There are a variety of factors taken into consideration when people start thinking about where the best place to live is. You’ll want to think about public safety, government unrest, affordability of housing, job availability, and many other factors. One debate that has been circulating throughout Asia and the rest of the world is whether Singapore or Hong Kong could be the dream destination for individuals and families. Hong Kong has always been known to be one of the most livable cities in all of Asia but with recent political instability, Singapore might be taking its place.
Recent Developments
The political and social instability in the city of Hong Kong has negatively affected its ratings in a variety of ways, particularly in terms of whether it’s the best place to live or not. In recent years, there have been various social protests and events such as the Occupy Central movement. This lasted between September and December of 2014 where there were tens of thousands of residents that were protesting in the streets, bringing the entire city to a complete standstill.
Drops in Rankings
Every year the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) releases a list of the most livable cities in the world. Hong Kong dropped from 31st to 46th because of their social stability concerns. This allowed for Singapore to come close to becoming the more preferable city, moving up 2 spots from 51st to 49th.
A second study was conducted by ECA International, a human resource consulting firm that takes climate, availability of health services, and other factors into account while ranking the most livable locations. As of January 2016, Singapore took the crown for the best place to live against Hong Kong for the 16th year in a row. Meanwhile, Hong Kong continued to fall down the list by 16 spots to 33rd. There are approximately 450 different locations around the world that are considered for this study.
The Different Factors to Consider
When you’re debating which place would be more preferable for you and your family to live in, there are different factors to consider. First, you’ll want to make sure that you’re moving into a safe area that you can rely on. You’ll also want to consider whether the cost of living is affordable and that there are a reasonable amount of jobs in the area. The 4 most prevalent factors to consider include:
City Populations: Both Hong Kong and Singapore are densely populated though Hong Kong has about 6,690 people per square meter and Singapore has 7,615 people per square meter.
Housing Affordability: The houses in Hong Kong are far more expensive than those found in Singapore.
Public Transportation: Both Singapore and Hong Kong are kings in the public transportation industry as they have almost the same amount of transportation opportunities.
Rates of Crime: Singapore is slightly safer than Hong Kong, though both of the cities are clearly ranked as the 2 places with the lowest crime rates in all of Asia.
About the Author:
Morris Edwards writes the blog content for Singapore Company Incorporation Consultants Pte Ltd. Register a company in Singapore, find more info at CompanyRegistrationinSingapore.com.sg