Essentials
- City
- Central, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong SAR
- Population
- Approximately 243,000 in Central and Western District
- Internet Speed
- Average 200+ Mbps, Gigabit fiber widely available
- Currency & Banking
- Hong Kong Dollar (HKD). 1 USD ≈ 7.82 HKD
- Tap Water
- Safe at source, but filtering is recommended due to old building pipes
- Power
- 220V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type G (British style) sockets
- SIM Card
- CSL, SmarTone, or Birdie (eSIM). Prepaid 50GB approx. $150 HKD
- Banking for Expats
- HSBC, Standard Chartered, and virtual banks like ZA Bank or Mox
- Accommodation
- Serviced apartments like The Worx or Ovolo Central ($35,000 - $60,000 HKD/month)
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, Octopus Card, Apple Pay, and AliPay are universal
- Short Term Rentals
- Dash Living, Weave Living (Starting at $18,000 HKD/month)
- Budget Accommodation
- Mini Hotel Central ($600 - $900 HKD/night), Sleeeep (Capsule)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Upper Central / Soho for nightlife and dining access
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Sheung Wan (west of Central) for better value and cafe culture
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- The Hive Central (14/F, Manning House) - Day pass $300 HKD
- Best Cafe for Work
- NOC Coffee Co. (Graham Street) - Minimalist, high-speed Wi-Fi
- Networking Events
- General Assembly HK workshops and Metta networking meetups
- Social Events for Expats
- Weekly mixers at AIA Vitality Park or Lan Kwai Fong groups
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber (widely used) or HKTaxi for local red cabs
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Locobike (More common in New Territories; Central is too steep/congested)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Repulse Bay (20 mins via Bus 6X from Central Exchange Square)
- Top Regional Airline
- Cathay Pacific, HK Express
- Top International Airline
- Cathay Pacific, British Airways, Emirates
- Highway Access
- Route 4 (Island Eastern Corridor) and Western Harbour Crossing
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Hong Kong Station (MTR) / Central Station
- Public Transport Passes
- Octopus Card (Physical or Apple Wallet) - $30-50 HKD deposit
- Regional Travel
- TurboJET Ferry to Macau (55 mins) from HK-Macau Ferry Terminal
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Canossa Hospital (Caritas) or Matilda International Hospital (The Peak)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Pure Yoga (Centrium or Asia Standard Tower)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Pure Fitness (ifc mall) or F45 Training Central
- Laundry Services
- Cleanic (Laundry & Dry Clean) or 24/7 self-service laundromats in Sheung Wan
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Foodpanda and Deliveroo
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Wonton Noodles at Mak's Noodle (Wellington Street) - $45 HKD
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Veda (Arbuthnot Rd) or Mana! Fast Slow Food
- Best Dessert Spots
- Tai Cheong Bakery (Egg Tarts - $10 HKD) on Lyndhurst Terrace
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Graham Street Wet Market for produce
- E-commerce/Online Store
- HKTVmall (local giant), Amazon (Global Shipping)
- Grocery Delivery
- ParknShop or Fusion via PandaMart
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Lan Kwai Fong (LKF) and Soho (Staunton/Elgin Streets)
- Local Brewery
- Young Master Ales (found at Carbon Brews Central)
- Wine Bars
- La Cabane a Vin (Hollywood Road)
- Street Food Stalls
- Sing Heung Yuen (Open-air Dai Pai Dong) - Tomato Noodles
- Popular International Cuisine
- Motorino (Pizza), Yardbird (Japanese Yakitori)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- The Peak Tram and Tai Kwun Centre for Heritage and Arts
- Museums & Art Venues
- H Queen’s (Galleries) and Maritime Museum at Pier 8
- Historical Sites
- The Gaslamp street on Duddell Street
- Religious Sites
- St. John's Cathedral (Garden Road)
- Annual Events
- Art Basel Hong Kong (March), Clockenflap Music Festival
- Cultural Districts
- PMQ (Police Married Quarters) for design and local craft
- Theater Venues
- Hong Kong City Hall (Concert Hall/Theater)
- Local Markets
- Li Yuen Street East and West (The Lanes)
- Music Scene
- Fringe Club (Live Jazz and Indie music)
- Street Art
- Murals on Graham Street and Hollywood Road
- Cooking Classes
- The Mixing Bowl (Sheung Wan/Central border)
- Art Galleries
- White Cube, Gagosian (located in Pedder Building)
- Historic Buildings
- The Legislative Council Complex (Old Supreme Court Building)
- Local Heritage
- The Mid-Levels Escalator system (World's longest outdoor covered escalator)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens
- National Parks Nearby
- Pok Fu Lam Country Park (accessible via The Peak)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Central and Western District Promenade (Harbourfront walk)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Severn Road on The Peak (Highest point on HK Island)
- Birdwatching Locations
- The Edward Youde Aviary in Hong Kong Park
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Designated BBQ pits at Big Wave Bay (Requires travel)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- SF Express (Stations everywhere) or DHL (D’Aguilar St)
- Tech Repair Services
- Apple IFC Mall or independent shops in Worldwide House
- Table Tennis Spots
- Hong Kong Park Sports Centre
- Language Classes
- Hong Kong Language School (Cantonese/Mandarin)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- City Hall Public Library
- Community Centers
- The Foreign Correspondents' Club (Members only but iconic)
- Gaming Lounges
- VS Gaming (More common in Mong Kok)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Hong Kong Jockey Club (Horse Racing/Betting)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $220,000 HKD per m² (e.g., 30 m² = $6.6M HKD)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $140,000 HKD per m² (e.g., 30 m² = $4.2M HKD - New Territories)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $235,000 HKD per m² (e.g., 50 m² = $11.75M HKD)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $130,000 HKD per m² (e.g., 50 m² = $6.5M HKD)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $260,000 HKD per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $20.8M HKD)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $125,000 HKD per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $10M HKD)
- Corporate Tax
- Two-tiered: 8.25% on first $2M HKD profit, 16.5% thereafter
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 0%
- Tax System
- Territorial basis (Only HK-sourced income is taxed)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 17% (Standard rate 15% often applies)
- VAT
- 0% (Hong Kong has no VAT or Sales Tax)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- None
- Property Tax
- 15% of the net assessable value of the property
- Property Transaction Tax
- Stamp Duty varies; high for non-residents, up to 15% - 30% total
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Very. 0% tax on foreign earned income and no capital gains tax