Hello

First of all, I'm glad I found this forum - there's a lot of information that has been really helpful!


I am now in discussion with a company regarding relocation to either Shanghai or Hong Kong, and I wonder if anyone can give me some advice?

My question is; which city would you go for from quality of life perspective?

I am a single man in late 20s with 4 years experience in online sector. Grew up in New Zealand although not born here. No Chinese language ability....

Salary packages haven't been discussed yet but I guess the packages will be at an acceptable level for either choice.

Any tips or advice would be most welcome - thanks in advance!

Are you for real?! Is this a joke?

Well I guess Shanghai for sure! Peeing in the street, pollution and the worlds biggest zoo where the animals all walk upright (most of the time)....

If I had a choice (which I don't) I would pick HK in a second. But some people like filth so I guess each there own. Drop me a line when you get here we can go together to relive ourselves in front of Starbucks.

Both cities have a lot of offer, and I enjoy them both. I live in Shanghai but am currently based in HK, and am really, really enjoying it. So much so that I am considering a move here.

HK is a bit more Westernised and it is a lot easier to live here, in my opinion.

quote="News_by_KKO"]Are you for real?! Is this a joke?

Well I guess Shanghai for sure! Peeing in the street, pollution and the worlds biggest zoo where the animals all walk upright (most of the time)....

[/quote]

Yep, well explained!

@OP, it depends a bit on your industry and how much you need/ want to climb up on the corporate ladder.
After being here for some while my vote also goes to HK. Just make sure you get a decent pay for housing etc.

News_by_KKO wrote:Are you for real?! Is this a joke?

Well I guess Shanghai for sure! Peeing in the street, pollution and the worlds biggest zoo where the animals all walk upright (most of the time)....

Yep, well explained!

@OP, it depends a bit on your industry and how much you need/ want to climb up on the corporate ladder.
After being here for some while my vote also goes to HK. Just make sure you get a decent pay for housing etc.

Well, if you're talking about quality of life. It depends, because Hong Kong is very expensive. I don't know if you will earn the same in Shanghai as in Hong Kong. Keep that in mind when you make the decision. Look what you would pay to come around in Hong Kong, and see where that would bring you in Shanghai. Both worlds have their pros and contras, don't go light over the decision based on some answers on a forum. But hey, every answer does it's best to help you a bit.
You can have a good quality of life in both cities i think.

For some reason the grass seems to be always greener in another place. If you chose Hong Kong, the day will come that you think, "what the heck am i doing here?". The same will happen when you chose Shanghai!
For some reason, many people on this forum ended up in Shanghai for now. We all chose Shanghai, yet many of us have only complaints about this place from time to time, myself included. Why? Grass, greener, other place!!! If it really is, why are we here in the first place? A question i ask myself from time to time, and the answer for me makes sure i feel good about my own decision again. Just make sure that you find that answer for yourself too in front of making your decision!

No matter what place you will go, have fun and good luck!!!

Yes, you're right. Don't get me wrong, I do love Shanghai, it's just that the visa situation isn't looking very good for me, which sucks.

I also think it is easier to live in HK, and the pay is definitely higher, as well as the cost of living.

HK

I am in Shanghai for about 2 weeks. but HK is HK.

It is one of the best places in Asia to live in. (if your company pay the place to stay).


green areas are close to city. everything is quite to close. here you must travel a lot to get anything. (mountains forests city etc.)

Yeah. We went to a fantastic beach yesterday in HK. So, so nice. You had to hike (quite a tough hike) to get there, but wow it was worth it.

^What beach?

I think it was Long Ki Wan, but we can't remember. Near Sai Kung.

Thanks...I'll look it up.

Heading there in a few weeks for some R&R. Got to find things to do other than shopping around town.

There are some really nice islands, apparently Lamma Island is nice. You can also go on a junk boat trip for a day, that sounds like fun too! Lots of drinking and partying, as well as beautiful scenery and beaches.

Ah, drinking and partying is not for me...but I'll take the beautiful scenery and beaches any time!

Speaking of which, last time I walked along the Dragon's Spine and had the option to make it all the way down to Shek-O, but decided to take the bus back. Maybe I'll walk all the way to Shek-O this time around...great scenery from the hilltop.

But Sai Kung sounds like a must do...if anything for the seafood.

Streamcowboy, any other questions? I think they explain it to you quite nicely

wibel wrote:Well, if you're talking about quality of life. It depends, because Hong Kong is very expensive. I don't know if you will earn the same in Shanghai as in Hong Kong. Keep that in mind when you make the decision. Look what you would pay to come around in Hong Kong, and see where that would bring you in Shanghai. Both worlds have their pros and contras, don't go light over the decision based on some answers on a forum. But hey, every answer does it's best to help you a bit.
You can have a good quality of life in both cities i think.

For some reason the grass seems to be always greener in another place. If you chose Hong Kong, the day will come that you think, "what the heck am i doing here?". The same will happen when you chose Shanghai!
For some reason, many people on this forum ended up in Shanghai for now. We all chose Shanghai, yet many of us have only complaints about this place from time to time, myself included. Why? Grass, greener, other place!!! If it really is, why are we here in the first place? A question i ask myself from time to time, and the answer for me makes sure i feel good about my own decision again. Just make sure that you find that answer for yourself too in front of making your decision!

