Six areas to rent in Hong Kong, 2026 rents per square metre according to the government, how a lease works and the rules on subdivided units.
To rent an apartment in Hong Kong, six areas account for most newcomers' searches: Mid-Levels, Sai Ying Pun and Sheung Wan, Wan Chai, Kowloon (Tsim Sha Tsui and Kowloon Tong), Repulse Bay and Stanley, and the New Territories (Sha Tin, Tseung Kwan O, Tung Chung). The further you get from Hong Kong Island, the more space you get for the price, and the metro (MTR) connects all these neighbourhoods.
Rents have never been so high. The rental index of the Rating and Valuation Department (RVD), the government's valuation service, reached 210.3 in August 2026, a record, after ten consecutive months of increases, according to The Standard. In July 2026, a small home of under 40 m² rented for an average of Hong Kong dollars (HKD) 553 per square metre per month on the island, HKD 472 in Kowloon and HKD 376 in the New Territories.
This guide presents the neighbourhoods, the budgets to plan for, how a rental unfolds and the points to watch, including the rules specific to subdivided units.
Clinging to the slopes above Central, Mid-Levels is home to many French- and English-speaking families, attracted by the proximity of the business district and international schools. Rents are high: a two-room apartment often exceeds HKD 20,000 per month.
West of Central, Sai Ying Pun attracts young professionals, with a lively atmosphere, mid-range rents and direct metro access. Neighbouring Sheung Wan mixes old streets and creative venues, a stone's throw from Central.
A dense and lively neighbourhood, Wan Chai offers excellent transport links. Rents here are mid-range to high, and large apartments commonly exceed HKD 20,000 per month.
Across the harbour, Kowloon is more affordable than the island, with good MTR service. Tsim Sha Tsui is commercial and lively, Kowloon Tong more residential. According to the RVD, a home of 40 to 70 m² rented there for an average of HKD 418 per square metre in July 2026, against HKD 446 on the island.
On the south coast of the island, these upmarket neighbourhoods offer beaches and space, with very high rents. They suit families and executives ready to put up with longer commutes.
This is where you find the most spacious homes for a given budget: HKD 376 per square metre on average for a small home in July 2026, about a third less than on the island. All these new towns are connected to the metro.
Rents are quoted in Hong Kong dollars per month, and depend first on the size and the side of the harbour. Based on the average rents published by the RVD for July 2026 (provisional figures), here is what two typical sizes come to:
These ballparks match the ranges seen on the ground: HKD 15,000 to 22,000 for a studio or one-bedroom in central areas (Central, Causeway Bay, Mid-Levels), HKD 11,500 to 15,000 outside. The budget runs from HKD 10,000 per month for small, remote units to HKD 40,000 and more for large apartments in sought-after areas.
The trend is upward: the RVD rental index, all sizes combined, was 207.4 in July 2026 against 197.4 a year earlier, about 5% more, and it rose again in August. The RVD notes that its average rents vary with the properties let during the period: they help place a budget, the index measures the change.
On top of the rent, add building management fees, property rates and water and electricity bills: count around HKD 2,000 per month on average. Check in the listing what is included.
If you go through a local estate agency, its commission is generally half a month's rent, paid by each party. In total, on move-in day, plan for several months' rent: deposit, first month, possible commission.
With a small budget, you will come across subdivided units, apartments split into several units. Their rental is governed by a specific part of the Landlord and Tenant Ordinance (Part IVA). In a press release of 18 September 2026, the RVD reminds tenants of their rights: a regulated tenancy lasts two years, and the tenant is entitled to a second two-year tenancy, meaning four years of security of tenure. The landlord must notify the RVD of the tenancy within 60 days (form AR2) and can only demand the sums permitted by the ordinance. The RVD says it has brought 1,603 prosecutions since the text came into force.
In such a fast market, it is hard to view and negotiate from France. A Remoters home finder based in Hong Kong searches for you according to your work neighbourhood and budget, views homes, prepares your application and reviews the lease before signing. The first conversation and the quote are free.
Short answers to the questions our readers ask, written to stand on their own.
Sources cited in this article
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