13 Best Places To Live In Hong Kong

Hong Kong has long been one of the most popular places for expats to consider relocating to in Asia. Hong Kong, officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, is a city and a Special Administrative Region (SAR) in China.

We’ll be looking at some of the best places to live in Hong Kong for work, families, immigrants and more.

Sections

Best Places To Live In Hong Kong

District	Reason
Mid Levels	Best for work
Wan Chai	Best for affordability
Happy Valley	Best for families
North Point	Best for immigrants
The Peak	Best for retirement
North Point	Best for young adults
North Point	Best for students
Soho	Best for food and nightlife
Mid Levels	Best for singles
Soho	Best for the LGBT+ community
Central	Best for the weather
Central	Best for beaches
Lantau Island	Best for mountains

Best Places To Live In Hong Kong for Work

It’s very common for expats to relocate to Hong Kong for business and work purposes. There are several neighbourhoods in Hong Kong which are well-suited for those who are relocating to work.

Some of the biggest work industries in Hong Kong are business, finance, tourism, trading and logistics. Real estate and transport are also other big factors.

The Mid Levels is a good neighbourhood for those working in the business or finance industries. It’s close to the Central Business District (CBD) which is where a lot of national and international businesses are located.

Wan Chai is another good neighbourhood for expats as it’s close to downtown and has plenty of entertainment options and eateries available to enjoy.

Cheapest Places To Live In Hong Kong

Wan Chai is a great neighbourhood for those who are hoping to relocate to Hong Kong with a smaller budget. The commercial neighbourhood is close to the CBD and there are several small, medium and large companies nearby.

It’s very popular with international expats due to the affordable cost of living and the surrounding modern conveniences. Bars, cafes and restaurants are common and there is easy access to offices, hotels and parks.

The average cost of rent in Hong Kong is between $1,500 to $2,500 per month and housing costs depend on which neighborhood you’re planning to relocate to.

Best Places To Live In Hong Kong for Families

One of the best neighbourhoods in Hong Kong for expat families is Happy Valley. The community here is friendly and welcoming, and many international families move to Happy Valley because of its warm reputation.

Happy Valley consists of a variety of high and low-rise flats and houses, most of which are affordable for new families. There are lots of convenient modern amenities such as shops and restaurants.

There are also good public transportation links close to the neighbourhood with buses, trams and subway systems. Several grasslands and parks have been built around the neighbourhood which are perfect for smaller children, particularly due to Happy Valley’s safe reputation.

South Lantau is another option for families – Lantau Island is located on Hong Kong’s largest island and is well-liked by families hoping to relocate to Hong Kong.

Best Places To Live In Hong Kong for Immigrants

Immigrants relocating to Hong Kong will have a range of options to choose from when it comes to picking the perfect neighbourhood. Keep in mind that there are different options for each budget type!

North Point is a good choice for immigrants who are hoping to integrate with the local culture. While there aren’t as many high-rises or large-scale shopping malls in this neighbourhood, there are plenty of residential buildings, shopping malls and wet markets.

The New Territories – Sai Kung and Lantau Island – are another good option for immigrants because of the affordable cost of housing. There are good school options in Sai Kung, in particular, while Lantau Island has an International Airport and country park.

Best Places To Live In Hong Kong for Retirement

Retirees moving to Hong Kong are lucky to have a lot of options to choose from for their new neighbourhood. Depending on the type of budget you’re working with, there are several good spots in Hong Kong for retirees.

The Peak is one of the most affluent neighbourhoods in Hong Kong and is well-liked for its beautiful walks, local swimming pools, tennis courts and gyms. Though the costs of living here might be slightly higher than in other neighbourhoods, its reputation is consistently good.

Those who are hoping to retire and keep an eye on their costs might find the neighbourhood of Happy Valley more suitable. This neighbourhood is well-liked by expats with families and single expats alike and has all the modern conveniences of a well-developed city.

Best Places To Live In Hong Kong for Young Adults

For young adults who are considering moving to Hong Kong, there are several good districts which have affordable pricing and are well-placed to give access to everything one might need when relocating as a young adult.

North Point is one of the best districts for young adults who have recently relocated to Hong Kong. This is a particularly good neighbourhood for young adults who are hoping to blend with the local population rather than settle somewhere entirely populated by expats.

There are good public transport links here also, and the accommodation is reported to be of a good standard and reasonably priced.

For young adults hoping to move somewhere with easy access to entertainment options and a thriving nightlife scene, Happy Valley is a good district to consider.

Best Places To Live In Hong Kong for Students

Hong Kong is one of the best cities in Asia for students who are hoping to experience the culture of East vs West and take in some of Hong Kong’s iconic heritage.

It’s worth mentioning that rental pricing in Hong Kong can be expensive depending on where you choose to locate and it may, in some cases, be a better idea to consider housing with other international students or find a local homestay.

North Point and Happy Valley are popular districts with international students – North Point in particular has fantastic transport links while Happy Valley is more suited to students who may want to indulge in the nightlife scene.

Best Places To Live In Hong Kong for Food and Nightlife

In recent years the food and restaurant scene in Hong Kong has continued to develop with plenty of districts that offer great eating options. For this reason, Hong Kong has been named Asia’s food capital and has a thriving gastronomical scene.

Most dishes in Hong Kong contain Chinese and Cantonese influences. Some famous Hong Kong dishes include dim sum, pineapple buns and barbecued meats.

One of the best districts for food lovers is Soho – there are lots of beautiful and high-quality restaurants in Soho. The district is also known for it’s good nightlife scene with plenty of fun bars.

It’s located in central Hong Kong which has good public transport links as well as some of the region’s most popular bars, drinking dens and nightclubs.

Best Places To Live In Hong Kong for Singles

The best district in Hong Kong for singles is the Mid Levels, in particular Mid Levels West. The Mid Levels is a central, residential district that is close to the entertainment district Soho.

There are good public transport links in the Mid Levels making it easy to travel from district to district, and the district is also popular with students due to its close location to some great international schools.

Wan Chai is another great option for singles as it is located in the middle of downtown and is very close to some fantastic bars, hotels, restaurants and cafes.

Wan Chai also has lots of potential housing options from budget-friendly apartments to more expensive luxury homes.

Best Places To Live In Hong Kong for the LGBT+ Community

Hong Kong is becoming an increasingly positive destination for members of the LGBT+ community but there are still some legal and social battles faced by LGBT+ members.

Despite this, Hong Kong is a relatively friendly location for the LGBT+ community – particularly in Asia – and has some wonderful gay bars, especially in the entertainment district of Soho.

Hong Kong Island is also well-known for being a good spot for LGBT+ members as there are several bars catering to the gay community, particularly along Sheung Wan’s Jervois Street.

Best Places To Live In Hong Kong for The Weather

Hong Kong is a popular destination because the weather is considered enjoyable all year round. Each season in Hong Kong has distinctive features, and though the summer may be a little more intense, the weather is typically appealing for the majority of the year.

The humid seasons in Hong Kong are between June and August, with the rest of the months seeing quite pleasant weather conditions, even during winter.

Central Hong Kong is considered one of the best locations in Hong Kong due to the accessibility to good housing and transport in the centre.

Best Places To Live In Hong Kong for Beaches

While maybe best known for its urban development, Hong Kong has some incredible beaches that you won’t need to spend lots of time travelling to visit.

There are several fantastic bays located in the peninsula and around several residential areas which are ideal for singles and families who want to be close to the water without having to trek too far from their homes.

Some of Hong Kong’s most famous beaches include Shek O Beach, Big Wave Bay, Golden Beach and Repulse Bay. Most beaches are wonderfully maintained with cafes, bars and restaurants lining the sand to provide refreshments and seating.

Best Places To Live In Hong Kong for Mountains

Hong Kong is densely packed with mountains and, much like Hong Kong’s beaches, there are several districts one could move to if hoping to be close to the mountains.

Lantau Island is a good location for expats who wish to have easy access to one of Hong Kong’s most spectacular peaks – Lantau Peak – as well as the incredible surrounding trails.

Lantau Island is particularly popular with people who enjoy spending their time outdoors engaging in outdoor sports such as walking, hiking and climbing.