Home truths for digital nomads

Having lived in many countries, blogger and content marketing agency-owner, Big Body (in white shirt) settled for Hong Kong because of the city's "palpable energy". [Photo provided to China Daily]

Hot spot challenge

How does Hong Kong compare to other digital nomad hot spots in Asia?

"Digital nomads thrive in Bali," says Rose Hodge, writer of the Balipedia blog and a long-term Bali resident. Full of coworking spaces and Wi-Fi-enabled cafes, Bali remains a top global destination for DNs. "There's a magic about this island, and when you're here, you can just feel it. Creativity comes alive here," says Hodge. Also, it's the location of Indonesia's first custom-built coworking hostel, Tribal Bali. While Bali seems ideal for those DNs seeking a chilled vibe, Hong Kong's business-focused ethos has its own following.

Chiang Mai, the "search-engine optimization capital of the world", has an array of charming temples and lush mountains going for it. One of the early adopters of the DN lifestyle, Chiang Mai's coworking spaces and DN community stand on a more solid foundation compared with other cities. Chiang Mai's main attraction, however, is its remarkably low cost of living. It's possible to live comfortably on $1,500 per month.

The cost of living in Hong Kong, around $2,000 to $5,000 a month, especially when compared to Bali and Chiang Mai, could be a deterrent for DNs on a tight budget. Trying to cut costs at every opportunity could be counterproductive, especially when the goal is to lead a carefree life.

"The biggest struggle has been trying to scale my business," says Big Body. Because of the high rentals involved, it took longer than usual to set himself up in Hong Kong. And then there was the anxiety over losing some of his valued clients as a result of the delay.

Most DNs in Hong Kong opt to stay in backpacker hostels to keep their costs down. If Hong Kong wants to pitch itself as a DN magnet, it will need to focus on providing affordable housing for them.

Hopefully, the SAR government's initiative to attract talent from around the world will make more DNs consider Hong Kong. Kenny Shui Chi-wai, vice-president and co-head of research at Our Hong Kong Foundation, says that the government has adopted their recommendations "to lift the requirement for technology firms to employ additional local employees while admitting (overseas) talents" and "expand the scope to cover more technological fields under the Technology Talent Admission Scheme". Additionally, the Top Talent Pass Scheme, launched in December 2022, allows Hong Kong "to seek top talents with rich work experience and/or good academic qualifications by offering a two-year visa without first having to secure a job offer".

The stage is set for Hong Kong to grow back into a bustling, cosmopolitan and inclusive city where professionals from diverse backgrounds can thrive, and there's no reason why DNs should not make up a substantial section of the global talent it hopes to attract.