Life Changes: From New York to Hong Kong

Life Changes: From New York to Hong Kong

Can you believe it’s been two years since I moved from New York to Hong Kong? Having spent an equal amount of time in New York, I wanted to take a moment to document the lifestyle changes of our small family of three. 🌍

Housing Costs: A Tale of Two Cities

Both New York and Hong Kong have their unique charms, but when it comes to housing, the expenses tell a different story. In New York, our rent ran around $2,800, while in Hong Kong, we pay around HK$20,000 for a similar living space. Interestingly, utility costs are comparable in both cities! 🏠

Dining Differences

Back in New York, our culinary approach was a balanced mix of home-cooked meals and dining out, with our monthly food expenses averaging around $2,000. Now, in Hong Kong, we’ve hired a wonderful Filipino helper, which costs us about HK$5,500. Our food budget here is around HK$10,000 monthly, allowing us to explore many delicious options. Previously, we ventured to Flushing for good grub, but now we find ourselves heading to Shenzhen for even more authentic and diverse choices! 🍽️

Education Expenses

When it comes to our daughter’s education, we faced another change. In New York, she attended a private school with total monthly expenses (tuition and extracurriculars) around $3,000. Now that we’re in an international school in Hong Kong, those costs are approximately HK$20,000 monthly—a substantial investment in her future! 👧

Transportation: Navigating a New City

Our transportation habits have also evolved. During our time in New York, especially during the pandemic, our outings were mostly local—just a casual $200 a month for occasional subway rides or taxis. Now in Hong Kong, we’ve bought a car, which costs us around HK$3,000 each month. So, while we’ve upgraded our travel mode, our transportation costs have certainly increased! 🚗

Simple Yet Fulfilling Life

As a family of three, our lifestyle has remained straightforward. Weekends are typically spent relaxing in parks, borrowing books from libraries, or staying active. While we previously lived near Central Park, we now enjoy our new home near the countryside parks. The experience is remarkably similar, but one delightful change is the proximity to our hometown. After two years in New York without a visit, we’re now back home every three months. There’s also a remarkable increase in convenience—our shopping moved from nearby stores like Target and TJ Maxx in New York to numerous malls in Hong Kong, along with online shopping adventures on platforms like JD, Taobao, and Pinduoduo! 🛒

A Sense of Security

Years ago, I had concerns about safety. In New York, I hesitated to go out after 8:30 PM for fear of encountering homelessness. Here in Hong Kong, I feel a sense of freedom to explore whenever we like. 🕒

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, while the cost of living feels relatively similar, our overall happiness has greatly improved. The changes brought by this move have opened new doors for our family, creating a more fulfilling life experience! 🌟