Job Discussion Forums

lanceevan1 · Joined: 26 Jun 2007 Posts: 21

I just have a question for the Forum regarding the cost of living ete. I just took a job teaching fourth grade an International School in Hong Kong starting in August. While I cant disclose exact salary details, I will be making between 40,000 and 50,000HKD per month. Is this enough money to have a comfortable lifestyle there? How much should I be looking to pay for rent for a small one bedroom appartment in the city? I have never actually been to Hong Kong so any advice would be greatly appreciated.

11:59 · Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2007 3:30 am Post subject:

I am not all too sure if it is a good idea to take a job in HK (and thereby commit oneself to one or two years here) without ever having visited the territory before. Some people simply hate the place and flee within a few months. Start-up costs are high and so a sudden departure can cause significant financial loss.

Anyway, by in the city I presume you mean HK Island, specifically, the hellhole otherwise referred to as the Central area. One bedroom flats in the pretentious Mid-Levels area can vary anywhere between $15,000 HK and $80,000 HK per month, depending on a whole range of factors. My advice though would be to forget living in an overpriced shoebox in a Gweilo filing cabinet and take a place in the NTs or on an outlying island instead.

lanceevan1 · Joined: 26 Jun 2007 Posts: 21

Thanks for the advice. New Territories? Where is that? I am assuming that there will be no public transportation there (ie. trains or busses).

I do know however that I cant back out now as I have signed a contract and I would be liable to the recruitment agency (Search Associates) in the US for $1500USD , and I would also be blacklisted from the international school circuit.

On a good note, it is one of the top schools in HK and many many teachers have tried to get in there. It made the news in last weeks Economist. They also provide a substantial relocation alowance and assist in finding an appartment.

anninhk · Joined: 08 Oct 2005 Posts: 284

There is a very good transport system to all parts of Hong Kong. Even if you can't use MTR/KCR, there will be buses. Don't worry!

Serious_Fun · Joined: 28 Jun 2005 Posts: 1171 Location: terra incognita

Smoog · Joined: 11 Jan 2005 Posts: 137 Location: Hong Kong

And why exactly can you know disclose the exact salary?
Is it in your contract that you're not allowed to?
Are you afraid that the CIA is monitoring your keystrokes with their uber-secret-reptilian-NewWorldOrder-Freemason sattelite?

Quick don the tinfoil hats everyone! And keep watching the stars!

lanceevan1 · Joined: 26 Jun 2007 Posts: 21

Nothing Personal!

I think a ball park figure is satisfactory!

11:59 · Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2007 5:11 am Post subject: