Singapore or Hong Kong with a 4 year old?

[FrogInASock]

We need to move to either Singapore or Hong Kong to develop our business. The pros and cons from the business side are fairly even.

So now I have to prepare a dossier of what makes sense from a family perspective. It is our own business so there is no relocation package on offer as such.

So if anyone has lived in one or both which wins out for schooling, socialising, healthcare, places to live, playgrounds parks and outdoor spaces, general expat experience? Ease of living? Cost of living? Things to do?

I'm finding out as much as I can from online research but some personal views would be helpful too!

Wow. What an exciting decision. I've lived in Asia for 7 years and have travelled to both several times and know them well. HK has lots of atmosphere and is a bit more edgy than Singers. There are parks and outdoor spaces in both. Public transport is good in both. Same with schools - heaps and heaps of choice. HK is slightly cheaper in terms of groceries etc as you have more of a Chinese market. Eating out is good in both at varying price ranges although again HK wins out at the lower end. Rent is high in both (HK slightly cheaper) but you don't get much for your money in either place. Both have things to do for children - parks, museums, etc.

Friends who live in HK love the beach there. Lots of people like Singers because it is cleaner and more efficient etc. I think I would prefer HK because I like the fact that it is a bit grubbier but if that isn't your thing Singers is a safer bet. The latter also has the advantage of being attached to Malaysia by a causeway with good road connections and a train north so holidays don't have to involve a flight. Malaysia is amazing for family holidays. Loads of cool stuff.

Let me know if you have any specific questions.

Hmm. Not lived in either but visited both. Things that spring to mind are weather- Singapore so very hot and humid all year round. Hong Kong can be lovely and pleasant in winter.
If I had children I think I would prefer to go to Singapore however- not that HK is dangerous but Singas does seem very very safe and particularly family friendly.

I have lived in both. Property wise you can get quite a bit more for you money in Singapore - especially out of town a bit which is still well connected to central by Public transport or bus. Rents are negotiable. The weather is better in Hong Kong in their version of winter, Singapore is sweaty all the time which gets tiring.

Singapore is very child friendly and their are tons and tons of expats with lots going on. Both would be cool, I prefer Singapore

Thank you so much for your views. I'm going to start looking in a lot more detail at Hong Kong to start with. Thanks @PBobs I think the slightly edgier and grubbier might suit us :) . And the climate might also give points to HK.

My only experience in both places is as a child free tourist staying in the city on transit - I didn't make it past bars and clubs and wasn't looking at either with a view to raising a family. I remember the price of beers in Singapore nearly had me falling off my stool.

I do remember HK being super hilly. My DD already gets about at snails pace and that's on the flat so are there residential areas of HK I should just rule out initially? We'll attempt to get by without a car, but happy to take taxis, public transport or walk, terrain permitting.

You can easily get by in Honkers without a car; lots of people do. Buses are very cheap, taxis cheaper than London, and Uber is a godsend if you are going somewhere out of the way and can’t give the driver directions in Canto. But yes, HK is hilly whereas Sing is flat as a pancake.

Both are cultural wastelands compared to London, with little by the way of art or history.

Hong Kong is good for hikers and rugby players; Singapore has a lot of activities for children. We like going to Sing for long weekends, we never run out of things to do there, but I’ve not lived there.

I like that HK has seasons. Typhoons can be scary though. We’ve had a few big ones these last few years, it’s amaz how quickly the city recovers. Only move to Sing if you are prepared to live with a constant film of sweat over you.

Business wise, people in Singapore constantly moan about the HK bureaucracy and how long it takes to get HK licenses and government approval. Expats moan that Singaporeans are parochial, closed to foreigners and quite guarded, perhaps a feature of living in a dictatorship with little freedoms (eg freedom of expression-people don’t go around criticising the ruling elite).

Both are expensive. Schools can be difficult to find in both, I don’t know if Singapore uses the debenture system but debentures in HK cost a ridiculous amount. You will not get the same quality of education as you would in selective independent London schools. Tutoring is rife and expensive. But travel opportunities are great from both.