Hong Kong - Most expensive city to live in the world : 1 July 2012

It is not surprising that Hong Kong is sitting at the top of the list of most expensive places to live in the world.  Why?  While Hong Kong used to be a major manufacturing centre before WWII this only contributed towards 9% of the countries GDP, today 90% of this comes from the service sector. Hong Kong has one of the world’s largest financial hubs, as well as an important trade and cultural hub. It is considered as one of the Four Asian Tigers in terms of its rapid industrialisation and impressive growth rates. The Hong Kong dollar is also linked to the US Dollar, ensuring its strength even in the economic crisis of today, with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange ranked at 6^th in the World.

In 1997 Hong Kong rejoined main land China, which resulted in it becoming more international, and a popular holiday destination.  As a former British Colony, Hong Kong has always been fashionable with expats from Europe with its high standard of living and low tax rates resulting in an approximately 100, 000 expat community.

Expats however, will find most things are more expensive here than in their home country, especially if trying to maintain the same standard of living as experienced back at home.  Hong Kong is ranked as the most expensive place to live in the world according to Xpatutualor.com’s latest cost of living rankings for July 2012.

The cost of housing in Hong Kong is one of the largest contributors to the high cost of living mainly due to the shortage of land. It is approximately 5% more expensive than Tokyo based on the overall cost of living including household accommodation. Household accommodation comprises 30% of the overall cost of living index. A huge contributor to this cost is the lack of space, with the majority of the population residing in apartment buildings and housing enclaves.

Choice varies enormously, where on average a single-bedroom apartment of 500 sq ft in Happy Valley will cost you around $2 000, or for the same amount you can have a 3 bedroom village house in the New Territories. If budget is a concern, many expats live in communities such as Discovery Bay on Lantau Island, rather than living on Hong Kong Island. Even further out in the Mui Wo, Sai Kung or Cleanwater Bay prices are even lower, but you must be prepared to commute to work. These communities do have fully formed communities, which include schools. Only the wealthiest people get to live in the luxurious hilltop village which overlooks the China Sea.

The state also relies heavily on imported goods and products from Mainland China and other nations. Imported meat products, canned foods and fresh fruit and vegetables are very expensive and can cost twice as much in comparison to other Asian countries. Beverages such as wines, beers, tea, coffee and water, are all imported, making them expensive to purchase. Imports from China are however relatively less expensive than those from other Western countries.  There are a number of supermarket chains in Hong Kong these include Wellcome and ParknShop.  There are also Westernised supermarkets such as ParknShop International, where expats can find most products from their home countries, but be prepared to pay double or triple for the most basic item. The best advice is to find local wet markets where low cost produce and goods are available, and buy fresh fruit and vegetables once or twice a week to ensure quality and freshness.

Restaurants abound in the city and are roughly divided into East and West Style cuisine. The Western style restaurants are regarded as international and are therefore much pricier.  To experience true bargains and the local eastern cuisine, go to one of the many tiny noodle bars, where you can get a dish for $3, while at the larger Cantonese style restaurants meals go for $10 a head.

Tea shops are easily recognisable by their huge shining brass kettles and supply piping hot or cold drinks for only $2. Alcohol at local shops is significantly lower than in cities such as Singapore, New York and London, however will be twice as expensive in the international hotels and trendy bars.

Transportation in Hong Kong is reliable, with Taxi’s and MRTs (Trains) being the most used mode of transport. Taxi’s have a starting price of $2.50 and have a quirky colour code system – Red will mostly take you to Hong Kong Island and Kowloon areas, Green only serve New Territories and Blue run exclusively to Lantau which includes the airport and Disneyland. The MRTs cost between $0.30 and $3 per journey, while a ferry shuttle across the complex of Hong Kong Islands can be as cheap as $0.15. An Octopus Card, which covers all public transport, will help you save any more on transport costs and allow you to easily manage without a car.

Clothing is enjoyably affordable, as most wares such as clothes, footwear, cosmetics and accessories come from Mainland China and can be found in the local flea and night markets in the downtown areas. Jewelry, gadgets and electronics are also cheap but the quality is questionable.  Labels and brands abound in the Kowloon district shops and malls, where designer wares are popular as the styles and patterns are very much updated with British standards.

