any recommendations on best suburbs in Hong kong to live in…thinking of a budget of approx 25-30k HK per month - I guess my first choice is around Shueng Wan but may also consider places like Discovery Bay as I will need to travel to Central for work daily (and the peak)…appreciate any tips (from Aussies hence I am asking on this forum).
Best Area to Live in Hong Kong
sydsm on 28/04/2018 - 17:31
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Ozbargain is filled with Chinese people. Many of them are probably from China
While HK is 'part' of China, you really want people from HK replying, not mainland China or random holiday people who went once 15 years ago. Also its pretty racist to assume all 'Chinese' will be able to answer a HK question.
Would you ask a Sydney person, where the best area to live in Perth is? Most likely not!
Ozbargain is filled with Sydney people. Many of them are probably from Perth.
The mid levels area is nice, my aunt lives there. I dunno how much rent is because she owns her apartment.
There is not really a best suburb in Hong Kong. Depending on what your life style is, or how much you can get use to Hong Kong.
Everywhere is pretty much the same within Hong Kong island and Kowloon. In New Territory is a bit different as it is somewhat a bit remote like Discovery Bay.
What are your preference is deciding about the location?
Transportation?
Convenience? e.g. easy stroll to shops, restaurants… etc.
Open Area?These are probably a few things you need to think about.
However, in the past, eastern districts are considered better than western districts. But since the east and west MTR are connected, with easy access across the city, they are not that obvious now.
Cheers,
Sorry been MIA - budget is 25-30k. ideally MIN 50sqm apartment thats close to an MRT on a direct line to Central. Im looking at Western HK near Shueng wan but there really isnt much on offer. SinceIm there for work, I would prefer a cool area or one that is about to be gentrified. I do prefer Island side to Kowloon as I find that bit too local.
Since I have left Hong Kong for more than 20 years I am not too sure about Sheung Wan and Kennedy Town though I've heard they are developing fast.
But 50sqm in Hong Kong for 25-30K is quite a luxury, I mean the 50sqm.
If you are single, and mostly like hanging out (that is what youngsters normally do in Hong Kong), perhaps you may want to have a look at Tin Hau, Fortress Hill or North Point. The unit could be a bit smaller, most likely around 30 to 40 sqm, or even a studio. But these areas are convenient to get to anywhere and have everything in itself. Wanchai may be another area you could look into. Most suburbs with MTR station in Hong Kong island are quite small and can usually take only 10 to 20 minutes to walk from one to another.
Just bare in mind, the unit size in Hong Kong is nowhere near here. A bedroom can be as small as 2mx1.8m in there.
If you already have a fixed budget, try different areas to see what the best you can get. For certain areas, you may have to stretch your budget somehow.
Cheers,
happy valley or kennedy town?
have a few friends living in that area
what sort of work will you be doing there?
Senior management gig - I looked at Kennedy town and again the stock available was lacking..alot more in Happy Valley. I dont have kids so more the relaxed couple life. We prefer being active and eating out alot and cooking at home often during the week, and weekends hiking or walks or beaches etc
If working in Central, just live in any suburbs that are connected by the Central train station if your work is close to the MTR.
This is my thoughts.
Sunshine
Just buy a house on The Peak or Repulse Bay.
Clear water bay is not bad too
Sheung Wan isn't a bad area to live. The rent is quite cheap for the distance to Central. Its just an older area that's not as lively, but you can easily travel, even by foot, to Central.
The bad thing is, like a lot of the areas close to the city (not just limited to hong kong), taxi drivers sometimes will not take you on busy nights.
Admiral.
ty?
Stanley is nice.
I lived in Disco Bay when I lived in HK - rents were much cheaper than Hong Kong Island. I used to enjoy the ferry ride to Central but watch out for typhoon season as the ferries stop running when the signal reaches 8.
my future boss currently lives in Disco Bay and highly recommended it..did you find that you were lacking night time options - im worried i wont be bothered to travel anywhere in HK due to traffic or lack of effort because its kind of isolated. Also we are early 30's…no kids - would DB be suitable or too fam oriented?
I was in my 30s as well when I lived in HK. I loved my time in DB but it depends on your interests - I used to play a lot of tennis and squash at the DB club - at least 3 nights a week. As I used to work to 6.30 or 7 most nights, I would often go out straight after work and then back to DB later. I can't ever remember going back to DB after work then getting the ferry back to Central to go out.
I would recommend Wan Chai, bit more grotty than the mid levels, I guess, but lively and very close to Central (you can walk it if you want). I lived there for several years before having to move to the mid levels due to my apartment block closing down for renovations. [edit: was living there as an expat, not a local]
Happy Valley is the next area over and tends to be where a lot of expats live as it blends lower cost with easy access, and is also good. Causeway Bay is similar; it used to be the cheap option. North Point has some good areas; its a bit further away and a bit blander (ie not frenetic and hectic, cleaner and newer) but we are still only talking 13 min by MTR
Sheung Wan is more locals, which is fine, just you will have to brush up on communication skills etc. It was traditionally the dock area but has become the hipster zone over recent years. So its also a perfectly good choice; perhaps look at it and Wan Chai as your main areas.
The main issue is being careful with the apartment, as the areas above can range from pretty modern new apartment blocks to old, decrepit blocks with no lifts or barely working air con.
Disco Bay is a really nice place but I wouldnt live there unless you (a) had kids or (b) want to hang out with a big expat community. Or (c) were planning to live in HK for a long time (apartment living for several years is fine, but eventually you want a little bit of space and clean air)
Mid level is also pretty good, but its more expensive. Its closer to more upmarket restaurants and bars and so forth. Although its not on the MTR, the bus network is brilliant - there are buses every 5 minutes or so most of the day.
Finally, dont ignore Kowloon. Its not the traditional ex pat area but has really developed over the past few years (ie knocked down some of the old and terrible apartment blocks) and its easy to get to Central
tldr: anywhere along the MTR line connecting central is fine. There isnt a huge difference between these areas really. The main thing is the apartment block itself, not the location.
When you say ‘a bit pricey’, to put this into perspective for other readers, a 2 bedroom apartment in Mid Levels can go for $AU 8 million and it looks like a housing commission block. The rent is correspondingly high.
not sure about wan chai - seedy as. Mid Levels definately if closer to SOHO otherwise I have found out its very difficult with walking and getting around (unless always Ubering and catching the bus). Tx for the other tips
You should look for a place that is good for expats, and I think this article by Living in Hong Kong gets it right: http://www.livinginhongkong.org/7-best-places-to-live-for-ex…
I am exactly from Hong Kong, all above places that you stated are the good and proper place for the people to wrok in Central. Also one more places:
1. park Island, in an Island called Ma Wan, exist of the direct ferry from tyhere to central, and a middle class area too in hong kong. i was ever living there for near 4 years, similar as Discovery Bay.
2. Tai Koo Shing, around 10 metro stops from there to Central, a very famous urban and cosmopolitian zone in Hong Kong. I have some Jpaanese friends always live there when they work in Hong Kong.
3. South Horizon, where is also a middle class zone in Hong Kong, slightly less than Discovery Bay, It takes only 6 metro stops to Central.
Mid Levels if you can afford it. Wan Chai if not. If still struggling look in the NT.
This is OZbargain…..
Maybe try one of the local sites for HK. You want the locals to reply really ;)