Lately, im starting to feel comfy here in HK. People may say it’s expensive living here, but that is only when you start converting. But considering the cost of living here versus what you’re earning, i’d say it’s pretty close or even cheaper than how we live in manila. If in Manila, you earn aroud 20K PHP, and say you earn the same in HKD ($HKD 20K) and live here, you can already manage to have a family here unlike in Manila where 20K is just enough for a single person to live comfortably. A studio type flat here is around $HKD 4K-6K – that may be comparable to an apartment in Manila located somewhere near a squatter’s area or a not so friendlyneighborhood (correct me if im wrong). Although flats here are much smaller – it is considerably clean and convenient.
Cable TV with broadband internet connection here costs around $HKD 450. Electricity for a studio flat with aircon, ref, electric stove, rice cooker, water heater and laptop is less than HKD $500.
Tap water is around HKD $50. Though drinking water i may say is rather expensive here, they dont have a water refilling station as abundantly stationed like mushrooms in Manila. The cheapest 6 gallon distilled water here costs HKD$ 16. Our grocery is around HKD$ 1500-2000 per month for 2 person.
Transportation here varies though, depending on where you are headed. Busses has a minimum of $4 – and there are no irritating and arrogant “konduktor”. All you have to do is swipe your “octopus card” or drop your coins near the driver. There are also strict specified terminals for each bus depending on their destination and number and the busses here don’t wait longer that 10 secs for a passenger since they are so efficient and you are assured that there will be a next bus in just a minute. But my favorite is the tram – it’s like a train bus – it runs on rails but is still controlled by a driver. And it only costs $2 even if you go from end to end of their route. They also have MTR and ferry for travelling longer distance or from island to island. Taxi’s here may be expensive but i think it’s just the same as with Manila. The highest ive paid so far in a taxi is around $40. But i must say i admire their transportation system here, it is very efficient and there’s hardly a traffic here. An hour trip around Manila can just be 20mins here. I’m also getting used to their pedestrian crossing because the pedestrian stop lights here are so efficient and people follows it. All their pedestrian stoplights even have sounds to indicate whether you should go or stop. And im starting to memorize the sound and timing 😛
Most of all, i love their HK ID. With the ID, you are open to a lot of priviledges and benefits. One of which is the medical and hospitalization benefits. I just had my check up yesterday and with the ID, i need not pay anything. They took a blood sample from me for some labtest and check if im free from certain illnesses and it is also free, where in when i was in Manila, I paid no less than 1K each time they get blood samples. And doctors and nurses here are so gentle that i didnt have any mark of the injection wherein with Manila staff (mind you from an expensive reputable hospital) i got bruises as purple as an eggplant.

Oh well, i heard giving birth here is also amongst the cheapest when you have their HK ID. As low as HKD$400. But that i still have to find out if true in more or less a month. But when you don’t have their HK ID – you will have to prepare around HKD $39K. That is how powerful their HK ID is and how efficient and good their government is in taking care of their people. I’ve seen many americans giving birth here because it’s really cheap and yet you’ll have the best care. They even conduct free seminar and training on giving birth along with your partner.

So, just do the math from the figures above and you’ll find living here rather comfortable and cheap (if you’re not converting) 😀