Essentials
- City
- Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR
- Population
- 2,200,000
- Internet Speed
- 105 Mbps (Average), widely available Fiber up to 1000 Mbps
- Currency & Banking
- 1 USD ≈ 7.82 HKD. Local banks include HSBC, Hang Seng, and Standard Chartered.
- Tap Water
- Safe to drink at source, but boiling or filtering is recommended due to old building pipes.
- Power
- 220V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type G (UK style) sockets
- SIM Card
- CSL, SmarTone, or Birdie (eSIM). Prepaid SIMs available at 7-Eleven for approx. 100 HKD (~13 USD).
- Banking for Expats
- HSBC Expat, Mox Bank (Virtual), and ZA Bank (Virtual). Octopus Card is essential for daily use.
- Accommodation
- Options range from luxury hotels to tiny studios. Use 28Hse, Airbnb, or Dash Living for serviced apartments.
- Cashless Friendly
- Very. Octopus Card, Apple Pay, WeChat Pay, and AlipayHK are accepted everywhere; even at wet markets.
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb and local serviced apartments like The Nate (Tsim Sha Tsui) starting at 18,000 HKD/month.
- Budget Accommodation
- Hop Inn (Tsim Sha Tsui) or Urban Pack. Dorm beds from 200 HKD (~25 USD) per night.
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Tsim Sha Tsui (TST) for harbor views and shopping, or Mong Kok for local street food culture.
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- West Kowloon or Olympic for newer buildings, and Prince Edward for a mix of local vibe and slightly cheaper rent.
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- The Hive (Lai Chi Kok/Mong Kok). Hot desks from 2,800 HKD (~358 USD) per month.
- Best Cafe for Work
- NOC Coffee Co. (Whampoa/Tsim Sha Tsui Centre) - excellent Wi-Fi, power outlets, and minimalist design.
- Networking Events
- Web3/Crypto meetups at Eaton Club (Jordan) and Startup Grind Hong Kong events.
- Social Events for Expats
- InterNations Hong Kong events and 'Expats in Hong Kong' Facebook groups often meet in TST bars.
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber (most reliable) and HKTaxi (standard red/green taxis).
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Locobike (App-based) mostly found in West Kowloon Cultural District or New Territories.
- Best Beach Nearby
- Clear Water Bay Second Beach (35-minute bus/taxi from Choi Hung MTR).
- Top Regional Airline
- Greater Bay Airlines or Hong Kong Express.
- Top International Airline
- Cathay Pacific (HKG Hub).
- Highway Access
- Route 1 (Cross-Harbour), Route 3, and Route 8 connect Kowloon to HK Island and Airport.
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Hung Hom Station (Inter-city) and West Kowloon Terminus (High-speed rail to Mainland China).
- Public Transport Passes
- Octopus Card (Pay-as-you-go). MTR Monthly Pass Extra (approx. 500-600 HKD).
- Regional Travel
- Star Ferry to Central (5 HKD), High-Speed Rail to Shenzhen (15 mins, ~80 HKD).
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Queen Elizabeth Hospital (Public, Jordan) or Hong Kong Baptist Hospital (Private, Kowloon Tong).
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Pure Yoga (Tsim Sha Tsui / Langham Place) - Premium facilities at ~1,200 HKD/month.
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- 24/7 Fitness (Multiple Kowloon locations) - Flexible monthly memberships from 500 HKD.
- Laundry Services
- Sunshine Laundry (Multiple locations) or wash-and-fold services found on every side street in Mong Kok.
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Foodpanda and Deliveroo are the dominant players.
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Dim Sum at Tim Ho Wan (Sham Shui Po) or Pineapple Buns at Kam Wah Cafe (Mong Kok).
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Years (Sham Shui Po) or Green Common (Various locations).
- Best Dessert Spots
- Hui Lau Shan (Mango desserts) or Yee Shun Milk Company (Steamed milk pudding, Jordan).
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Fa Yuen Street (Sneakers/Clothes) and wet markets in Sham Shui Po for groceries.
- E-commerce/Online Store
- HKTVmall (Local leader) and Amazon (Free shipping on many items over $49 USD).
- Grocery Delivery
- ParknShop (Great Food Hall) or Wellcome online delivery.
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Knutsford Terrace (Tsim Sha Tsui) - Kowloon's version of Lan Kwai Fong.
- Local Brewery
- Gweilo Beer (Heavily available in TST bars like The One or Kowloon Taproom).
