Essentials
- City
- Happy Valley, Wan Chai District, Hong Kong SAR
- Population
- Approximately 20,000 residents
- Internet Speed
- Fiber-optic standard; average 100-200 Mbps via PCCW/HKT or SmarTone
- Currency & Banking
- HKD (Hong Kong Dollar); 1 USD ≈ 7.8 HKD
- Tap Water
- Technically safe at source, but boiling or filtration is highly recommended due to old building pipes
- Power
- 220V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type G (British-style) three-pin plugs
- SIM Card
- CSL, SmarTone, or Birdie (eSIM available); HK$100-200 for 50GB+
- Banking for Expats
- HSBC (Happy Valley Branch, 12-14 Sing Woo Rd), Standard Chartered, and Wise/Revolut for transfers
- Accommodation
- Luxury serviced apartments and mid-rise residential towers; average rent HK$25,000-50,000/mo
- Cashless Friendly
- Extremely high; Octopus cards, Apple Pay, and AliPay accepted everywhere
- Short Term Rentals
- Dash Living, V Serviced Apartments (2 Broadwood Rd), and Airbnb
- Budget Accommodation
- Check My Cup of Tea Hostel (nearby Causeway Bay) - Approx HK$400/night
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Near Village Road for access to tram lines and local eateries
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Blue Pool Road and Sing Woo Road for a quiet, upscale residential vibe near cafes
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- The Hive Wan Chai (nearby) or Eaton Club Central (15 min transit); HK$3,000/mo hot desk
- Best Cafe for Work
- Classified (G/F, 13-15 Wong Nai Chung Rd) - Great Wi-Fi and power outlets
- Networking Events
- Happy Wednesday at the Racecourse for social networking; General Assembly HK for tech meetups
- Social Events for Expats
- Hong Kong Football Club (HKFC) social events and Happy Valley expat Facebook groups
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber and HKTaxi app
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Locobike (limited in the valley, better for seaside paths in North Point)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Repulse Bay; 20 mins by Bus 6X or Taxi (Approx HK$80)
- Top Regional Airline
- Cathay Pacific, HK Express
- Top International Airline
- Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways, Emirates
- Highway Access
- Direct access to Aberdeen Tunnel and Canal Road Flyover
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Causeway Bay MTR Station (10-15 min walk or 5 min minibus)
- Public Transport Passes
- Octopus Card (standard for Bus, Tram, MTR)
- Regional Travel
- High Speed Rail from West Kowloon to China; TurboJET from Sheung Wan to Macau
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital (2 Village Rd) - Top-tier private facility
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- The Yoga Room (Causeway Bay nearby) or Pure Yoga (Lee Theatre)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- F45 Training Happy Valley (1/F, 17-19 Wong Nai Chung Rd); HK$2,500/mo
- Laundry Services
- Sunshine Laundry (37 Sing Woo Rd); Approx HK$60 for 7lbs wash/dry
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Foodpanda and Deliveroo
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Roast Goose at Cheung Hing Coffee Shop (9-11 King Kwong St)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Bookazine (small cafe section) or Vedatara Kitchen; approx HK$120/meal
- Best Dessert Spots
- The Peninsula Boutique or local tofu pudding shops on Sing Woo Rd
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Happy Valley Wet Market (2 Wong Nai Chung Rd)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- HKTVmall, Amazon (limited local), Taobao
- Grocery Delivery
- ParknShop (Fusion) or city'super delivery
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- The Sportsman’s Bar at HKFC or the Racecourse on Wednesday nights
- Local Brewery
- Moonzen Brewery (nearby Kwun Tong) or Young Master Ales found in local craft bars
- Wine Bars
- Le Quinze Vins (LQV) - 9 King Kwong St
- Street Food Stalls
- Sing woo Road roadside kiosks for curry fishballs and egg waffles
- Popular International Cuisine
- Amigo (French) - 79A Wong Nai Chung Rd; expensive but legendary
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Happy Valley Racecourse - Wednesday night horse racing
- Museums & Art Venues
- Hong Kong Racing Museum (Located in the Racecourse)
- Historical Sites
- The Hong Kong Cemetery (elaborate 19th-century colonial graves)
- Religious Sites
- Tam Kung Temple (Blue Pool Rd)
- Annual Events
- The Hong Kong International Races (December)
- Cultural Districts
- Wan Chai Heritage Trail (nearby)
- Theater Venues
- Elizabeth House (nearby Causeway Bay) or Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts
- Local Markets
- Wong Nai Chung Market and Cooked Food Centre
- Music Scene
- Live jazz and bands at the Adrenaline bar inside the Racecourse
- Street Art
- Murals on small alleyways off Village Road
- Cooking Classes
- The Mixing Bowl (nearby district)
- Art Galleries
- F11 Foto Museum (11 Yuk Sau St)
- Historic Buildings
- Tung Lin Kok Yuen Buddhist Nunnery (15 Shan Kwong Rd)
- Local Heritage
- The Ding Ding (Hong Kong Tramways) terminus in the Valley
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Bowen Road Fitness Trail - 4km paved scenic path
- National Parks Nearby
- Tai Tam Country Park (access via Wong Nai Chung Gap)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- The jogging track inside the Happy Valley Racecourse (open to public)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Stubbs Road Lookout for views of the skyline and valley
- Birdwatching Locations
- Hong Kong Park (10 mins away by bus)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Shek O Beach BBQ pits (30 mins drive)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- SF Express (41-45 Sing Woo Rd), DHL, Fedex
- Tech Repair Services
- Apple Causeway Bay (Hysan Place) is the closest major repair hub
- Table Tennis Spots
- Wong Nai Chung Sports Centre (Municipal Services Building)
- Language Classes
- Cantonese lessons at HKU SPACE (Admiralty nearby)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Wong Nai Chung Public Library (3/F, 2 Wong Nai Chung Rd)
- Community Centers
- St. James' Settlement (neighboring Wan Chai)
- Gaming Lounges
- i-One Internet Cafe (Causeway Bay nearby)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Horse Race Betting via HKJC (Hong Kong Jockey Club)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. HK$180,000 per m² (e.g., 35 m² = HK$6.3M)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. HK$120,000 per m² (e.g., 35 m² = HK$4.2M - outskirts like Tuen Mun)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. HK$200,000 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = HK$10.0M)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. HK$130,000 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = HK$6.5M)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. HK$220,000 per m² (e.g., 75 m² = HK$16.5M)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. HK$140,000 per m² (e.g., 75 m² = HK$10.5M)
- Corporate Tax
- 8.25% on first HKD 2M profit, 16.5% thereafter
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 0%
- Tax System
- Territorial basis (only income derived from HK is taxed)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 15% (standard rate) or 17% (progressive)
- VAT
- 0% (Sales tax does not exist in Hong Kong)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- None
- Property Tax
- 15% on rental income (minus 20% allowance)
- Property Transaction Tax
- Stamp Duty varies; up to 15% for non-residents/multiple owners
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No capital gains tax, no global income tax (only HK sourced income)