Hong Kong accountant moves to Shenzhen to escape rent
SingTao · 1 SOURCESabout 4 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
A post-90s accountant from Guangzhou, identified by the pseudonym Leo, told SingTao that Hong Kong's rising rents have fundamentally changed how he views living and working in the city. After studying in the United States and later completing a master's degree in Hong Kong, he now works in internal finance accounting at a local state-owned enterprise in Hong Kong on a monthly salary of more than HK$30,000. To cut housing costs, he gave up renting in Hong Kong last July and moved to a shared flat near Huanggang Port in Shenzhen, accepting a daily round-trip commute of about three hours. He said the arrangement is exhausting, but allows him to save about HK$20,000 a month and work toward a target of HK$2 million in savings before returning to Guangzhou.
Key Points
- Leo studied at an international school in Guangzhou, completed an accounting degree in Texas, and later chose Hong Kong over staying in the US for study and work.
- He said US opportunities were limited by fierce competition, few places for international students at major accounting firms, and later visa and sponsorship hurdles.
- He enrolled at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, took online classes from Guangzhou in autumn 2020, arrived in Hong Kong in March 2021, and later found accounting work.
- His first Hong Kong flatshare in South Coast, Hung Hom cost about HK$6,000 a month, but the landlord sought a HK$3,000 increase after six months.
- He then spent four years at Harbourfront Horizon, where the two-bedroom unit's rent rose from HK$16,000 to HK$18,000, with HK$21,000 demanded for a six-month renewal.
Why It Matters
The case shows how cross-border living is becoming a practical response for some Hong Kong workers when local rents rise faster than they are willing to absorb. It also points to a trade-off that matters to Hong Kong readers: lower housing costs can preserve savings, but at the price of longer commutes, lower day-to-day wellbeing, and weaker attachment to staying in the city long term.