Public housing is a form of housing tenure in which the property is owned by a government authority. In the United Kingdom public housing is often referred to by the British public as "council housing" or "council estates". The Boundary Estate in the East End of London, constructed from 1890, was one of the earliest social housing schemes in England. In mainland China, the government provides public housing, 廉租房 Lián Zhù Fáng or Low-Cost Housing, where flats are rented at a low price to urban dwelling residents.

2015 estimated median household income:

• Malaysia MYR$5,900 or about USD$1,600 Gini inequality index 46
• Singapore SGD$8,105 or about USD$6,000 Gini inequality index 46
• Hong Kong HKD$22,000 or about USD$2,800 Gini inequality index 54

Thus a Gini inequality index of 0 represents perfect equality, while an index of 100 implies perfect inequality.

2015 Public Housing Ownership Hong Kong vs Singapore

For HKD $2,400,000 (USD $300,000), an eligible Hong Kong citizen can buy a new 440sqft apartment with 50-year lease from HK-HA Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) in Sha Tin (New Territories, 15km from Tsim Sha Tsui). A typical applicant will have about a 1-in-50 chance in the housing lottery. Successful applicant will have to wait for 2-years (foundation works has already begun) for building works project to complete.

For SGD $400,000 (USD $300,000), an eligible Singapore citizen can buy a new 1,000sqft apartment with 99-year lease from SG-HDB Build-To-Order (BTO) in Punggol Estate (North-eastern Singapore, 15km from Orchard Road). A typical applicant will have about a 1-in-5 chance in the housing lottery. Successful applicant will have to wait for 4-years for building works project to complete.

2015 Public Housing Ownership Malaysia vs Singapore

For MYR $400,000 (USD $111,000), an eligible Malaysia citizen can buy a new 1,200sqft freehold apartment from PR1MA at Brickfields (2km from KL Sentral). A typical applicant will have a 1-in-10 chance in the housing lottery. Successful applicant will have to wait for 2-years (foundation works has already begun) for building works project to complete.

For SGD $150,000 (USD $111,000), an eligible Singapore citizen can buy a new 500sqft apartment with 99-year lease from SG-HDB Build-To-Order (BTO) in Queenstown Estate (North-eastern Singapore, 3km from Orchard Road). A typical applicant will have a 1-in-5 chance in the housing lottery. Successful applicant will have to wait for 4-years for building works project to complete.

2015 Public Housing Ownership Macau vs Singapore

For MOP$900,000 Pataca de Macau (USD $111,000), an eligible Macau citizen can buy a new 650sqft apartment with 25-year lease from (IH) Housing Bureau at Seac Pai Van Estate in Coloane (2km from Cotai Strip). A typical applicant will have a 1-in-22 chance in the housing lottery. Successful applicant move is able to move in immediately as all building works have been completed.

For SGD $150,000 (USD $111,000), an eligible Singapore citizen can buy a new 500sqft apartment with 99-year lease from SG-HDB Build-To-Order (BTO) in Queenstown Estate (North-eastern Singapore, 3km from Orchard Road). A typical applicant will have a 1-in-5 chance in the housing lottery. Successful applicant will have to wait for 4-years for building works project to complete.

Updated On: 18.09.01