Hong Kong vs. Japan
Geographically, Hong Kong and Japan might not be a million miles apart, but in most other aspects they’re like chalk and cheese. Both places have long, turbulent histories, and both have distinctly different climates.
So with all that in mind, let’s take a look at the differences and, in some small amount of cases, the similarities of the two countries.
The Climate
Hong Kong has a subtropical climate. This means there are four distinct seasons: spring is wet and can be very varied in temperature, summer is hot and humid – this is the time when air conditioning becomes a necessity, autumn is slightly cooler, although it can be wet, and winter is perhaps the most pleasant, when the temperatures tend to average between 16 – 23 degrees celcius.
The rains tend to be light during this time as well, so consequently, this is peak tourist season. May through September are the wettest times of the year.
Japan has a varied climate, depending on which area you’re looking at. In the north, the climate is subarctic. In the south, subtropical.
The same as Hong Kong, Japan has four distinctly varied seasons. The north of Japan has pleasantly warm summers, followed by freezing winters with lots of snow.
In the east, the summers are hot and humid, whilst the winter brings snow and sub zero temperatures. In the west, summers are also hot and humid, but the winter is less cold. And in the south, the climate is subtropical – hot, humid summers and mild winters.
Unemployment Rate
According to Census and Statistics Department of Hong Kong, the unemployment figures in the region are hovering around the 3.3% mark. In fact, since 1981 the average unemployment rate here has been 3.71%.
Coincidentally, the latest unemployment figures in Japan are also at 3.3%, as detailed in the latest report by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communication.
It’s also believed that the country has reached a “full employment” status, whereby this figure could not further fall without fueling an inflationary pressure on wages.
Both locations offer a wide range of employment opportunities in pretty much every field. From HR to IT, sales to engineering, jobs can be found in all sectors.
Jobs DB is a great website to search for current vacancies in Hong Kong, and for Japan, begin your search at Jobs in Japan.
Cost of Living
Taking up to the minute, crowdsourced information from websites Expatistan and Numbeo, we can easily compare various aspects of living in both locations.
Accommodation
Without exception, far more of your salary will go to either rent or a mortgage in Hong Kong compared to Japan. Expect to spend between 154 – 185% more in HK for an apartment either right in the city centre or on the outskirts.
When it comes to purchasing a property, prices in Hong Kong are between 100 – 160% more expensive on average.
Hong Kong Homes is a good place to begin your search for property in Hong Kong. Real Estate Japan will show you current listings and prices for those in Japan.
Utilities
Ah, those pesky monthly bills… A necessary evil, unfortunately. Expect to pay around 17% more in Hong Kong for your electricity, heating, water, and government housing taxes.
But when it comes to home Internet, tech-mad Hong Kong residents pay around 30% less than those who live in Japan.
Food
Staple grocery items such as milk, bread, eggs, cheese, chicken, etc. are far more expensive in Hong Kong, by anything from 20 to 70%. Strangely, rice is almost half the price in Hong Kong.
Fruit and vegetables are also way cheaper here than in Japan, from around 25 – 50%.
Transportation
Hong Kong has an excellent public transport system known as the MTR. Japan also has excellent transportation, with its Bullet Train being world renowned for its speed, cleanliness, and efficiency.
A monthly city pass in Hong Kong is around 35% less than a comparable one in a Japanese city. Taxis are also cheaper by around 60%.
But if you choose to drive your own car, you’ll pay around 35% more to fill it with fuel in Hong Kong than you will in Japan.
Dining Out
As you can imagine, both countries offer plenty of dining opportunities (although this tends to be more true in the cities than in rural areas).
Depending on whether you’re looking for a basic, inexpensive meal out or something more luxurious (yet still affordable), you can expect to pay around the same in both locations, with a basic meal in Hong Kong being slightly cheaper (by around 9%), and the more upmarket option costing around 9% more than in Japan.
If you’re a McDonald’s fan, then expect to pay around 30% more for your Big Mac Meal in Japan, but your daily latte or cappuccino will set you back around 32% less.
Entertainment
We all need a bit of R&R, and who doesn’t like seeing the latest blockbuster release movie? But you’ll pay nearly 30% more for your ticket in Japan than in Hong Kong.
But good news for the gym aficionados in Japan, as a monthly subscription is around 5% less here.
And if you’re wondering which is the cheaper location for a mobile phone tariff – It’ll probably come as no surprise that technology-mad Hong Kong is the winner here, with an average monthly cost a whopping 90% less than in Japan.
Salaries
Of course, we can’t compare the cost of living without looking at the average salary you can expect to command. Those who live in Hong Kong earn, on average, just over 20% more than their compatriots in Japan.
Of course, this figure is highly dependent on the field you work in and at what level. The average salary in HK is around $HK 22,500, and in Japan it’s $HK 18,500.
But this amount is very often far exceeded by expat workers who might be experts in their industry. In addition, relocation costs, accommodation benefits, health care, company cars, and travel costs might all be additional to an expat’s salary.
