel: This high-end hotel is on the eastern shore of the island and while it won't give you a feel for the local life, it will give you a chance to settle into living in Hong Kong in comfort.

Lamma Island

Lamma Island is much more laidback and is the better choice if you're after beaches and an escape from your job in the city center.

Just like when living on Lantau, there are ferries readily available to get around other parts of Hong Kong quickly and easily.

📍While there aren't many rentals on the island to choose from online, staying their in-person will help you find a place to stay long-term. Start off your journey at Concerto Inn for a cozy place to stay just steps from the beach.

Kowloon

If you don’t fancy a commute, trust me I don’t, apartments are everywhere in Kowloon.

Compared to Hong Kong Island, it’s often cheaper and more spacious to live in Kowloon for your flat and for groceries and shopping.

An easy way to get started is to live in a serviced apartment at first. Lower deposits, weekly cleanings, utilities included, yeah that’s the life! I lived in one just across from work before I found a slightly cheaper yet much smaller place two minutes away.

📍Stay at a hotel or at a vacation rental home when you first arrive to get a feel of Kowloon before you move there. I recommend one of these:

• Budget Stay: 3D Inn: Just 500 meters from the MTR, this location is ideal to explore the rest of Hong Kong to find your ideal neighborhood to live.
• Mid-Tier Stay: 香港美庭旅馆: Stay in a similar location as the 3D in but get a slightly more comfortable room although still super small.
• Luxury Stay: K11 ARTUS: The studio apartments here are seriously incredible, offering fantastic harbor views and incredible amenities. This is one of the most expensive areas to live in so know that if you fall in love, your monthly rent will be costly.

Apartments in Hong Kong

In general, be aware that the cost of living is pricey and your new flat will likely be much smaller than what you’re used to.

Most of the people I know don’t mind too much in their apartment as no one has friends over, we all meet somewhere to spend time together. Not only this, but usually there’s so much going on that, besides sleeping, there’s not a lot of time spent at home. Simply so much to do!

Just be sure that you always always always see your new flat in person before signing a lease.

‍

Public Transportation in Hong Kong

Topping up your Octopus card, just like London’s Oyster card, is the best way to pay for public transport as well as lots of shopping! Keep it topped up at 7 Eleven or MTR (Mass Transit Railway) stations.

At peak hours, the metro is more like a can of sardines, it’s really a sight to see. The metro covers Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, and where it ends, the bus takes over. The tram is a slower, but more scenic option that is convenient as well. The minibusses are quick, and often frightening, but you are always guaranteed to sit down on this mode of transport!

If you need to take a taxi, you will need to pay cash. Taxis are almost the only thing that not knowing Cantonese is a bit of a struggle, so try to tell them a neighborhood or show them the address on your phone when you get in. Also, have a good sense of what the fare should be so that you know you’re getting charged a fair price!

Uber is also available. ‍

‍

Making Friends

Like any country, join the expat groups on Facebook, especially HK Girls Gone International, to start to meet people.

If you’re into sports, you won’t have to look far for any of the mainstream ones. A post in one of the expat groups or a search on Meetup will show you just how many teams at varying levels of competition are happy to have new players. Also use these groups to search your niche hobbies and networking events.

Love sewing or crafts? Make and Do Hong Kong hosts craft nights in different bars across Hong Kong and these are always a great time.

Not into crafts? There are many pole and aerial yoga studios scattered everywhere. Give Class Pass or Guava Pass a go to sample a few fitness classes and meet others interested in the same way to get a sweat in. There are also many, many book clubs, singles events, religious groups, couples’ nights, and all kinds of special interest groups.

Reach out, show up, and smile your way to what might be your new best friend in your new home. ‍

‍

Getting a Visa

To enter Hong Kong, most expats need a working visa, which is usually applied for under the General Employment Policy (GEP). Employers sponsoring the move typically handle the majority of the paperwork. The visa is granted for a certain period and requires a job offer to be applicable.

I wouldn't accept any job that won't sponsor your visa and help you through the process and to understand the visa requirements.

