Posted by
makimech
14 yrs ago
I'm having thoughts in living in HK, but I'm considering
the salary-cost of living as well.
I made my research and asked some friends about the salaries, and they said that an expected salary 12,000HKD would be the usual catch for companies to hire a designer.
I wanna know if a 12,000 HKD salary would be enough to live and save(even a bit) per month?
Considering:
1.) Rent (Isaw some ads with 4-6k/mo)
2.) Meals (I'm not picky and a hawker would be fine)
3.) Transportation (MTR rates)
4.) Communication (prepaid sim card & mobile rates)
5.) Tax(?) - i don't know.
*also is it true that salary raise is fast?
Thanks!
Please support our advertisers:
Up till last February, I lived on 10k a month with 3.5k on rent and two dogs.
It really isn't easy.
Roughly 2k of that was on a 'luxury' item so if you can live like a monk, you may be able to save.
Please support our advertisers:
@Cara
I've made some research, some rooms have electricity and wifi included with their fees. So maybe that's minus 600.
500-1000 for transportation, is that by MTR, taxi or bus? Btw, is it same with Singapore with their EZlink card? It's Octopus Card in HK right? -One card to use in bus and Mtr?
@Ringo
Well, I am dedicated to live like a monk! lol. As long as there's internet, I'm fine. I don't usually go to moviehouses, eat at restos, or buy much clothes. So how long did you stayed with a 10k salary? It's hard, but possible?
Please support our advertisers:
2 years of that 'salary'.
It was self imposed sick pay; I already had flat furnishings, etc, so bear that in mind.
A couple of times I had to dip into company funds but that was related to vet expenses.
Make sure you have some sort of emergency fund if you're intent on coming out here on 12k a month. It will be hard.
Please support our advertisers:
@Ringo, Yikes, 2 years of that salary! But if I'm living on my own, it would be possible right? Though I have some emergency funds.
@Cara: Pretty much it'll be live-work only. If ever I work in Tsai Wan and live in Causeway bay(just a peg, since I see much rooms available there)
I'm currently in the Philippines. Would I still get a work visa on that salary?
I had one employer asked me for my expected salary, I stated 15-20k. I think they want it lower. :(
Please support our advertisers:
Milty
14 yrs ago
You can pretty much forget it. 12K a month is not much at all. What you also need to consider are trips home etc.
You will be struggling and it may take away the whole adventure/excitement aspect of living in HK.
I am very surprised that a designer would be paid so little. Are you only starting out in the workforce as a designer? Do you have a university degree? With some experience and a uni degree I would expect at least double what they're offering.
Please support our advertisers:
Can't you earn that where you're from? That's (12,000) what Philippino drivers get here in HK!
Please support our advertisers:
@Milty, I have 2 years experience work experience and also experience in supervising my design-editing team. And yes, I have a Bachelor's Degree in Multimedia Arts.
@WonTon: Yeah that's my concern as well, if they can hire someone from the inside, then why look elsewhere. Not to brag but, I have tricks up my sleeves, I cater a wider range of skills(design-3d-motion-video) so I guess that's one factor that's hard to look?
- I really wanted a change of environment, save a bit, learn more culture and people. I'm a low-maintenance person, so I dont have an issue with place nor food. But I' wondering with the transportation. I thought transpo is cheap in HK? lol
Please support our advertisers:
Then I would expect more than 12K a month, that's for sure.
Please support our advertisers:
bing2
14 yrs ago
makimech, if you are young, low maintenance person and your intention is to get a life experience, i'd say welcome to hong kong - the land of opportunity for people who want to work hard!
12,000 is definitely enough to survive but surely you will not be able to afford luxury things in life. remember most landlords in hong kong require 3 months of rent upfront so you may want to bring some money for rent or else find a share-a-room apartment.
transportation is quite cheap and it covers every corner in hong kong without having to take taxi. so $500/ month is more than enough to travel to lots of places in hong kong without having to take taxi at all.
getting a visa could be a problem, otherwise suck in the experience and good luck!
you'll love it here. no other place in the world quite like hong kong.