- Wine Bars
- Terrible Baby (Eaton HK, Jordan) - Great terrace and extensive wine/cocktail list.
- Street Food Stalls
- Temple Street Night Market - Curry fish balls and stinky tofu.
- Popular International Cuisine
- The Cheesecake Factory (Harbour City) or various authentic Indian curry houses in Chungking Mansions.
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade, Avenue of Stars, and the Clock Tower.
- Museums & Art Venues
- M+ Museum (Contemporary visual culture) and Hong Kong Palace Museum in West Kowloon.
- Historical Sites
- Kowloon Walled City Park (remnants of the former ungoverned settlement).
- Religious Sites
- Wong Tai Sin Temple (Taoist) and Chi Lin Nunnery (Buddhist).
- Annual Events
- Clockenflap Music Festival (Central/Kowloon Waterfront) and Chinese New Year Fireworks.
- Cultural Districts
- West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD) - a massive park and arts hub.
- Theater Venues
- Xiqu Centre (Cantonese Opera) at West Kowloon.
- Local Markets
- Ladies' Market (Mong Kok) and Flower Market (Prince Edward).
- Music Scene
- Lost Stars Livehouse (Tai Kok Tsui) for local indie bands and jazz.
- Street Art
- Street art murals in Sham Shui Po around the HKwalls festival locations.
- Cooking Classes
- Towngas Cooking Centre (Tsim Sha Tsui) for Dim Sum and Cantonese classes.
- Art Galleries
- K11 Musea (Art Mall) - features rotating high-end installations.
- Historic Buildings
- The Peninsula Hong Kong (1928 luxury hotel) and 1881 Heritage.
- Local Heritage
- The 'Bauhinia blakeana' flower, the symbol on the HK flag found in many Kowloon parks.
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Kam Shan Country Park (Monkey Hill) – accessible via bus from Jordan.
- National Parks Nearby
- Lion Rock Country Park – the famous 'Lion Rock' hike for the best Kowloon skyline views.
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade – perfect 2km loop for walking/jogging.
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Sky100 Observatory (ICC Building) – 360-degree views of Hong Kong.
- Birdwatching Locations
- Kowloon Park (Tsim Sha Tsui) – features a large aviary and flamingos.
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Government BBQ pits at Shek O (Island side) or Sai Kung (accessible from Kowloon).
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- SF Express (widely used, lockers in almost every building).
- Tech Repair Services
- Golden Computer Arcade (Sham Shui Po) – the mecca for all hardware/tech repairs.
- Table Tennis Spots
- Kowloon Park Sports Centre (Approx. 40-80 HKD/hour for a table).
- Language Classes
- CUHK Cantonese Courses or local centers like Hong Kong Language School (TST).
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Hong Kong Central Library (Victoria Park) or Kowloon Public Library (Ho Man Tin).
- Community Centers
- Henry G. Leong Yaumatei Community Centre.
- Gaming Lounges
- CGA eSports Stadium (Mong Kok) – high-end gaming rigs and VR.
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Horse Racing at Happy Valley (Island) or take the ferry to Macau (60 mins).
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 185,000 HKD per m² (e.g., 30 m² studio = 5,550,000 HKD / ~710,000 USD).
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 130,000 HKD per m² (e.g., 30 m² studio = 3,900,000 HKD / ~500,000 USD).
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 175,000 HKD per m² (e.g., 50 m² = 8,750,000 HKD / ~1.1M USD).
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 120,000 HKD per m² (e.g., 50 m² = 6,000,000 HKD / ~767,000 USD).
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 165,000 HKD per m² (e.g., 70 m² = 11,550,000 HKD / ~1.47M USD).
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 110,000 HKD per m² (e.g., 70 m² = 7,700,000 HKD / ~985,000 USD).
- Corporate Tax
- Two-tiered system: 8.25% on first 2M HKD profit, 16.5% thereafter.
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 0% (No withholding tax on dividends).
- Tax System
- Territorial basis (Only income sourced in HK is taxable).
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- Status-based: 15% standard rate or progressive up to 17%.
- VAT
- 0% (Hong Kong has no VAT or Sales Tax).
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- No CFC rules currently in place.
- Property Tax
- Yes, standard rate is 15% on the net assessable value of the property.
- Property Transaction Tax
- Stamp Duty ranges from 100 HKD to 4.25% for locals; much higher for foreigners (Buyer's Stamp Duty).
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No tax on foreign-sourced income, no capital gains tax, and no VAT.