Healthcare is also given importance, medical and rehabilitation services are not subsidized and medical insurance is recommended. 

There are a number of notable schools in Hong Kong, including ESF schools, American, Japanese, Chinese, German, and Canadian International Schools of which many are affiliated with British Universities. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_international_schools_in_Hong_Kong

The best way for most expatriates to keep costs low is to adopt a local attitude and live as the locals do. Look for bargains, buy from local shops, go to local restaurants and live a local lifestyle.

Denise is an Expat and Marketing Manager at  http://www.xpatulator.com/ a website that provides cost of living index information and calculates what you need to earn in a different location to compensate for cost of living, hardship, and exchange rate differences. The complete cost of living rank for all 13 baskets is available here.

Latest Cost of Living Rankings out tomorrow 1 July - Don't miss out!!

Will Tokyo retain its top spot as the most expensive place to live in the world based on the overall cost of living, encompassing all cost of living baskets for the 3rd quarter of 2012. How about Zurich, is the city still the most expensive based on the cost of living excluding the housing, education, healthcare and transport baskets. 

Where is the cheapest city to live in the world? Is it still Bhutan?


What are the overall Cost of living indexes and who is going to win the race?


Come back tomorrow to view the list....


brought to you by Xpatulator.com for your most comprehensive source of cost of living information .

Which country takes the top slot?

Who will be the most expensive city for the third quarter of 2012 .....

Come back on 1 July to find out!

Differing Levels of Expatriate Compensation

We recently received an interesting FAQ that I wanted to share with you.  

The question revolved around the Cost of Living Allowance Analysis and whether it took into account the differing levels of compensation that an expat can receive.

Essentially the Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) is a salary supplement paid to employees to cover differences in the cost of living, particularly as a result of international assignments.

It the cost of living difference is 30% then in order to have the same purchasing power the COLA would be the amount paid to compensate for the 30% higher cost of living. The salary amount should only be the salary that is exposed to the cost of living difference (typically 40% of home net salary.) For example if 60% of the salary remains in the home country and 40% is paid in the host country, then the COLA would only apply to the 40% salary in the host country.

The formula for calculating the cost of living allowance is as follows: (Net Spendable Salary x Cost of living Index x Hardship Index x Exchange Rate) LESS (Net Spendable Salary x Exchange Rate) = NET COLA

Cost of Living Allowance Calculator (COLA):  Download Demo COLA Report

The COLA report calculates how much additional allowance (over and above your current salary) you need to earn in another location to compensate for a higher cost of living, hardship and the exchange rate, in order to have the same relative spending power and as a result have a similar standard of living as you have in your current location. Each new COLA report uses 1 credit ($99). Recommended for calculation of a cost of living allowance for short-term assignments.

1 credit costs $99. Register, then login using your email address and  password, and buy your credits online. Please note that credit card verification time is usually a few minutes, but can take a few hours. Once you have your credits you can run the premium content calculators and receive your reports online within minutes.

To get started Register Now.

Death, The Expat and How to Prepare

Are we ever ready to say goodbye to a loved one? The reality is that without careful planning, death can become complicated and eclipse the mourning period. Grief turns to anxiety when the person that can answer simple questions - the where, why, how and what - are no longer around to help. Don't let this happen to you or your family.

There are two different scenarios that can occur. As an expat you need to consider the family that you have left behind in your Home Country as well as your immediate family in your Host Country and whether you know what their death requirements are.

Firstly, as an expat you can never predict when your next journey home will be, especially when you have a loved one at death's door. Although you cannot know when to be at your parent or loved-one's deathbed, what you can prepare for is the inevitability of death and being organized for any situation. In many circumstances the partner left behind is overwhelmed with grief and cannot cope, if plans have been made before hand it helps to determine and follow through with their death wishes. A course of action has been outlined for both scenarios - the death of a loved one back at home and in your host country.