Please support our advertisers:
@australianexpat: Well, yeah, I was just checking it if 12k is enough. But my expected salary is 15-20K. Actually what I was thinking that it is much easier to find a better job once you're in. am i mistaken?
@Bing2: Thanks bing. Actually, I don't seek much luxury in life. I don't even go outside or even buy clothes that much here in my home country! I just want a new environment and new set of people to look at. And yeah, the 3 months + Agent fee* is what bothers me, though I don't mind living in a 'share-a-room apartment' (Do you have an idea how much it would be in a share-a-room?)
And yeah, the visa is what also concerns me, any tips in how to have an edge in approval? (The requirements are diploma and certificate of employment right?)
-Does having a master's degree gives it another + in the approval?
Please support our advertisers:
My friend has found her first job as a product designer for a Mainland Chinese company, based in HK for 18k HKD/mth. Count that you will have a bonus for CNY (roughly one month bonus), and that she got first raise (+20%) after 6 months.
Please support our advertisers:
@cdebarace
Wow, that's great! How did she got the job? I mean, Did she applied while she was there?
'Cause what I'm doin now is applying online, but I'm here in my home country. Does online interview work as well in HK? And also, how many years of exp does your friend have?
Please support our advertisers:
bing2
14 yrs ago
share a room apartment will range from 1000-5000/ month. the good thing is your flatmates have put down the deposits so you can negotiate with your flatmates on how much deposit is reasonable and you'll save on agency's fee. you can find some listings on this website.
as for visa, any higher degree is an advantage however it also depends to your company's background. if you were hired by let's say a blue chip company even with low salary your chances of getting visa is good. i know many new trainees from cathay pacific from SE asia countries are only making 15-16K per month and they all got their visa no problem because their sponsor is a blue chip company.
Please support our advertisers:
@Bing2
Now I have a "saving" option with the rent. That helped a lot!
Visa> So to say, salary & company background plays a major role. So it really is a case to case basis. Yikes.
Oh im also wondering, is it advisable to go there and apply personally, or it's fine to apply just online?
Please support our advertisers:
1. ask for a higher salary, at at least 15K, i recon you deserve it, if u have good portfolio (i have 8+experience in ad industry as well, that's my opinion)
2. The cheapest 300 feet apartment in the hk island side cost at least $6-7K, (half ur salary). 2nd option, is living next to junkies and prostitutes in some sort of ghetto area with common bathroom will cut your living cost down to $2.5K. Get real, the property pricing is extremely expensive in hk
Please support our advertisers:
Makimech,
She arrived here without a job, commited to finding something. It took her sthg like 3-4 months of networking, going to fares, going out (part of the networking), answering to ads before finding the job. She had little experience (few internships only).
She was on tourist ViSA during her search.
Lot of design agencies here, but have to be in HK, because jobsDB or else is crap, and networking is everything .
Please support our advertisers:
@bennettleung:
Noted with the salary.
Well I have no issue with living in a low cost apartment(but of course good community considered) It's true Hongkong's property is expensive, but same goes with Singapore or somewhere else.
@cdebarace:
So you mean it's much easier to find a job or land one if you're in HK, well, I know that. But I'm considering the gamble, going there and might not find a job. I don't know anyone in HK, so I'm on the losing side. >_<
Oh, and how long can a tourist stay? Like 2 weeks or 1 month?
Please support our advertisers:
@Cara:
I'm from the Philippines. Do you know where I can find out the length?
Please support our advertisers:
bing2
14 yrs ago
2 weeks for phil passport. you can try maybe one trip to macau and back the next day for another 2 weeks. after that you will have a problem with immigration.
for visa, it's case by case, so it depends to your company and your qualifications.
i'd suggest you apply online first and come to hk when you have a few prospective employers. otherwise - i have to be straightforward here, apology if anyone is offended - but you (filipinos) will have a harder time to find a job compare to let's say americans and europeans, although you may be better qualified. and americans and europeans can stay in hong kong for 3 months on tourist visa.
