Cost of Living in Hong Kong: Travel, Transportation, and Student Accommodation

Hong Kong is administrative region in China, known for being one of the most expensive destinations in Asia. The cost of living in Hong Kong is somewhere around 6,865 HKD (70,707 INR) per month for a single person. The annual living expenses in Hong Kong is seen to be around 82,380 HKD (8.72 lakhs INR). This makes one of the most expensive study abroad destinations after New York and London. The annual tuition fees for majority of the universities in Hong Kong may cost around 90,000 HKD to 265,000 (9.53 lakhs to 28.06 lakhs INR) for international students.

Hong Kong formerly served as a British colony before it was occupied by Japan and later transferred to China. The country has a lot of restrictions for international students as they are not allowed to work part-time during their studies. However, international students may extend their stay in Hong Kong up to 12 years and look for suitable jobs as prescribed by Immigration Arrangement for non-local Graduates. In case a case, to smoothly cover the cost of living in Hong Kong international students may consider applying for financial aid for Scholarships in Hong Kong.

Cost of Living in Hong Kong: Travel Guide

International students will be required to arrange their own means to travel in Hong Kong only after receiving the admission letter from the university in Hong Kong. The cost of flight from India to Hong ranges between 1,100 to 2,266 HKD (12,000 to 24,000 INR). It is best advised to arrive in Hong Kong at least 1 to weeks before your respective program starts. After arriving to Hong Kong, the international students will be asked to show the below mentioned documents:

• Passport
• Valid Hong Kong student visa
• Letter of acceptance or admission letter from the university
• Address and contact details of institution and accommodation

Also, international students will be required to fill and submit an arrival card that will later be given to Immigration counter. To reach your place of accommodation or university is to take the Airport Express train that may cost between 6 HKD to 116 HKD (64 to 1,230 INR) depending on the route and distance.

Cost of Living in Hong Kong: Transportation

Honk Kong houses one world's best connected public transport which makes it easier to travel that too with affordable cost. Some of the major means of transportation in Hong Kong are as follows:

• MTR or Mass Transit Railway: The MTR railway connects the majority of the stations in Hong Kong as well as some cities in Mainland China. It is the most convenient and affordable transport to travel across Hong Kong. The minimum fare for MTR is 4 HKD (42.36 INR).
• Light Rail: It is yet another cheapest mode of transportation in Hong Kong with ticket prices ranging from 4 to 6.5 HKD (42.36 to 68.84 INR).
• Bus: Bus travel is way more cheaper than MTR with a minimum ticket price of 2.7 HKD (28 INR). It is available 24 hours.
• Double-Decker Tram: A double decker tram has the lowest take that costs 2.6 HKD (27.5 INR) regardless of distance.
• Public Light Bus: usually used for travelling inner parts of the main city with a minimum fare of 7 HKD (74 INR).
• Ferries: Since Hong Kong has over 250 islands, the ferries are quite useful to access each island. The cruise ticket may hardly cost around 2 to 3 HKD (22 to 33 INR) to travel within Hong Kong. Mainland China is also accessible through ferries but it requires a Chinese Visa.
• LPG Taxi: There are few LPG powered taxis available throughout Hong Kong with a basic fee of 24 HKD. The per kilometre charge for an LPG taxi is 6 to 8 HKD (63.55 to 84.73 INR).

To make your travel more convenient, the students may get an Octopus card that will surely reduce the overall cost of living in Hong Kong. Octopus is accepted by almost every mode of transportation in Hong Kong including the buses, MTR, Light Rail and City Bus. It generally acts as a metro or debit card. A standard Octopus card requires a minimum deposit of 50 HKD (530 INR).

Cost of Living in Hong Kong: Student Accommodation

Finding an accommodation in Hong Kong can be difficult as the majority of the regions are highly expensive. The rent is quite high in the main city as well as in university's own accommodations. So, it is advisable for international students to look for budgeted accommodations in areas other than the main city.

On-Campus Accommodation in Hong Kong

Not many universities in Hong Kong offer accommodations for international students. Also, those offering may not guarantee accommodations due to high demand among international students. However, some universities have started to offer housing facilities especially for international students. The majority of those housing facilities are available for non- locals students planning to study in undergraduate courses. These accommodations are generally offered for the first 2 years of undergraduate study. For postgraduate students, there are some universities offering special residence halls and complexes.

The residence halls in Hong Kong universities usually consist of single or double seater rooms with addition to living area, kitchen, and bathroom. Most rooms are non-coed and fully furnished with AC. Make sure you bring your own blankets, bed sheets and pillows.

Cost of Living at Top Hong Kong Universities

The table displays the cost of living in top universities in Hong Kong. The accommodation rent is charged in two instalments throughout the year during fall and spring and fall semesters. The on campus residence in Hong Kong may cost around 5,000 to 15,000 HKD () depending on the university, area and facilities. Housing packages also include the cost of meals for three times per day.

Off-Campus Accommodation in Hong Kong

As mentioned earlier, off - campus accommodations in Hong Kong are the hardest to look for and are also costlier. If a student could not receive a place in university's accommodations, then he may contact the university itself to help him locate suitable accommodation. The best option is to visit the residences office of the university or visit the Student Affairs office to check whether they offer any assistance regarding the same. The cost of off campus accommodations in Hong Kong ranges from 8,000 to 15,000 HKD (84,727 lakhs to 1.58 lakhs INR) per month. Some other private accommodations for students are as follows:

• Youth Hostel: 4,000 to 5,000 (42,363 to 53,000 INR) per month for a single room
• Apartment: 6,000 to 12,000 HKD per month (63,546 to 1.27 lakhs INR)
• House: 20,000 to 30,000 HKD (2.11 lakhs to 3.17 lakhs INR) per month

The above-mentioned prices are full furnished apartments offering a range of facilities like television, air conditioner, gas stove, washing machine, etc. The landlords in Hong Kong generally ask for advance payment of 2 to 3 months, so be prepared for the same.

Cost of Living in Hong Kong: Healthcare Cost

The healthcare cost in Hong Kong is free in public healthcare systems for everyone including international students. However, due to slow service and less facilities, some may prefer a private healthcare system.

Tabulated below are the costs of the private healthcare system.

Cost of Living in Hong Kong for International Students

The average cost of living in Hong Kong for international students is seen to be around 8,172 HKD (86,550 INR) per month. The overall living expenses in Hong Kong are listed in the below table:

International students are not eligible for part-time jobs in Hong Kong during their studies. Even full-time has some restrictions but they are advised to opt for internships or part-time jobs on campus. The students receiving the "No Objection Letter" after Visa approval will get to understand what kind of job opportunities they are allowed to do in Hong Kong