INFORMATION and INVENTORY REQUIREMENTS for PARENTS / RELATIVES 

in your HOME COUNTRY

1. When the person has passed on, a doctor or emergency service should be contacted immediately.

2. A letter pronouncing the death should be completed by one of the above.

3. The coroner or funeral home/parlour should be contacted to collect the body.

4. Arrangements can then be made with the funeral parlour with regards completing official forms.

5. The funeral parlour should be able to complete and hand in any official forms on your behalf e.g. Lodging the Death Certificate with the relevant State/Government Department, as well as the certification of Identity Documents and Death Certificates.

6. Certified Copies of the Identity documents, Passports and Death Certificate should be kept in a safe place. These may be required to close personal accounts.

7. In the case of a parent passing on the below form should be filled in for a course of action to be followed by surviving family members. This document should be distributed to relevant individuals and kept in a safe place. Delete all areas that are irrelevant for your family member.

EXPAT FAMILY PERSONAL AND INVENTORY FORM

Personal Details:

Full Name:_______________________________________________________

ID Number:______________________________________________________

Passport Number:__________________________________________________

Essential Friends, relatives, neighbors and colleagues to be contacted in the event of my death:  

include Name, Relationship and Contact Details

Where I have placed my Will:_________________________________________

Where I keep my ID book:___________________________________________

Organ Donor:_____________________ Living Will:______________________

Guardianship of my children:_________________________________________

(if applicable)

My pets need:_____________________________________________________

Funeral Details:

Place of worship:__________________________________________________

Requests regarding burial / cremation and scattering of ashes:_______________

________________________________________________________________

Preferred funeral arrangements:_______________________________________

________________________________________________________________

Payment options for funeral:

Burial Scheme / Funeral Policy:_______________________________________

Financial Details:

Income tax number:________________________________________________

Auditors:________________________________________________________

E-mail:__________________________________________________________

Tel:_____________________________________________________________

Employment / Sources of income details:

Employer:_______________________________________________________

Tel:_____________________________________________________________

Company policies:_________________________________________________

Company benefits:_________________________________________________

Bank account, Insurance, Investments, Policies, Pension Funds, Unit Trusts, Loans, Shares, and Off Shore Assets.

Institution:______________________________________________________

Account number:_________________________________________________

Type of account:__________________________________________________

Account details:__________________________________________________

Accounts to be paid up and closed: Name, Account Details, Account Number and Contact Details.

Consider Doctors, Dentist, Pharmacy, Credit Card, Clothing, Telephone, Mobile Phone, Pay TV, Security, etc.

Ownership Documents:

Car Lease:________________________________________________________

Residential Property:  

Property Number, Deed in the name of, Bank, Contact Details, and Mortgage Account Number

If bonded the bank will hold the deed if not state where the title deed is kept:

Mortgage / Life Insurance

Insurer:_________________________________________________________

Policy Number:__________________________________________________

E-mail:_________________________________________________________

Tel:____________________________________________________________

Details of Rates and Taxes Account / Body Corporate / Managing Agents:

Details:_________________________________________________________

Contact:_________________________________________________________

Account number:__________________________________________________

E-mail:__________________________________________________________

Tel:_____________________________________________________________

Other:___________________________________________________________

Details of Timeshare:

Resort:__________________________________________________________

Tel:_____________________________________________________________

Ref / Account number:______________________________________________

RCI / Other:______________________________________________________

Tel:_____________________________________________________________

Medical Insurance:

Name of Medical Insurance:_________________________________________

Tel:_____________________________________________________________

Account / Ref Number:_____________________________________________

Details of Executor:

Name of Institution:________________________________________________

Name of Person:___________________________________________________

If person state ID number:___________________________________________

If Institution state Account / Ref Number:_______________________________

E-mail:__________________________________________________________

Tel:_____________________________________________________________

Details of Administrator of Trust:

Details of Trustee:__________________________________________________

Institution:________________________________________________________

Contact Details:____________________________________________________

Housekeeper employees details, contract, UIF/Social Security etc:

Full name:_______________________________________________________

Tel:____________________________________________________________

ID Number:______________________________________________________

UIF/Social Security Number:________________________________________

Other Details:____________________________________________________

Details of Firearms, locations of licences and access to safe:

Firearms:________________________________________________________

Licences:________________________________________________________

Safe:____________________________________________________________

Computer logins: Account, Login, Password, Other. Examples are Email, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc.

