Hong Kong’s expatriates ‘more satisfied’ ... but not as happy as others in Asia
High cost of living, long working hours and language barrier cited in survey as major obstacles; Bahrain tops worldwide destinations
Hong Kong’s expatriates are slightly more satisfied with their lives compared with one year ago, but they are still not as content as others living in Taiwan, Singapore, Vietnam and Malaysia, according to a new international survey.
Expatriates living in the city felt frustrated by the high cost of living, the lack of work-life balance, and the difficulty of trying to learn Cantonese.
In a poll of 13,000 users compiled by expatriate networking website InterNations, Hong Kong ranked 39th out of 65 countries and cities – a small jump from 44th place in 2016.
Hong Kong expatriates moving out of traditional enclaves in search of cheaper housing, better life
The website’s Expat Insider survey, which required participants to rate 43 different aspects of life abroad on a scale of one to seven, found that the city continued to attract expatriates primarily because of its competitive economy and job opportunities.
However, almost one third – 30 per cent – said they lacked a good work-life balance, namely because they worked an average of 46.7 hours per week, compared with the global average of 44.3 hours.
While most Hong Kong expats earned high salaries – 48 per cent had a gross annual household income of US$100,000 (HK$782,500) – the cost of living was cited as a major problem.
Expat pay packages in Hong Kong hit five-year low, survey finds
