Singapore vs Hong Kong Singapore is nice, clean and pleasant, but it's a bit like living in disneyland.

It's ok if your job takes you outside every now and then. For the single scene, it's not the best compared to other cities i've lived in before. Singapore is the ideal place for a young family and consequently there's a lot of them there. I never go to the condo pool on weekends as the water's always one shade more yellow and a bit warmer... As a guy you'll be thrilled at the attention you're getting if you go out to Attica or other places on Clark Quay, but frankly speaking half the girls there are asking money for their services... I've lived all in all 4 years in Singapore and i find it hard to connect with Singaporeans because many have a very limited experience of the world outside Singapore. (I started out working in a local company) To me they come across as overly theoretically educated and in lack of the street-wiseness and creativity that a less engineered society usually provoke. I've found people in hong kong to be more intelligent, more outgoing and conversations with locals tend to be more fun than painful. Hong Kong seem to attract young single professionals who come there "to make it", much like why you'd consider moving to New York. Singapore on the other hand is a small pleasant little village with a relative large community in shipping and finance. Think of it like the ideal american suburb in the 50-ies... You can have a very nice life there with wakeboarding, weekend trips to indonesia/malaysia/thailand etc, but if you're looking for a big city, this is not your place. Downside with Hong Kong is lower standard of living, more pollution and more expensive food. Rentals in Singapore has gone up quite a bit so i think you'll pay about the same for that, but probably get a place with a pool in Singapore. I've moved to Hong Kong now (Lamma Island) where i got a rooftop apartment for less than i paid for my place in Singapore. I very much enjoy moving back into reality and having a higher pace of living in a big city. I guess i'm a sucker for that little taste of reality.

/SS

2 Years In Singapore and close to 2 here and I'd agree with Silversurfer. I was edging to move out of Singapore at the end of 2 years. Don't get me wrong the people are nice, everyone speaks english, life is super easy (effecient bureaucracy etc. - though HK comes close), food is great and cheap, and its well

placed for travel around the region - but there was this thing I can't put a finger on that started getting on my nerves. (i'd argue that the media controls / big brother attitude to everything have in a way killed the street-smartness of people in general). Small things I noticed started getting on my nerves like hell - mostly to do with people's inability to think outside the one-track they are trained for. That and the seeing how big and important some things, which I thought should be pretty irrelevant to people, became. Check a typical day's Straits Times - bigger things like a prisoner gone missing warranted MMS' to all SG cellphones, colored notices in almost all private and public estates and notices in *each* cab on the island. (btw check out the conspiracy theories on that one) Just loved it when i saw the SCMP on landing here the first time - there were articles criticizing the Chinese govt - heck a Singaporean newspaper wouldn't criticize the Chinese govt!! Singapore: more expat friendly, probably better when one wants to settle down a bit more in life (though i'm not sure if and when i have kids, whether i'd want them to study in that system). Funny thing is - I now love going back to SG for short trips to catchup with friends and the food Single? HK beats the pants off SG.

I am with moving07, it is very much up to the individual as to which lifestyle requirements best suit us. Consider also that expats are a very diverse group, some are on their 5th international expat post, and adapt well to geographic change, for some it will be their first time working abroad, single with no ties, married with no kids or married with children, we all have different levels of criteria, that will make the transition easier...

On a housing space point of view, I'd have to say that Singapore offers much larger accommodation that suit families with kids better, and for less expense. ( 4 bedroom 2000 - 3000ft2 properties ). But the same could be said for families here in HKG that choose to live in the New Territories ie Sai Kung/Clearwater Bay, who want much larger spaces, for considerably less cost than Central or south HK island, as an example.. Hong Kong has it's various suburban/urban enclaves that cater for all of the different expat demographic life styles/stages, so it really depends on what stage your lifestyle is at, right now. Are you starting with nothing, building a budding career, single with no ties etc ? Married with no kids, or married with children ? All of these factors will influence where you choose to settle. Personally I find Hong Kong the best fit, as we have family here, which has helped me understand the HK Chinese culture a lot more, by adding to my sensibilities. I believe that there is a residential area for everybody, it might pay to visit the different residential area's where us expats like to live, and make your own mind up, as to which one suits you. My suggestions of some diverse area's of HK & its territories.. HK Island Mid Levels Happy Valley Causeway bay Sheung Wan Kennedy Town Tai Koo Shing Aberdeen Stanley Lantau Discovery Bay easy access to central, if you like the out doors in your spare time, it's a good affordable spot. New Territories East Sai Kung / Clearwater Bay one of my favourite locations, but its a 60 minute