Note any other items that have not been mentioned on this list, e.g. details of CC, Partnership agreements, ante nuptial contracts, divorce agreements, hiring or letting contracts, safe keys / combinations, passwords for computer, where the gold is buried, etc

YOUR NAME                             WITNESS 1                              WITNESS 2

Name:_____________________ Name:____________________ Name:_______________

Signature:__________________ Signature:_________________ Signature:______________

Date:______________________ Date:_____________________ Date:_________________

STEPS THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN IN YOUR HOST COUNTRY:

1. Register every member of your family with your HOME country Embassy, in your HOST country. Most embassies require the following information:

- Person's Name, Date and Place of Birth, Passport Number, Visa or Work Permit Number and the Contact Details for each family member,

- The Full name and address of Next of Kin,

- On the death of a family member they would require Date and Place of Death, Cause of Death, and the Location of the Remains.

2. Your embassy will assist you in the event of a death of a family member in your Host country and will be the source of any required information with regards processes to be followed.

3. Be proactive and contact your embassy to find out all relevant processes to follow in cases of death; natural disasters; and evacuation processes during conflicts.

4. When a person has passed away contact your embassy, as well as the police, a doctor or emergency services. Find out who the relevant people are to contact via your embassy.

5. A medical officer or doctor will have to pronounce the person as deceased, they will issue a medical record stating that the death was of natural causes and that nothing suspicious occurred.

6. The coroner, funeral home/parlor or police ambulance should be contacted to collect the body. The remains will be handled in accordance with the laws of and facilities available in your host country.

7. If the remains are to be shipped to your Home country, it would be necessary to embalm or cremate the body. Check the local requirements and customs allowed within your Host country. Certain Muslim countries will not allow non-Muslim's to be cremated within the country, and special arrangements would be required to ensure that customary procedures of your Home Country are followed. Once again your embassy should have this information.

8. Find out the legal requirements with regards the remains and follow these in accordance with the persons wishes.

9. The official funeral director should be able to complete and hand in any official forms on your behalf e.g. Lodging the Death Certificate with the relevant State/Government Department, as well as certify Identity Documents and Death Certificates.

10. Certified Copies of the Identity Documents, Passports and Death Certificate should be kept in a safe place. These may be required to close personal accounts at a later date and for official government requirements back at home.

11. In the case of an expat or a member of the expats family passing on, the below additional questions to the form above should be provided for a course of action to be followed by surviving family members.

12. This document should be completed separately by each adult member of the family and distributed to relevant individuals in your Host and Home countries for safe keeping.

To find your Home country embassy in your Host country try out the Project Visa website.

EXTRA INFORMATION FOR EXPATS FORM

Embassy Details:

Nationality:______________________________________________________

Embassy Contact:_________________________________________________

Embassy Tel Number:_____________________________________________

Guardianship of my children:

Names of Children:_________________________________________________

Name of Guardian:_________________________________________________

Contact for Guardian:_______________________________________________

Person responsible for Children until Guardian arrives:_____________________

Contact for above:__________________________________________________

Pets:

Names of pets:____________________________________________________

Details of pets care:_________________________________________________

Name of person responsible:__________________________________________

Contact for person responsible:________________________________________

Funeral Details:

Contact of Funeral Parlor / Person responsible in Host country for Funeral Arrangements:

Name:____________________________________________________________

Tel:______________________________________________________________

Other:____________________________________________________________

Housekeeper employees details, contract, UIF/Social Security etc:

Full name:_______________________________________________________

Tel:_____________________________________________________________

ID Number:______________________________________________________

Resident Permit / Visa Number:_______________________________________

Other Details:_____________________________________________________

Regard this as a legal document, initial each page and get your witnesses to initial alongside you. Once this document has been completed, keep the original in a safe place and distribute copies to the relevant family or friends. Let them know where the original document is, for future legal requirements.

Having recently lost a parent, the above information would have been imperative in allowing us to have the space and time to grieve without being concerned over issues that we had no answers to.

If you would like to receive these documents in Microsoft Word format, please send an email to help@xpatulator.com