A survey commissioned by HSBC Bank International found that some of the world's highest-paid expatriates live in Asia and the Middle East. In Russia, a third of all expats earn over $250,000 a year, making it the country with the highest proportion of high-earning expats. Other countries with a significant number of expats earning over $200,000 annually include Japan, Qatar, Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates, Thailand, and India. Additionally, countries like Malaysia, China, and India were noted for being among the cheapest for accommodation. Asia has the highest proportion of expats earning over $200,000 per year. Russia was rated as the top country for expats in terms of wealth, followed by countries 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 are able to increase their savings. However, expats in Britain and the United States have been significantly impacted by the global economic crisis, with nearly a quarter considering returning home due to the high cost of living, lack of savings, and lower wages. The survey also revealed that generous salaries are hard to come by in Australia and Belgium. In both countries, more than 60 percent of expats earn less than $100,000, making them the lowest-paid expats compared to a 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, the largest of its kind with over 3,100 expats from 26 countries, revealed interesting trends in expat earnings. More than 66% of expatriates around the world stated that the financial crisis has caused them to change their spending habits, particularly affecting their expenditures on luxuries and daily expenses. Close to 40% mentioned that they were now saving more for unexpected situations. The highest percentage of expats in Japan, at 53%, reported cutting back on vacations and other bonuses, followed by expats in Thailand and Hong Kong, at nearly 50%. Conversely, expats in Qatar, followed by those in Bahrain, were the least likely to alter their spending behaviors due to the global economic crisis, suggesting that some Gulf Arab states with oil wealth have been less impacted by the downturn. Expats in Saudi Arabia, Brazil, and Russia were also found to be the least inclined to reduce their spending on luxuries. The individuals surveyed were selected based on four key factors: having an annual income over $200,000, a monthly disposable income over $3,000, saving more while working overseas, and owning at least two luxury items in their country of residence. The survey took place from February to April 2009.