commute to Central by public transport. Worth it for one of the best communities in HK, in my opinion. New Territories West Tuen Mun which is where the Sino Property owned Gold Coast development is, although there are much better non property developer owned quality apartment complexes that neighbour the Gold Coast, but it does provide a well equipped el fresco mall, to hang out with friends on the weekends. ____________________________________

Check out Google Maps and flickr photo galleries to get a feel for how these area's look. Good luck and happy researching .

G-i-A, I started my career in SG after B-school and quite a few of my classmates (girls) were there too - No one ever faced a problem. Its a safe, easy place to be in. However if you're an HK native - you might not like the place too much (for some reason, my friends from here never really liked SG). Decent list of to-do things, relatively lower cost of living, good public transport (though i hate hailing a cab in peak hrs around orchard/cbd now - given the surcharges), v v expat friendly. If you need so - drop me a PM and i can put you in you in touch with a few single/ ex-single girls who live/lived there (one in HK now). imho - HK just has much more of a 'character' which SG sorely lacks..and i deal with people who are just more people here - can be a bit 'robotic' there - just a little bit

Im going to lay my cards on the table early, when it comes to Hong Kong vs Singapore, Im completely biased and Ive only got one answer to the question should I visit Hong Kong or Singapore, and thats Hong Kong. Below youll find out why. Hong Kong Pros Sights This is where Hong Kong really blows away Singapore. From temples to skyscraping temples to capitalism, through colonial buildings and world class museums, Hong Kong is packed with sights. The mix of the traditional with the modern in Hong Kong makes for a powerful combination, and the city has a far richer history to be explored. Singapores sights can feel a little like Disneyland, well preserved and well displayed, but dead. The markets, temples and fishing villages of Hong Kong are very much alive. Conversely, Singapore has done more about preserving its colonial heritage in recent years, and has a good selection of British era sights. Restaurants Both cities are superb for food, and youll find an outrageous selection of cuisine in either location. Hong Kong however excels at Cantonese food, it is simply better here than anywhere else in the world. Hong Kongers consider eating out a right and the sheer amount of restaurants is breathtaking. Its estimated there are more eateries in Hong Kong per head than anywhere else in the world. In addition to an unrivalled choice of Chinese cuisine, from Hainan to Harbin, Hong Kong is also home to the best, award-winning restaurants in Asia. Well, maybe Japan. Transport Hong Kong may have the worlds best public transport system. Cheap, clean and efficient, there really are few faults. Ferries, buses, trams and the subway are all well interconnected and serve just about the whole territory. Singapore is certainly no slouch in the transport department and is also very easy to get around, assisted by its relatively compact size. Kids With Ocean Park and Hong Kong Disneyland both in the city, Singapore really cant rival Hong Kong here. Singapore does at least have good, green open spaces, but for kid friendly activities Hong Kong is head and shoulders above Singapore. Shopping Few cities in the world can rival Hong Kong when it comes to shopping, certainly not Singapore. For the average shopper Singapore has plenty to offer, but for those who want to get serious, Hong Kong is a punters paradise. From the traditional markets to the multiplex malls and swanky

boutiques your plastic will take quite a beating in Hong Kong. The bargain centre of Shenzhen, just across the border, is an added bonus. Singapore Pros Friendly Now this is going to be controversial, Singaporeans are more polite and friendly. Although they wont ever be voted the worlds friendliest nation the difference between Singapore and Hong Kong is noticeable. Hong KOngers, at least at first, are all business. English Thats right, despite Hong Kong being British owned up until 1997, the level of spoken English in the city really has dropped considerably. Singaporeans are much better, with English widely spoken. Of course, youre generally not going to have major difficulties in Hong Kong with English either. Environment Singapore is very much the town garden to Hong Kongs urban jungle. Parks are everywhere in Singapore and the city is more relaxed for it. Visitors to Singapore also dont have to wallow in the semi permanent smog that cloaks Hong Kong. That said, Hong Kong outdoes Singapore for hiking and walking outside the city. Bottom Line Singapore is an excellent city in its own right but just cant stand up to Hong Kong. Hong Kong is simply bigger and brighter, and, for most people, better.

