To live a comfortable life despite the challenging economy, it is suggested to move to Eastern countries, as a survey has revealed that some of the highest-paid expatriates reside in Asia and the Middle East. The 2009 Expat Explorer survey, conducted by HSBC Bank International, found that a significant number of expats in Russia, Japan, and Qatar earn more than $250,000 a year, with a large proportion of foreigners in Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates, Thailand, and India earning over $200,000 annually. Additionally, countries like Malaysia, China, and India were noted for their affordable accommodation options. The survey concluded that Asia is the region with the highest-paid expatriates, with a quarter of expats earning more than $200,000 per year. Russia was ranked as the number one country for expats in terms of wealth. The top nine countries following Russia were all in Asia and the Middle East. Expats often find that they are able to build up their savings while living abroad, with Saudi Arabia, Russia, Qatar, India, and the United Arab Emirates being the top five countries where people have been able to increase 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 of expats in these countries considering returning home due to high living costs, lack of savings, and lower wages. The survey also found that generous salaries are hard to come by in Australia and Belgium. In both countries, over 60 percent of expats earn less than $100,000, making them the lowest paid expats globally where the average is 35 percent. According to Paul Say, head of marketing and communications at HSBC Bank International, despite the credit crunch, expats are still considered a wealthy group, with over half earning $100,000 or more. The Expat Explorer survey, in its second year, included more than 3,100 expats from 26 countries, making it the largest survey of its kind, as stated by HSBC. More than two-thirds of expatriates around the world reported that the credit crisis had impacted their spending habits, particularly in terms of luxuries and day-to-day expenses. Almost 40 percent stated that they were increasing their savings for unforeseen circumstances. In Japan, over half of expatriates were reducing their spending on vacations and other extras, while a significant number in Thailand and Hong Kong were also making cutbacks. On the other hand, expats in Qatar and Bahrain were less affected by the financial crisis, with the majority stating that their spending attitudes would remain unchanged. Expatriates in Saudi Arabia, Brazil, and Russia were shown to be the least likely to reduce their spending on luxury items according to the survey. The individuals surveyed were selected based on four primary factors: having an annual income over $200,000, a monthly disposable income over $3,000, building savings while working overseas, and owning at least two luxury items in their current country of residence. The survey took place from February to April 2009.