Key Facts: Bangladesh vs Hong Kong Wages
- Bangladesh Minimum Wage
- ৳12,500/mo ($103.73 USD)
- Hong Kong Minimum Wage
- HK$42.10/hr ($5.37 USD)
- Bangladesh Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ৳18,000 /mo ($149.38 USD)
- Hong Kong Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- HK$20,500 /mo ($2,615.76 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Labour and Employment / Minimum Wage Board; sectoral structure cross-referenced via Wikipedia List of countries by minimum wage (2026-05-04), Minimum Wage Commission / Census and Statistics Department, HKSAR; current rate verified via Wikipedia List of countries by minimum wage (eff 2025-05-01) (2026-05-04)
Bangladesh
Hong Kong
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in Bangladesh is roughly 19 times higher than in Hong Kong in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a lower-middle-income and a high-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $149/mo in Bangladesh versus $2,616/mo in Hong Kong, a 17.5:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Hong Kong is 7.8x that of Bangladesh, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Bangladesh has lower GDP per capita ($9,647 vs $75,196). Bangladesh's unemployment rate is 3.8% compared to Hong Kong's 2.8%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Bangladesh | Hong Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | HK$42.10 $5.37 |
| Minimum wage /mo | ৳12,500 $103.73 | HK$7,297 $931.08 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | HK$87,568 $11,173.52 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ৳18,000 /mo $149.38 | HK$20,500 /mo $2,615.76 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ৳17,000 /mo $141.08 | HK$19,475 /mo $2,484.98 |
| Median individual income /yr | ৳108,000 /yr $896.27 | HK$246,000 /yr $31,389.16 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Bangladesh is higher.
Work Week
- Bangladesh
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 60 hrs/wk
Overtime : 2x pay
Bangladesh Labour Act sets standard at 48 hours/week (8 hrs/day, 6 days). Maximum with overtime is 60 hours/week. Overtime paid at double the basic wage. Factories must provide one day off per week.
- Hong Kong
-
hrs/wk standard
Hong Kong has NO statutory standard working hours or maximum working hours for most employees (a rare situation globally). The government has considered legislation but has not enacted a standard hours law. Working hours are determined by individual employment contracts. Average actual working hours are ~40-44 hrs/week. Overtime pay is not legally mandated except for certain specific occupations.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Hong Kong to Bangladesh would see a 1831% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings.
See this comparison from Hong Kong's perspective: Hong Kong vs Bangladesh
Compare Bangladesh with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Bangladesh or Hong Kong?
In Bangladesh, the minimum wage is ৳12,500/mo ($103.73 USD). In Hong Kong, it is HK$42.10/hr ($5.37 USD). Bangladesh has the higher rate by 1831% in USD terms. That nominal gap does not account for local prices; see the purchasing power comparison below for a cost-of-living-adjusted view. Workers in Hong Kong may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much less does the average worker earn in Bangladesh compared to Hong Kong?
The average gross salary in Bangladesh is ৳18,000/mo ($149.38 USD), compared to HK$20,500/mo ($2,615.76 USD) in Hong Kong. In USD terms, workers in Bangladesh earn approximately 1651% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Bangladesh and Hong Kong is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Hong Kong earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Bangladesh.
What is the cost of living difference between Bangladesh and Hong Kong?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Hong Kong has the higher GDP per capita at $75,196, which is 7.8x that of Bangladesh at $9,647. From Bangladesh's perspective, this means goods and services are priced at a lower economic level. A higher GDP per capita generally correlates with higher wages, higher consumer prices, and greater availability of goods and services. Workers moving between these two countries should expect significant differences in rent, food, and transportation costs.