A recent survey commissioned by HSBC Bank International revealed that some of the world's highest-paid expatriates reside in Asia and the Middle East. In Russia, Japan, and Qatar, a significant portion of expats earn over $250,000 annually. Additionally, expats in Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates, Thailand, and India also enjoy high salaries, with a third to a quarter earning more than $200,000 per year. On the other hand, countries like Malaysia, China, and India are considered to be more affordable in terms of accommodation costs. The survey concluded that Asia is home to the highest paid expats, with one in four earning over $200,000 per year. Russia was ranked as the top country for expats in terms of wealth, with the rest of the top nine countries all located in Asia and the Middle East. Many people see building a nest egg as a benefit of expat life, with Saudi Arabia, Russia, Qatar, India, and the United Arab Emirates being the top five countries where people have increased their savings. However, expats in Britain and the United States have been hit hard by the global economic crisis, with close to a quarter considering returning home due to high living costs, lack of savings, and lower wages. The survey also showed that generous salaries are scarce in Australia and Belgium. The majority of expats in both countries earn less than $100,000, which makes them the lowest paid expats globally, where the average is 35 percent. According to Paul Say, head of marketing and communications for HSBC Bank International, despite the challenging economic climate, expats still remain a wealthy group overall. The Expat Explorer survey, in its second year, included over 3,100 expats from 26 countries, making it the largest survey of its kind, revealing interesting trends in how expats are managing the credit crunch. More than two-thirds of expatriates around the world reported that the credit crisis has caused them to change their spending habits, especially when it comes to luxuries and day-to-day expenses. Almost 40 percent of expats mentioned that they are now saving more money for emergencies. The expats in Japan were the most affected, with 53 percent cutting back on holidays and other extras, followed by expats in Thailand and Hong Kong. However, expats living in Qatar and Bahrain are least likely to change their spending habits due to the financial crisis, indicating that some oil-rich Gulf Arab states have not been as heavily impacted. Expats in Saudi Arabia, Brazil, and Russia were also found to be less likely to cut back on luxuries, according to the survey. The survey participants were selected based on four primary factors: earning over $200,000 annually, having a monthly disposable income of over $3,000, saving more 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.