Please support our advertisers:
@Bing2:
Oh! That's so short! 2 weeks! Online Job Hunt would be the best step. It's like hitting the moon!
Please support our advertisers:
@WonTonNom:
Got your advice! Thanks!And yeah, I dont wanna do the exit-re entry thing. Thank you, hopefully I could work there soon.
Please support our advertisers:
Honestly with a salary under 15k, immigration will not give you a visa and technically they should not give you a visa. Also getting a work visa, the company you work for would have to be a solid company because they have to show HK gov why they can not hire a local person instead. The company will have to show the gov all there accounting information as well records showing there staff current salaries, how many employee's etc.
Please support our advertisers:
@illmatic:
So any salary about 15k would be somehow be fine? But 20k would be ideal?
Thanks!
Please support our advertisers:
The immigrations normal line is, "we deal with applications on a case to case basis", meaning not all applications are the same.
If the company wants you bad, they should be willing to pay you at least 15,000. Free accommodations for at least one month (up to three months). Free round trip ticket to your home country at least once a year. 13th month bonus. Medical insurance. Etc.
Once that is dealt with and the employment contract signed, the company will forward the application for a working visa to the immigration. From that point on, you can't do anything anymore. The immigration department will either approve the application or not.
Please support our advertisers:
makimech
12 thousand dollars is definitely enough for you to live and save in Hong Kong especially if you are a single. You can get a one tiny bedroom for 3,500 to 5,000 somewhere in Causeway Bay and Wan Chai. If the company offered you a job and you are candid that you need company sponsorship, you have a chance but at the end of the day the immigration officer who is handling your case will decide if you are approved or not. You said you are a designer, start building up your portfolio; it should be a cutting edge design or work that proves that you could excel or do better than the local Hong Kong Chinese. It’s true that Hong Kong Chinese are creative and artistic people but it doesn’t mean that you don’t have CHANCE. If you are talented and the company is only paying you 12,000.00 they will do whatever it takes to bring you here because you are what they called “cheap labour ” Don’t listen to some people here that you can’t get the visa, you have a chance. There are a lot of Filipino professionals in Hong Kong that succeeded to come and work here (Chefs, Architects and et. al)
Second, don’t come here as a tourist and start looking for job. It’s ILLEGAL, you are a Filipino you will easily get caught because there is a lot of Filipino Tourist that came here and started working as a prostitute. Immigration and Police have their eyes on us. It’s easier if you could line up 5 to 7 companies that would like to interview you in person.
Kaya mo yan! Don’t give up! Persevere ka, by the way, medyo madaming mga tao dito ang ayaw sa mga Filipino. Please read the Anti – Filipino Sentiment s posted 2 months ago yata. Sabi nga nila ASIA’S WORLD CITY! So they want diversity. I mean gusto nila ng limitadong diversidad. Madaming mga Filipino na nag excel sa mga pinili nilang larangan. If you have ambition, passionate and discipline no one can stop you from reaching it.
Good luck kababayan kaya mo yan. PM mo ako kung may tanong ka pa.
Please support our advertisers:
I have to agree with those who say you're going to have a hard time getting a visa for a job that pays under $15-20K... but it's not written in stone...
if you get here, also look to live in areas like Aberdeen and Kennedy Town- you'd get a bit more space than in even old buildings, near the MTR.
I work p/t and get about $12K and made a comment at work about how a single person would manage on that amount - everyone agreed that there are plenty of single people living on that, but they're local & don't need a visa and as they speak Cantonese, probably can find the $20 noodles a bit easier than we can.
Good luck!
Please support our advertisers:
You really dont want to come to HK. Its a terrible place to live, we dont have any fun, and no one makes any money :)
Please support our advertisers:
Most important.
If you are not married and single, you could manage with that until you get experienced and start earning more. Otherwise just forget it.
Please support our advertisers:
You must be logged in to be able to reply.
Login now
Copy Link
Facebook
Gmail
Mail