This must be the most stupid answer to what was asked! Blah blah blah, blah blah blah, you say nothing.

Most of the things that I enjoy in Shanghai are foreign - foreign people, foreign food, foreign bars, foreign coffee shops, foreign internet - except for some leisure travel around China. That says enough about living in SH.

This must be the most stupid answer to what was asked! Blah blah blah, blah blah blah, you say nothing.

Most of the things that I enjoy in Shanghai are foreign - foreign people, foreign food, foreign bars, foreign coffee shops, foreign internet - except for some leisure travel around China. That says enough about living in SH.

Wow, my answer seems to piss you off, yet you claim it says nothing?!
What the heck are you doing here if you like foreigners so much??? Seems you hate Shanghai, yet you are living here? Talk about stupid, oh boy!!!
That says enough about your answer!

wibel wrote:Seems you hate Shanghai, yet you are living here?

Someone or the other says this on these forums every single day, so again, you say nothing.

Someone or the other says this on these forums every single day, so again, you say nothing.

Anyway, whatever, have fun with your foreign life!

I've lived in both HK and Shanghai. I like both cities, and as far as big city amenities, Shanghai has just as much to offer as HK. HK is nice because of the green spaces (hiking trails), topography (mountainous whereas Shanghai is flat), beaches, etc... HK is overall a more beautiful place. At the same time, I find the local people in Shanghai to be nicer than in HK (this is a generalization). There are pros and cons to both cities, but both provide great experiences.

Good luck!

In terms of affordability, I myself would choose Shanghai. Also, it is better situated than HK is, if you have to travel around China for business or whatnot. But for the international traveler, and people who have ENDLESS amount of cash to spend on living in HK, I would choose HK.

dcyemail wrote:... At the same time, I find the local people in Shanghai to be nicer than in HK (this is a generalization). There are pros and cons to both cities, but both provide great experiences.

Good luck!

Pls define where/how/why do you find the local people in shanghai is nice?

^^
I would have to agree. Having spent some time in HK, I find HK ren more rude comparing with Shanghai ren. HK crowd is more civilized tho.

Wow a lot of answers - this forum really rocks!

@hudynek @Tanna
Thanks for the tips.... Being in NZ for most of my life this is definitely something I would take account of when choosing where to live!

@wibel @rgeczi8
Agree with you that dollar for dollar in salary Shanghai may be a better choice, but am not 100% sure as I understand tax rate in HK is more favourable...?


Anyway thanks everyone for the comments!

I'll be discussing details with the company in two days time so fingers crossed that I make the right decision!

I grew up in NZ too! I find there are a lot more places similar to NZ in HK.

Anytime,

streamcowboy wrote:Hello

First of all, I'm glad I found this forum - there's a lot of information that has been really helpful!


I am now in discussion with a company regarding relocation to either Shanghai or Hong Kong, and I wonder if anyone can give me some advice?

My question is; which city would you go for from quality of life perspective?

I am a single man in late 20s with 4 years experience in online sector. Grew up in New Zealand although not born here. No Chinese language ability....

Salary packages haven't been discussed yet but I guess the packages will be at an acceptable level for either choice.

Any tips or advice would be most welcome - thanks in advance!

Every so often, questions like this pop up, how is Hong Kong, or Singapore, or Tokyo, or (insert your own Asian city here) compared to Shanghai. Most people would slam Shanghai when they reply, which is kinda funny considering supposedly they all live here in Shanghai.

I have lived in Hong Kong for 6 months before, and I stop over there for a week every few months when I fly back to USA. I have been living in Shanghai since March.
I will only tell you what's the downside of Hong Kong, and what's good about Shanghai, because everyone else has already said enough what's good about Hong Kong.

Hong Kong is too small.
Huge population combined with small area, it means people everywhere 24 hrs a day.
Luxury of space is hard to come by, and you pay a HEFTY price of it, a luxury 2 bedrooms apt with a view can run you 8k USD a month.
People generally have more money compared to Shanghai, so there are a ton of consumers but limited resource of everything to go around, the result is jacked-up price and low availability.
Entertainment wise, there are a dozen clubs and half of them only open on weekends.

Shanghai, is a nice city, it's new, it's glamorous, some people say it's like a huge movie set, by the China government to impress foreigners, perhaps they are right, but who cares? As long as it's nice and you are happy to live in it, it's all good in my opinion.
Shanghai also has a huge population, but the difference is, most of people are still poor, so there is plenty of space and other resources of leisure for the high society. 3k USD can get you a decent apt in nice part of city center. Plenty of fancy spots to go and most of them are never full.
Entertainment wise, many many clubs, and every night is a happening night.
On more bonus, if you are not local, you are treated as a higher social class.

Bottom line:
If you live a high life, whatever you get in Hong Kong, you can get in Shanghai.
If you live an average life, Shanghai is cheaper.
If you are struggling, you can find very cheap options in Shanghai, but not in Hong Kong.

Therefore, I personally find Shanghai to be a better place to live.

Hong Kong, without a doubt. You have MUCH MUCH MUCH better access to nature and access to south east asia. No govt firewalling. Better chicks. Much cleaner.