Singapore's lifestyle vs Hong Kong's money

4 June 2007

Choosing between Hong Kong and Singapore poses a dilemma: chase the money in HK or cheaper living costs and more space in the Lion City.

Recruiters say that decision is often determined by the stage of life bankers are at. "We see bankers move to Singapore for lifestyle reasons," says Nicholas Hughes, manager of front office banking at Singapore's ConnectedGroup. "Even though pay is generally higher in Hong Kong, candidates approach us to see if there are options to move here. They range from Singaporeans wanting to move home to expats with young families worried about pollution in Hong Kong." "Conversely, many younger bankers who are not concerned about smaller apartments and pollution actually prefer the hectic lifestyle Hong Kong offers," notes Andrew Price, director of banking at PSD Group in Singapore. Price says even for bankers with families, it is not always easy to turn down Hong Kong. "From some recent placements it even seems the pay differential is widening in Hong Kong's favour. In one instance we saw a Singaporean candidate earning US$197k here offered US$400k for a similar job in Hong Kong. Some bankers will sacrifice the lifestyle for bigger money," states Price. Despite this, enquiries are rising from candidates in Europe looking to move to Singapore. "We see this especially with bankers from London looking to move to Asia," says Hughes. "In addition, a lot of Swiss bankers are moving here as part of Singapore's wealth management boom. Tougher regulations in Switzerland are leading to money being shifted to Asia. We are seeing an influx of bankers as a result."

Singapore more attractive than Hong Kong, says expat

Posted by theonlinecitizen on March 25, 200971 Comments The following is a letter to the editor of the South China Morning Post. It is written by an European expat who claims that he is living in Singapore currently. TOC thanks our reader Tony for alerting us to the letter.

I refer to the article Singapore beats HK in survey of Asian expats , March 12. That Singapore appears to have finally achieved its dream of being better than Hong Kong was a highly laughable comment. Singapore has achieved the same status at the top for the past 10 years.

I am a European expat who stayed (or, more rightly, suffered) in Hong Kong for close to five years but chose to move to Singapore and obtained permanent resident status there (though I need to adjust my highly lucrative Hong Kong expat package in exchange). My family and I are now enjoying the comforts, stability, safety and cleaner air of Singapore (plus the many more nice places and resorts that we can travel to in less than two hours, and the much more advanced and lively dining and entertainment options). This contrasts with the dirty and mundane, yet much more expensive Hong Kong. But most important is the ease and efficiency of getting things done in a language I am more comfortable with, English. In fact, Singapore is so much more attractive than Hong Kong that I have the in-principle approval from our global headquarters to shut our office in Hong Kong and move it to Singapore, while maintaining a stronger presence in Shanghai. Singapore beats Hong Kong in so many areas. Many friends are now making plans to move to Singapore after realising their misconceptions about the city. Singaporeans may not be upfront with their thoughts and appear to be reserved, but I have made more local friends than I did in Hong Kong. At least, they are not like most arrogant but ignorant Hongkongers who think they know it all, and criticise and comment on almost everything and anything. I cant help but find most Hongkongers just a bunch of empty vessels, and definitely NATO (no action, talk only idiots thats how Singaporeans would describe Hongkongers).

Hi YP: If you want to fit in immediately, then Singapore would be the easiest, it being a English based country. Go apply for a permit, send your daughter to school or make an order at the restaurant - English will get you everywhere. A large part of the local population is ethnic Indian and Indian food and groceries can be found easily. In HK and China, you will need to struggle with a new language and even a new way of life. You and family will be hit with culture shock and will take a while to fit in - even more so in China. You will face daily frustrations over food, culture, civil service, etc However, if you are looking at career and business opportunities, China and HK is the place to be. Everything is booming and opportunities is everywhere and once you get over the culture and living shock, these are places you will never want to leave. Regards Ken Zhong