Buying an apartment in Hong Kong in 2026
Since 2024 foreigners pay the same duties as Hong Kong residents, and on a flat up to $510,000 the stamp duty is about $15. The square metre itself is expensive: from $17,000 in small flats.
In short
- Small flats in Hong Kong cost from $17,000 per square metre, about $21,000 on Hong Kong Island.
- Since 28 February 2024 foreigners pay the same duties as local buyers.
- On a flat up to $510,000 stamp duty is about $15; above that, up to 4.25%.
- There is no capital gains tax; rental income is effectively taxed at 12%.
- A flat gives no residence on its own; the investor programme starts at $3,900,000.
In detail
Hong Kong sells flats to foreigners on the same terms as to locals: since 28 February 2024 all extra duties for non-local buyers have been abolished. On a flat up to $510,000 the stamp duty is about $15. What is expensive here is the square metre itself, from $17,000. The full review is on the page investment property in Hong Kong; here is the short answer.
How much a flat in Hong Kong costs in 2026
According to the government's Rating and Valuation Department, small flats under 40 m² sold on average in 2026 for:
| Area | Per square metre |
|---|---|
| Hong Kong Island | ~$21,000 |
| Kowloon | ~$18,000 |
| New Territories | ~$17,000 |
- A 35 m² flat in Kowloon costs about $620,000.
- Listings quote the price per square foot of saleable area: there are almost 11 in a square metre.
- After the fall of 2021-2024, prices have been rising again since 2025.
A square metre here costs as much as a good car, so flats are designed on the principle: turn around in the kitchen and you are already in the living room.
What a foreigner can buy
- Flats, houses, offices and shops, without permits or citizenship restrictions.
- All land in Hong Kong belongs to the government. When you buy a flat, you acquire rights under a long-term land lease; the whole market works this way.
Taxes and costs of buying a flat in Hong Kong
- Stamp duty: up to HK$4 million, about $510,000, it is HK$100, about $15. Above that, on a scale up to 4.25%.
- On a $760,000 flat the duty is 2.25%, about $18,000.
- Agent's commission is usually about 1% of the price; the buyer's lawyer and Land Registry registration are charged by tariff.
The owner pays annual rates of 5% of the rateable value and, for most lots, government rent of 3%. Rental income is taxed at 15% property tax after a 20% repairs allowance, effectively 12%. There is no capital gains tax on a sale. More on the page taxes in Hong Kong.
Duty from $15 to 4.25%, calculated before the provisional agreement
In Hong Kong the deposit is paid at the provisional agreement, and the formal agreement follows two weeks later. So everything is checked before the first signature: mortgages and encumbrances in the Land Registry, the land lease terms, the real saleable area and the full stamp duty on the scale. We check the property and seller, calculate the duty and annual charges, support both agreements, completion through the lawyers and registration, and if you need the investor programme, structure the purchase to meet its conditions.
The cost of support depends on the property and whether you need residence; a manager will calculate it in the chat.
How to buy a flat in Hong Kong: step by step
- Check the Land Registry: owner, mortgage, encumbrances.
- Provisional agreement and initial deposit.
- Formal agreement, usually within two weeks, with the deposit topped up to 10%.
- Completion through the lawyers and registration at the Land Registry.
Does a flat give residence in Hong Kong
Not on its own. Residence comes from the investor programme: investments from HK$30 million, about $3,900,000. Housing counts towards that sum if a single property costs at least the same $3,900,000, and no more than $1,300,000 of its price is counted. The threshold for housing was lowered on 17 September 2025; it used to be about $6,400,000. More on the page Hong Kong residence by investment.
Russian citizens need no visa to travel for viewings: they can stay in Hong Kong for up to 14 days without one.
FAQ
Can a foreigner buy a flat in Hong Kong?
How much does a flat in Hong Kong cost in 2026?
What stamp duty does a foreigner pay in Hong Kong?
Is there a tax on selling a flat in Hong Kong?
Does buying a flat give residence in Hong Kong?
Do Russians need a visa for Hong Kong?
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