Hong Kong vs. Singapore
Hong Kong and Singapore may only be 2,560 kilometres apart (as the crow flies), but there’s quite a lot of difference. Though slavishly obsessed by neon, no one would dispute that they are two of the most frenetic cities on the planet. Once you get past the obvious, they are two quite different places.
The Population
Hong Kong is home to around 7.2 million inhabitants. This is made up of an eclectic mix of locals, Chinese, and expats from all around the world. Singapore is smaller, housing around 5.54 million people. The average age in Hong Kong is 42 years, against the 40.7 years of those in Singapore.
The population in Hong Kong is growing at around 1% per year, and in Singapore, a very similar 1.2% (this growth was in the year 2014-2015, the slowest that has been seen in over a decade).
Employment
Average salaries in both cities are fairly equal – although those in Singapore earn around 2.5% more on average. Both offer good employment opportunities for expats, with large corporations such as HSBC and Citibank being major employers.
The unemployment rate is higher in Hong Kong – at 3.3%, against the 2.0% enjoyed by Singapore.
Most of the large employment websites advertise jobs in both locations, including Monster and Indeed.
The Weather
Hong Kong has four distinct seasons: summer (hot, very humid and can be rather uncomfortable), winter (cooler and pleasant), spring, and autumn (both can be a little unpredictable), with monsoons and typhoons affecting the city at various times of the year.
The weather in Singapore is characterised by two monsoon seasons: the northeast that occurs between December and early March, and the southwest between June and September. The average temperature throughout the whole year is between 26 to 28 degrees Celsius.
The Language
In Hong Kong, the two main languages are Cantonese and English. Mandarin is also an accepted language. All signage is also in English, so the many expats who don’t speak Cantonese or Mandarin are able to get by.
In Singapore, English is taught in schools as the first language. The second language also earned by all students is either Mandarin, Tamil, or Malay. English tends to be the language of choice in both the business world and in general.
The large expat community in both locations ensures that even those without the first idea of any language other than English have no problem living there.
The Cost of Living
Of course, the cost of living is one of the major things we need to consider when comparing the two cities. The following figures are taken from the websites Expatistan and Numbeo. These use crowdsourcing data from those who actually live in the cities, meaning they are as accurate as possible and bang up to date. The figures used below are accurate as of February 2016.
Property: The cost of renting accommodation in either city is not hugely different. For a 1 bed apartment in the city centre, you should expect to pay around 2% more in Singapore. But if you move up to a larger, 3 bed place, or decide to live outside of the centre, it’s actually cheaper here than in Hong Kong, by between 5 – 18%.
If you’re thinking of purchasing, then property in Singapore is between 30 – 40% less than a comparable property in Hong Kong.
Utilities: Sadly we all need to pay the bills, and in Singapore you’ll find that your electricity, heating, water, garbage costs, and local authority taxes are around 40% less than those in Hong Kong.
However, home Internet costs will set you back around 21% more, and when it comes to your mobile phone, expect your tariffs to be about 250% dearer than a similar deal in Hong Kong.
Food: Almost without exception, your grocery shopping will cost you less in Singapore. Staples such as bread are cheaper (by around 15%), as is milk (24%), rice (13%) and eggs (37%). Meat is also cheaper – expect to pay around 43% less for chicken and 25% less for beef.
When it comes to fruit and vegetables, however, there are a couple of oddities: on the whole you’ll pay around 7 – 32% less in Singapore, except when it comes to bananas and lettuce. They’ll cost you 37 and 44 % more in Singapore respectively.
Dining Out: The joy of eating out is something we all enjoy – some on a more regular basis than others. Both cities provide an abundance of locations to do so, but it’ll cost you between 8 – 11% less to dine out in Hong Kong than it will in Singapore.
If you love fast food, then the inimitable Big Mac Meal also costs less here – by around 22% – but for those of you who’re addicted to your daily cappuccino, then it’s going to cost you more in Hong Kong, where prices exceed those in Singapore by around 10%.
Entertainment: Gym memberships (although some might raise their eyebrows at this being listed under “entertainment”) are dearer in Singapore than Hong Kong by around 12%.
Going to the movies is also cheaper here, and will set you back a massive 25% less for an international release than it does in Hong Kong.
Transportation: Pubic transportation in both cities is excellent. In Hong Kong, you have the MTR, which covers the trains, metro, buses, and trams. In Singapore, it’s the MRT and LRT.
A monthly pass is a little more expensive in Hong Kong, by around 12%, but when it comes to the cost of taxis, there’s a huge difference. Singapore’s taxis are a massive 62% cheaper to use than those in Hong Kong.
If you decide to drive your own car, then fuel will cost you around 20% more in Hong Kong, but if you want to buy a car in Singapore, then be prepared to stump up a crazy 250% more for an average small car purchased new.
