• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
GO TO EXPAT LIVING SINGAPORE
GET OUR NEWSLETTER

Expat Living Hong Kong HomepageExpat Living Hong Kong

Moving to Hong Kong and not sure where to start? Expat Living is the essential lifestyle guide to living in Hong Kong.

Menu
  • Living In Hong Kong
      • Living Here
      • Where To Live
      • Schools
      • For Guys
        • Traditional festivals in Hong Kong - Dragon Boat FestivalTraditional Festivals & Events in HK
        • Junk boat rental and catering companies in Hong Kong - Charter JunksA guide to junk companies & caterers
        • 5 Reasons to Use a VPN in HK
        • South Lantau - moving to Hong KongGuide to Pui O Village, South Lantau
      • View all
    Close
  • Things To Do
      • Things To Do
      • What’s On/Calendar
      • Competitions & Offers
        • Public swimming pools in Hong Kong - Tung ChungBest public pools for families
        • Traditional festivals in Hong Kong - Dragon Boat FestivalTraditional Festivals & Events in HK
        • Top beaches in Hong Kong - Stanley BeachTop 35 Best Things To Do In Hong Kong This Weekend
        • What to watch this month – Netflix & more!
      • View all
    Close
  • Kids
      • Activities & Things To Do
      • Education & Enrichment
      • Health & Wellness
      • Mums & Babies
      • Podcasts
        • Public swimming pools in Hong Kong - Tung ChungBest public pools for families
        • image of family for story on advice for expat parents raising third culture kidsAdvice for expat parents
        • Filling the learning gap in the COVID recovery
        • Cambridge education at CDNIS - Students on the summer learning programmeGet a Taste of a Cambridge Education in HK!
      • View all
    Close
  • Homes
      • Home Décor
      • Readers Homes
        • Stanley Home - outside area with ocean viewSee inside this stylish Stanley home
        • Children's books author Bhakti Mathur in hr home on the Peak Hong KongA writer’s retreat on The Peak
        • Asian furniture and home décor - Altfield swirl vases7 must-have Asian classic pieces
        • Causeway Bay apartment home makeover - Christina Standaloft and partnerSpace-savvy Causeway Bay home makeover
      • View all
    Close
  • Travel
      • Short Breaks
      • Further Afield
      • Travel News & Offers
        • Junk boat rental and catering companies in Hong Kong - Charter JunksA guide to junk companies & caterers
        • South Lantau - moving to Hong KongGuide to Pui O Village, South Lantau
        • Mount KinabuluClimbing Mount Kinabalu in Sabah
        • Top beaches in Hong Kong - Stanley BeachTop beaches in Hong Kong
      • View all
    Close
  • Wine & Dine
      • Recipes & Groceries
      • Bars & Restaurants
        • Middle Eastern restaurants in Hong Kong -Maison LibanaiseTaste Test: Middle Eastern Eats
        • Harbourside Grill5 Dining discoveries in Hong Kong
        • Salted Vanilla Caramel Ice Cream Balls Recipe
        • Baan Thai restaurant in Hong Kong, Thai foodTaste Test: Thai food in Hong Kong
      • View all
    Close
  • Style & Beauty
      • Fashion
      • Hair & Beauty
        • Skincare anti-ageing products, overnight creams, face and eye serumsTried and Tested: Anti-ageing Products 
        • Best foundationsFab foundations for hot climates
        • Tried and Tested: Lip glosses and lip liners
        • Teenager having a facialWhen is it time for your first facial?
      • View all
    Close
  • Health & Fitness
      • Medical & Dental
      • Fitness
      • Wellness
        • The benefits of exercise for breast cancer
        • Menstrual cupsHave you considered a menstrual cup?
        • 6 stages of life where family medicine matters
        • pregnancy - for web article on common problems in pregnancy and how to relieve symptoms10 common problems in pregnancy & how to help
      • View all
    Close
  • Shop
      • Magazine
      • Advertise With Us
        • March-May2022
        • March-May2022
        • March-May 2022 Issue – $36 (Free Shipping)
        • SALE! ONE-YEAR SUBSCRIPTION PRINT & DIGITAL BUNDLE – $128 (USUAL $192.00)
      • View all
    Close

What to consider if you are moving to Hong Kong

6 June, 2018 by Expat Living 4 Min Read

https://expatliving.hk/expats-in-hong-kong-work-healthcare-aetna/

Hong Kong has made vast economic strides over just a few decades, catapulting it from a developing economy into an attractive, affluent global player. However, because of its largely finance driven economy, Hong Kong has not been immune to the financial crises of recent years. In spite of this, Hong Kong’s population of temporary working expats – those working in temporary roles or assignments rather than relocating permanently – continues to increase.