The Job Market

Since I moved to Hong Kong as an English teacher, and most people I know here did too, we all had our work visa taken care of for us by our employers. To get a better idea of what's asked for in order to legally teach abroad in Hong Kong, read this article I wrote about how I got my job here.

Outside of teaching English, there are also a number of international schools here since Hong Kong is such an international city. This is great not just for job opportunities but also for those moving to Hong Kong with their kids. Just know that the requirements to get hired at an international school is different from teaching English.

That being sad, Hong Kong is a financial hub with a growing job market, offering many opportunities for expats outside of just teaching gigs.

The city is home to many international companies, which can provide higher salaries. However, the job market is competitive, with many local and global talents vying for positions.

‍

Healthcare

Hong Kong has a well-regarded public healthcare system, with many public hospitals and clinics offering high-quality care.

Expats can also opt for private healthcare, which offers more personalized care and shorter waiting times but I personally haven't found that necessary. My job provides me with health care that covers the basics but there are other healthcare options if you're interested in different coverage.

‍

Best Things to Do in Hong Kong

After joining a language exchange and a group chat for a weekly ladies’ night, maybe now you want to know what to do when you have some down time.

Get Your Fill of Nature

There are plenty of hiking trails to keep you busy in the cooler months. Many have breathtaking views, well worth the aching feet to reach the top.

After you’ve done all the hiking you can do (for me that limit is one), check out the beaches. It’s true that they aren’t the most beautiful in the world, but they are certainly worth it, especially with the islands popping out in the distance. If you’re willing to travel far enough, you can get a totally secluded spot for a picnic and some rays.

On one outlying island, it is possible to walk across the ocean floor during low tide to the next teeny-tiny spot. Make sure you google Sharps Island before you go to get the tide time right!

If you want nature within the city, enjoy the public pools, especially at Kowloon Park where you can find the pool, a pond of flamingos, and Chinese gardens all in a little oasis from the crowded city sidewalks. Take a tram ride from Kennedy Town to North Point to get the scenery in.

Go to the Wet Markets

In the city, check out the local wet markets where the shopping is cheaper than a lot of the grocery stores.

Each neighborhood will have their own, so fresh veggies, and not so fresh smells, are never far away!

Check out the other markets as well for a mix of tourist and local life experiences. Get your electronics in Sham Shui Po, your flowers in Mong Kok, and all kinds of knick-knacks at Temple Street Night Market.

Even when I don’t need anything, I love to go and have a look around at all of these and just watch the tourists stick out and the locals go about their business.

This is a really lovely way to get acquainted without tiring yourself out.

Indulge on a Food Tour

Take a food tour, or come up with your own, to dive right into the dim sum and milk tea life. Secret Food Tour Hong Kong has a delicious, informative tour starting in Tin Hau with a really wonderful guide that orients you to the culture as well as the food.

Embrace the Local Culture

‍Visit Buddhist, Taoist, and Sikh temples to experience local religious practices. The 10,000 Buddha Monastery in Sha Tin and Po Lin Nunnery on Lantau Island are two that left me in awe.

Don’t be afraid to play tourist! Go up to The Peak for the view, visit the Big Buddha, take the Star Ferry through Victoria Harbor, and check out Disneyland.

Just Start Walking

The best and sweatiest way to get to know Hong Kong, or any city, is to put down your map, put away your phone, and just start walking.

I have discovered so many of my favorite things when I had no real destination in mind and a few hours on my hands. Unique boutiques, family owned restaurants, my favorite coconut tarts, the most interesting graffiti, and so many more would have been lost to me without wandering without intention.

Especially with all the sudden coming and going Hong Kong’s businesses do, there is always something to discover, even just around the corner.

‍

Will You Move to Hong Kong?

I've loved living in Hong Kong but do realize this fast-paced, small country isn't for everyone. Personally, having the chance to live somewhere so different from where I grew up and to eat as much dim sum as I possibly can has been worth the challenges living abroad has thrown my way.

While many apartments are tiny yet expensive, if you give yourself a chance to make some friends you'll quickly find yourself wanting to spend as much time as possible out and about instead of sitting at home anyways.

Just know that you might not save money while here but you will create memories that'll last a lifetime.