What size is your apartment?

[thanka2]

Your question got me thinking. We aren't quite sure what our flat's size is. Landlord says its 700-square feet but he is likely counting the stairwell and the balcony. We figure that the actual living space of our flat is no bigger than 500-square feet. It's a tight space but because we live in a village house, we also have access to the roof where we wash our clothes and hang them and the top of the stairwell has a space where we have a tiny bit of storage. Right now we have three adults and a toddler living here.

I'm thankful to have a house to live in as at one point, while I was pregnant, my husband and I were renting a room that was about 80 square feet where the toilette/shower was separated from the sleeping/eating area by a curtain and the sink/counter area was inside the sleeping area. That was our home at that time. Now at least we have our own kitchen, even if it only fits one person at a time.

We will probably be renting the flat below us as well as our neighbors are moving out in October and then we'll have some room for my husband to have an office/study and for the an additional adult who is moving in with us as well as a helper when she arrives.

But, let's just say it's a huge adjustment for me as I grew up in a 2-story house with a finished basement that included 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, living room, dining room, kitchen, laundry room and a huge fenced back yard that--in all our place filled 1/2 of a city block! And this was by no means a "luxury" setup--just normal home-size for where I lived at. So, my house was probably 3000+ square feet. But, by far what I miss is the trees, flowers and grass that surrounded the house--something that is unimaginable in HK!

 

[ctrbabe1]

We also have a tiny flat. It's 518sq ft, 2 br, 1 ba, tiny kitchen. Dh and I are able to fit a queen bed and the computer desk in our room, and the girls have bunkbeds and a wardrobe and a small bookshelf in theirs. I would LOVE to move to a bigger flat, but I think we're stuck here for awhile longer. The only reason we'd really move is if baby #3 came along eventually. I also grew up in a big (2500sq ft) house with a large backyard, so this has been a huge adjustment for me.

 

[nicolejoy]

Our place is just 780 square feet. We have no housing allowance or expat package. My hubby is local - but more well-off than the "average Joe Wong" (as someone said!!). His dad lives alone in a place around 1600 square feet. When I compare ourselves to some of the other expats whose houses I've visited, I have to try not to be jealous!! But I have plenty of local friends who live in shoeboxes with their extended family - so I can't be ungrateful for what we DO have... Our place, while tight, is enough for my husband, daughter and me. And I know that if we NEEDED more space, we could always move further out and get it that way...

 

[Neha]

We used to love in a 1650 sqft apartment in an olde rbuilding moved to smaller house 1100 sq ft in a newer building with a pool a, gym and a play area for our son. Though the new aprt is smaller( we are hoarders ) but we are glad as our son really uses the play area everyday and pools during the summer and with a new helper we are happier to keep him close. Back home we have a 14000 sf ft house which we will be moving back next year

 

[loveask]

14000 sq ft??? Wow, I can't even imagine how big that must be... =)

 

[Neha]

Yes quite big 7000 is just the garden so when we go back for a vacation our son has such a good time

 

[akachan]

My God! After seeing the sizes of some of your guys' apartments I am starting to think that my company must be the stingiest foreign company in HK!! lol Our place is 780 in TST and we are worried about what to do when the baby arrives.

 

[carang]

if you choose to live in a place like TST, you are going to pay for it. just like those who choose to live in Mid-levels or Southside.

We choose to pay a lot less and live A LOT further away. for us, it is the right choice, but it's not for everyone.

 

[monte]

Another expat here *without* a housing allowance. We just moved from a 575 sq ft place to 700 sq. ft, and the extra space is wonderful! There's just 3 of us, my hubby, son and myself. We know we could get more space if we moved further out, but to us, the time my hubby gets with our son is too important, and if he had a long commute he would miss out in the evenings.

We moved from a huge 4-bedroom farmhouse back home, and while I miss the yard and porch so much, I have to say I've been pleased to see how comfortably we can live in a small space. We hope to build a little lake cabin someday, and we think these apartments are great practice for that!
What I miss most, though, is the ability to cook with friends--just no room in the kitchen!

 

[akachan]

if you choose to live in a place like TST, you are going to pay for it. just like those who choose to live in Mid-levels or Southside.

We choose to pay a lot less and live A LOT further away. for us, it is the right choice, but it's not for everyone.

We wanted to live in Sai Kung originally, just couldn't afford it! And then you need to buy a car, etc.

But more space would certainly be nice. And fresh(er) air!

 

[carang]

i live in sai kung. i would be curious as to compare your rent vs ours. yes, we need a car but a second hand car can be very cheap (i'm talking less than $10K). we have two free car parks included with our house... yes, HOUSE...

ps> we pay less than $17k/month rent for our 2100'. we have 5 bedrooms, a rooftop AND a garden. BUT, we are WAYYYYYY out in the boonies... Sai kung town is a 15minute drive away.

 

[akachan]

i live in sai kung. i would be curious as to compare your rent vs ours. yes, we need a car but a second hand car can be very cheap (i'm talking less than $10K). we have two free car parks included with our house... yes, HOUSE...

ps> we pay less than $17k/month rent for our 2100'. we have 5 bedrooms, a rooftop AND a garden. BUT, we are WAYYYYYY out in the boonies... Sai kung town is a 15minute drive away.

Wow, that is awesome. We pay 15K for 780' flat in TST. A rooftop and a garden would be wonderful. Definitely something to consider if we stay much longer in HK.

Thanks for the insight, carang!

 

[marie313]

when i first had my daughter we were living in 350 sq ft, that is me, my husband, my daughter and a rottweiller! it was soooo cramped and horrible. we are now in a 650 sq ft and the dog has died and it feels like a mansion!

 

[carang]

up until august when we resigned our lease, we were paying $15.8k. now, we are paying $16.8k. our nextdoor neighbour is paying $17.5k as are most of the neighbours around us.

my aunt has an "old-style" village house, it feels almost like going to the cabin. it's roughly 1400' with a large front garden. she has the BEST view in hk as she is right on the waterfront. she pays $8k.

there are deals to be found, but it takes some time and effort and a willingness to commute. we are lucky as hubby works from home and i am able to limit my work hours. still, i commute 45 minutes each way every day. for us, it's TOTALLY worth it!

Wow, that is awesome. We pay 15K for 780' flat in TST. A rooftop and a garden would be wonderful. Definitely something to consider if we stay much longer in HK.

Thanks for the insight, carang!

 

[carang]

when i first had my daughter we were living in 350 sq ft, that is me, my husband, my daughter and a rottweiller! it was soooo cramped and horrible. we are now in a 650 sq ft and the dog has died and it feels like a mansion!

my first flat that i rented in my own name (rather than subletting) here, was the same. 350'! there were three of us and a cat... it was WAYYYYY too small! i didn't even have to stand up to turn on the tv (before remotes were everyday occurances!)... i could just lean across and reach the tv from the sofa!!! LOL! it's so funny when i think about it now! i lived with so much less "stuff"! i had NO cupboards at all, not even one. so, i owned: 3 plates, 4 forks, 4 spoons, 3 knives, 3 cups, a frying pan and 2 pots. THAT WAS IT! i sometimes look back on that time as being so simple and easy.... maybe i should try to get back to that place?