Essentials
- City
- Wan Chai, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong SAR
- Population
- Approx. 167,000 (District population)
- Internet Speed
- 95 Mbps average (1Gbps fiber common in apartments)
- Currency & Banking
- 1 USD ≈ 7.82 HKD, Linked Exchange Rate System
- Tap Water
- Safe at source, but boiling or filtering recommended due to old building pipes
- Power
- 220V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type G sockets (British style)
- SIM Card
- CSL, SmarTone, or Birdie (HK$90 for 15GB prepaid)
- Banking for Expats
- HSBC, Standard Chartered, or ZA Bank (Virtual)
- Accommodation
- Serviced apartments like The Johnston or apartments on 28Hse
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, Octopus card, Apple Pay, and AliPay accepted everywhere
- Short Term Rentals
- Dash Living or Weave-Living (Wan Chai locations)
- Budget Accommodation
- Check Inn HK (approx. HK$250-400 per night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Gloucester Road for luxury hotels or Star Street for boutiques
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Star Street Precinct or Kennedy Road (quieter, upscale)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- theDesk (Hennessey Road) - Daily pass approx HK$300
- Best Cafe for Work
- NINETYs (Lee Tung Avenue) - Great WiFi and power outlets
- Networking Events
- General Assembly HK or Garage Society networking nights
- Social Events for Expats
- Internations HK or the 'Hong Kong Expats' Facebook Group
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- HK Taxi (for cabs) or Uber
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Locobike (More common in New Territories; limited in Wan Chai)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Repulse Bay (20 mins via Bus 6/6X from Wan Chai Gap Rd)
- Top Regional Airline
- Cathay Pacific / HK Express
- Highway Access
- Route 1 (Cross-Harbour Tunnel access)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Wan Chai MTR Station (Island Line)
- Public Transport Passes
- Octopus Card (Essential, HK$50 deposit)
- Regional Travel
- Star Ferry to Tsim Sha Tsui (HK$5.00)
- Top International Airline
- Cathay Pacific
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Ruttonjee Hospital (Public) or Hong Kong Sanatorium (Private nearby)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Pure Yoga (Prudential Tower)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- 24/7 Fitness Wan Chai (Monthly approx HK$500)
- Laundry Services
- Sunshine Laundry (Multiple locations, HK$40 per load)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Deliveroo or Foodpanda
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Char Siu (BBQ Pork) at Joy Hing Roasted Meat
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- OVOCAFE inside the Wan Chai Visual Archive
- Best Dessert Spots
- Bakehouse by Gregoire Michaud (Famous Sourdough Egg Tarts)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Wan Chai Wet Market (Queen's Road East)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- HKTVmall
- Grocery Delivery
- ParknShop or Fusion online
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Lockhart Road (Pubs) or Ship Street (Upscale bars)
- Local Brewery
- Young Master Brewery (Taproom at Second Draft nearby)
- Wine Bars
- Le Quinze Vins (LQV) on Swatow Street
- Street Food Stalls
- Tai Tai Pie Pies or stalls on Spring Garden Lane
- Popular International Cuisine
- Samsen (Thai) or Pici (Italian) on Ship Street
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Blue House (UNESCO site) and Golden Bauhinia Square
- Museums & Art Venues
- Hong Kong Arts Centre
- Historical Sites
- Old Wan Chai Post Office
- Religious Sites
- Pak Tai Temple (Lung On Street)
- Annual Events
- Hong Kong Book Fair (Convention & Exhibition Centre)
- Cultural Districts
- Star Street Precinct
- Theater Venues
- HKAPA (Academy for Performing Arts)
- Local Markets
- Wan Chai Toy Street (Tai Yuen Street)
- Music Scene
- The Wanch (Live music legendary spot)
- Street Art
- Murals around O'Brien Road and the Blue House
- Cooking Classes
- The Mixing Bowl (Baking classes)
- Art Galleries
- Odyssey Gallery
- Historic Buildings
- The Pawn (Wan Chai Heritage building)
- Local Heritage
- The 'Ding Ding' Tramway (Oldest transport system)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Wan Chai Gap Park and Bowen Road Fitness Trail
- National Parks Nearby
- Aberdeen Country Park (Connected via Wan Chai Gap)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Bowen Road (4km flat paved path with city views)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- The Peak (Accessible via hiking Old Peak Road)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Hong Kong Park (15 min walk to Aviary)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Not permitted in city; Shek O Beach (30 mins away)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- SF Express (Stations every 500 meters)
- Tech Repair Services
- Wan Chai Computer Centre (Hennessy Road)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Harbour Road Sports Centre
- Language Classes
- Hong Kong Language School (Cantonese/Mandarin)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Lockhart Road Public Library
- Community Centers
- St. James' Settlement
- Gaming Lounges
- i-ONE Internet Cafe
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- No casinos; HK Jockey Club for horse race betting
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. HK$220,000 per m² (e.g., 30 m² = HK$6.6M)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. HK$140,000 per m² (e.g., 30 m² = HK$4.2M)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. HK$250,000 per m² (e.g., 45 m² = HK$11.2M)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. HK$130,000 per m² (e.g., 45 m² = HK$5.8M)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. HK$280,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = HK$16.8M)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. HK$120,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = HK$7.2M)
- Corporate Tax
- 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 17% (Progressive)
- VAT
- 0% (Hong Kong has no VAT or Sales Tax)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- No
- Property Tax
- 15% on net rateable value
- Property Transaction Tax
- Stamp Duty varies (up to 4.25% for residents)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Yes, 0% tax on foreign-sourced income