According to a survey commissioned by HSBC Bank International, expatriates living in Asia and the Middle East are among the highest-paid in the world. The survey found that a significant portion of expats in Russia, Japan, and Qatar earn more than $250,000 annually. Additionally, a large percentage of expats in countries such as Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates, Thailand, and India earn over $200,000 per year. Countries like Malaysia, China, and India were noted for being among the most affordable in terms of accommodation costs. The survey concluded that Asia is home to some of the highest-paid expats, with a quarter of them earning over $200,000 annually. Russia ranked as the top country for expats in terms of wealth, with the rest of the top nine being in Asia and the Middle East. Many expats enjoy the benefit of building a nest egg, 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 significantly impacted expats in Britain and the United States, with nearly a quarter considering returning home due to high living costs, lack of savings, and lower wages. Generous salaries are also hard to come by in Australia and Belgium, according to the survey. More than 60 percent of expatriates in both countries earn less than $100,000, making them the lowest paid expats compared to a global average of 35 percent. The largest survey, Expat Explorer, conducted by HSBC Bank International, found that despite the economic downturn, expats remain a wealthy group, with over half earning $100,000 and above. The survey included more than 3,100 expats from 26 countries, making it the largest of its kind. More than two-thirds of expatriates around the world stated that the credit crisis had impacted the way they manage their finances, particularly affecting their spending on luxuries and day-to-day expenses. Almost 40 percent mentioned that they were increasing their savings for unforeseen circumstances. The survey revealed that over half of expats in Japan, the highest percentage globally at 53 percent, were reducing their expenditures on vacations and other indulgences, while nearly half of expats in Thailand and Hong Kong, ranking second and third globally, were also making cutbacks. On the other hand, two-thirds of expats residing in Qatar believed that the global financial crisis would not influence their spending habits, followed by more than half of expats in Bahrain, suggesting that certain oil-rich Gulf Arab countries have not been as severely impacted by the economic downturn. Expats in Saudi Arabia, Brazil, and Russia were identified as the least likely to decrease their spending on luxuries, according to the survey conducted by HSBC. The individuals surveyed were selected based on four primary factors: an annual income exceeding $200,000, a monthly disposable income exceeding $3,000, a tendency to save more while working overseas, and ownership of at least two luxury items in their current country of residence. The survey took place from February to April 2009.