With a growing demand for professional skills in the area, HSBC’s latest Expat Explorer Survey found that expats who have moved to live and work in Hong Kong report up to a 58 per cent increase in disposable income as a result. It’s easy to see why Hong Kong is such an attractive destination for expats looking to further their careers in the global economy, but what about the finer details? What is life truly like for expats living and working in Hong Kong?

Job Opportunities in Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a global hub for trade and finance, with many large international companies choosing it as their regional base. However, these sectors aren’t quite the lucrative expat opportunities they used to be, particularly as the golden relocation packages which covered the cost of housing, schooling and flights back home are becoming a thing of the past.

Expat jobs aren’t as easy to come by as they once were, due to new legislation requiring companies to prove that the role cannot be filled by a local before employing an expat. But this hasn’t stopped plenty of people from relocating, with most foreign residents at present originating from European and other Eastern Asian destinations and 78 percent of expats finding full-time work here, compared to a global average of 61 percent.

One option for obtaining an expat role is to seek a transfer to the Hong Kong office or regional branch of your current employer. However, if this simply isn’t a viable option, then securing a role before you make the move is the next best method. Your new employer will then be responsible for sponsoring your visa and guiding you through the application process.

Up to 90 percent of Hong Kong’s GDP comes from the service sector, according to research, with industries such as banking and finance, law, accounting, Human Resources, ICT and e-commerce presenting the best job opportunities. As well as offering the most employment opportunities, these sectors also offer some of the highest paying roles in Hong Kong: an HR & Administration Director could expect to earn HK$1-1.5 million, or a Chief Financial Officer could expect to earn HK$1-2.5 million.

image of Hong Kong street
There are many things to consider if you are moving to Hong Kong

English is widely spoken as a business language in Hong Kong but knowing Cantonese will certainly put you at an advantage. If working on your Cantonese is something that will have to wait until after you have relocated to Hong Kong, investigate job opportunities in expat-run businesses. Equally, setting up your own business in Hong Kong can be an attractive option thanks to the low corporation tax rates.

Cost of living

Hong Kong is often noted as having some of the lowest tax rates in the world. This is something which has long attracted expats, who hope to benefit from a combination of generous salaries and low income taxes. Whether you truly reap the benefits of an improved salary and lower taxes will entirely depend on where you are relocating from and what the cost of living there is like. As an example, the cost of living in Hong Kong is said to be 10 percent cheaper than London, roughly comparable to living in Paris and around 13 percent cheaper than living in New York City. What is clear from any comparison made to major cities around the world is that Hong Kong comes out on top for being the most expensive city to purchase or rent property in. If you’re not earning an executive level salary though, it is still possible to live comfortably within Hong Kong.

Healthcare

Hong Kong benefits from both a public, government-run healthcare system and a private one; both are considered to be of a very good standard. The government provides public healthcare to all residents of Hong Kong regardless of whether they are temporary or not, so long as you have a valid expat visa and Hong Kong ID card, you’re eligible for public healthcare. Because the fees for public healthcare are moderated by the government, they don’t tend to be too extreme.

Oftentimes, a healthcare package is included in an expat’s benefit scheme by their employer. However, it is wise to take note of what this does (and does not) cover because it varies from company to company. Private healthcare is also a popular choice amongst Hong Kong’s expat community because waiting times can be shorter, and the quality of service is perceived to be higher too.

Private healthcare fees, certainly in comparison to those of the public system, can be exceedingly high. It may be worth investigating expat health insurance, either to completely cover your healthcare needs, or to supplement the package provided by your employer where necessary.

Relocation to any new destination is always going to have its advantages and disadvantages, and weighing these up is an important consideration ahead of any move. Hong Kong has an increasingly transient expat population, making it a welcoming and attractive destination for those looking to further their career on a global platform.

Want more hints and tips on moving to Hong Kong?

Bumper guide to international schools in Hong Kong

Your guide to getting started in Hong Kong

Categories: Living In Hong Kong Where To Live Tags: Aetna Healthcare Living In Hong Kong moving to hong kong Work

Get the latest events, stories and special offers
sent to your inbox.

By signing up, you'll receive our bimonthly newsletters and offers, which you can unsubscribe to anytime.

You May Also Like

Considering moving to Singapore for your next expat post?

The benefits of being a school leader

Stamford international school in Singapore

An introduction to international schools in Singapore

Primary Sidebar

  • COMPETITIONS & OFFERS
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Subscribe

© 2022 Expat Living Hong Kong, All Rights Reserved.