According to a survey commissioned by HSBC Bank International, the highest-paid expatriates live in Asia and the Middle East. In Russia, a third of expats earn over $250,000 a year, followed by expats in Japan and Qatar. Expats in Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates, Thailand, and India also earn high wages, with a third to a quarter of them making more than $200,000 annually. Additionally, countries like Malaysia, China, and India are among the most affordable for accommodation. The survey states that one in four expats in Asia earn over $200,000 per year. Russia was ranked as the top country for expats in terms of wealth, with the next nine countries all being located in Asia and the Middle East. Many expats see building a nest egg as a benefit of their lifestyle, with Saudi Arabia, Russia, Qatar, India, and the United Arab Emirates being the top five countries where people have increased their savings. However, the global economic crisis has had a negative impact on expats in Britain and the United States, with close to a quarter considering returning home due to high living costs, lack of savings, and lower wages. Australia and Belgium were also found to have relatively few opportunities for generous salaries. More than 60 percent of expats in both countries earn less than $100,000, making them the lowest-paid expats compared to the global average of 35 percent. The head of marketing and communications for HSBC Bank International, Paul Say, stated that despite the credit crunch, expats remain a wealthy group, with over half earning $100,000 or more. The Expat Explorer survey, now in its second year, included over 3,100 expats from 26 countries, making it the largest survey of its kind according to HSBC. More than two-thirds of expatriates around the world reported that the credit crisis had caused changes in their spending habits, particularly affecting luxuries and day-to-day expenses. Almost 40 percent of expats mentioned that they were increasing their savings for unforeseen circumstances. Among expats in Japan, the highest percentage globally at 53 percent, a majority stated they were reducing spending on vacations and other perks. Similarly, nearly half of expats in Thailand and Hong Kong, the second and third highest globally, were also making cutbacks. On the other hand, two-thirds of expats in Qatar stated that the global financial crisis would not impact their spending habits, followed by over half of expats in Bahrain, indicating that some oil-rich Gulf Arab countries have not been as significantly affected by the economic downturn. Expats in Saudi Arabia, Brazil, and Russia were also among the least likely to decrease spending on luxuries, according to the survey conducted by HSBC. The participants in the survey were selected based on four primary factors: having an annual income of over $200,000, a monthly disposable income of over $3,000, a demonstrated increase in savings while working overseas, and owning at least two luxury items in their current country of residence. The survey took place between February and April 2009.