The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) is regarded as one of the most expensive places to live in the world. One recent survey found the cost of living in Hong Kong to be the fifth highest in the world and 20 percent higher than in New York City, the most expensive city in the United States. Because Hong Kong has very limited available space, the high cost of housing is one of the primary drivers of the high cost of living (See the Housing section for details).

Fortunately, salaries for experienced professionals are commensurate with the high cost of living. A recent salary guide found that an HR manager in a large company averages 1,200,000 HKD (about 154,000 USD) per year and a mid-level project manager averages between 500,000 and 700,000 HKD per year (about 64,000-90,000 USD), depending upon experience.

This is just a sample of what you'll find in the complete Hong Kong guide.