Essentials
- City
- Hong Kong SAR, China
- Population
- Approx. 7.5 Million
- Internet Speed
- Average 250 Mbps (Fiber is standard; 5G coverage 99%)
- Currency & Banking
- HKD (Hong Kong Dollar); 1 USD ≈ 7.82 HKD, 1 EUR ≈ 8.50 HKD
- Tap Water
- Safe to drink after boiling; however, most residents use filters or bottled water
- Power
- 220V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type G (UK style) sockets
- SIM Card
- CSL, SmarTone, or Birdie (eSIM available). Monthly 20GB plans approx. HK$150
- Banking for Expats
- HSBC, Standard Chartered, and virtual banks like ZA Bank or Mox
- Accommodation
- High-density apartments; platforms like Spacious.hk and 28Hse.com
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, Octopus card, Apple Pay, and AliPay/WeChat Pay are ubiquitous
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb (limited), Dash Living, and weave-living.com for serviced apartments
- Budget Accommodation
- Hop Inn (Tsim Sha Tsui) - Approx. HK$400/night; Mojo Nomad (Aberdeen)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Tsim Sha Tsui (harbor views) or Central (nightlife and shopping)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Kennedy Town (chilled vibes, cafes) or Sai Ying Pun (central but local feel)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- The Hive (Wan Chai/Central) - Day pass HK$300; Desk One (various) - Hourly from HK$40
- Best Cafe for Work
- Elephant Grounds (Caucus Bay/Sheung Wan) - High-speed Wi-Fi, great coffee
- Networking Events
- Metta (entrepreneur community) and General Assembly (tech/design events)
- Social Events for Expats
- Internations Hong Kong and 'HK Expats' Facebook Group
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- HK Taxi (for traditional cabs) and Uber
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- LocoBike (shared bikes mostly in New Territories/Sha Tin)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Shek O Beach (approx. 45 mins from Central via bus 9)
- Top Regional Airline
- Cathay Pacific, HK Express (budget)
- Top International Airline
- Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Qatar Airways
- Highway Access
- Route 8 (connecting Lantau to Kowloon) and Route 1 (north-south)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Hong Kong Station / Central Station (MTR Interchange)
- Public Transport Passes
- Octopus Card (Stored value for MTR, buses, ferries, and trams)
- Regional Travel
- High-Speed Rail (West Kowloon to Shenzhen/Guangzhou) and TurboJET Ferry to Macau
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Queen Mary Hospital (Public) and Gleneagles Hong Kong (Private)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Pure Yoga (multiple locations) and Flow Yoga (Central)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- 24/7 Fitness (HK$500/mo) and Anytime Fitness
- Laundry Services
- Sunshine Laundry (multiple locations) and Cleanic
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Foodpanda and Deliveroo
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Dim Sum at Tim Ho Wan and Roast Goose at Yat Lok (Central)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Veda (Central) and Mana! Fast Slow Food
- Best Dessert Spots
- Honeymoon Dessert and Mammy Pancake (Egg Waffles)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Temple Street Night Market and Ladies Market (Mong Kok)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- HKTVmall and Amazon (with global shipping)
- Grocery Delivery
- ParknShop (Great Food Hall) and Wellcome (Market Place)
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Lan Kwai Fong (LKF) and Soho (Central)
- Local Brewery
- Young Master Brewery (Wong Chuk Hang) and Gweilo Beer
- Wine Bars
- La Cabane (Central) and James Suckling Wine Central
- Street Food Stalls
- Graham Street Market and Fa Yuen Street
- Popular International Cuisine
- Chom Chom (Vietnamese) and Pizzeria Italia
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- The Peak Tram, Big Buddha (Tian Tan), and Star Ferry
- Museums & Art Venues
- M+ Museum (West Kowloon) and HK Museum of Art
- Historical Sites
- Tai Kwun (Former Police Station) and Man Mo Temple
- Religious Sites
- Wong Tai Sin Temple and Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery
- Annual Events
- Chinese New Year (Feb), Art Basel (March), Dragon Boat Festival (June)
- Cultural Districts
- West Kowloon Cultural District
- Theater Venues
- HK Academy for Performing Arts and City Hall
- Local Markets
- Yuen Po Street Bird Market and Flower Market Road
- Music Scene
- Hidden Agenda (Indie) and Blue Note style lounges in Soho
- Street Art
- Artlane (Sai Ying Pun) and street murals in Sheung Wan
- Cooking Classes
- Martha Sherpa’s Cooking School (Dim Sum focus)
- Art Galleries
- H Queen’s (Central) gallery building
- Historic Buildings
- The Peninsula Hotel and Western Market
- Local Heritage
- The Bauhinia Flower emblem and Cantonese heritage
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Dragon's Back Trail and Lamma Island
- National Parks Nearby
- Sai Kung East Country Park (Beaches and hiking)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Tuen Mun to Ma On Shan 60km cycle track
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Sky100 Observatory and Lugard Road (The Peak)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Mai Po Nature Reserve and Hong Kong Park Aviary
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Designated BBQ pits at Pui O Beach and Turtle Cove
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- SF Express (ubiquitous) and DHL
- Tech Repair Services
- Wan Chai Computer Centre and Mong Kok Computer Centre
- Table Tennis Spots
- LCSD Public Sports Centres (HK$14-22/hour)
- Language Classes
- HKU SPACE (Cantonese/Mandarin courses)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Hong Kong Central Library (Causeway Bay)
- Community Centers
- St. James' Settlement (Wan Chai)
- Gaming Lounges
- CGA eSports Stadium (Mong Kok)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Hong Kong Jockey Club (Horse Racing) - Gambling is otherwise restricted (visit Macau)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. HK$220,000 per m² (e.g., 30 m² = HK$6,600,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. HK$140,000 per m² (e.g., 30 m² = HK$4,200,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. HK$210,000 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = HK$10,500,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. HK$130,000 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = HK$6,500,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. HK$200,000 per m² (e.g., 75 m² = HK$15,000,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. HK$120,000 per m² (e.g., 75 m² = HK$9,000,000)
- Corporate Tax
- Two-tier system: 8.25% on first HK$2M, 16.5% thereafter
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 0%
- Tax System
- Territorial basis (only HK-sourced income is taxed)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 15% (Standard rate) or progressive up to 17%
- VAT
- 0% (No VAT or GST)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- No
- Property Tax
- 15% on rental income (subject to deductions)
- Property Transaction Tax
- Stamp duty varies, up to 15% for non-residents/corporates
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Extremely attractive due to territorial tax and no capital gains/VAT