Commutes in Hong Kong tend to be much shorter than those in London, but you can still end up stuck on public transport for hours if you choose to live outside of the central part of the city.
There are, of course, a number of factors to consider.
Are you a fan of Hong Kong's concrete jungle? If so, you can settle for a walk to work in Central, but you'll literally pay the price (it’s no joke that Hong Kong rents are among the highest in the world) and you'll sacrifice any contact with nature.
Living on an outlying island may provide more greenery and space, but then you're stuck on a ferry several times a day.
However, what you should try to avoid is doing what one of my friends recently did.
The chap had a housing dilemma. He had lived in Central for a long time, close to his work as a loans banker. But when he quit earlier this year, he decided it was time to move.
Feeling motivated, he signed up for a Master's course at one of Hong Kong's top universities on the Kowloon side and decided to move to the far end of the city to be closer to his classes. He would also get better value for his rental money.
The move was good in theory, but it quickly backfired.
You see, my friend was offered a new job — one too good to pass up — at a new bank. Suddenly, he was stuck working on Hong Kong island, attending class in Kowloon and living in between. His perfect housing situation had turned into a commuting nightmare.
While my friend was bemoaning his predicament, I told him to look on the bright side. He'll have more time to study on the bus — and less time to hang around degenerates like me.