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Key Facts: Hong Kong vs Bangladesh Wages

Hong Kong Minimum Wage
HK$42.10/hr ($5.37 USD)
Bangladesh Minimum Wage
৳12,500/mo ($103.73 USD)
Hong Kong Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
HK$20,500 /mo ($2,613.50 USD)
Bangladesh Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
৳18,000 /mo ($149.38 USD)
Data Sources
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), Ministry of Labour and Employment / Minimum Wage Board; sectoral structure cross-referenced via Wikipedia List of countries by minimum wage (2026-05-04)

Hong Kong flag Hong Kong Bangladesh flag Bangladesh

Updated 2026-05-04

Hong Kong flag Hong Kong

Minimum Wage

HK$42.10 /hr

$5.37 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

HK$20,500 /mo

Bangladesh flag Bangladesh

Minimum Wage

৳12,500 /mo

$103.73 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

৳18,000 /mo

Min wage: -95% Hong Kong vs Bangladesh Avg. salary: +1650% Hong Kong vs Bangladesh

The minimum wage in Hong Kong is roughly 19 times lower than in Bangladesh in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a high-income and a lower-middle-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $2,613/mo in Hong Kong versus $149/mo in Bangladesh, a 17.5:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Hong Kong is 7.8x that of Bangladesh, underscoring the structural economic divide.

Hong Kong has higher GDP per capita ($75,196 vs $9,647). Hong Kong's unemployment rate is 2.8% compared to Bangladesh's 3.8%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Hong Kong and Bangladesh
Metric Hong Kong Bangladesh
Minimum wage /hr HK$42.10 $5.37
Minimum wage /mo HK$7,297 $930.28 ৳12,500 $103.73
Minimum wage /yr HK$87,568 $11,163.83
Avg. gross salary /mo HK$20,500 /mo $2,613.50 ৳18,000 /mo $149.38
Avg. net salary /mo HK$19,475 /mo $2,482.82 ৳17,000 /mo $141.08
Median individual income /yr HK$246,000 /yr $31,361.95 ৳108,000 /yr $896.27

Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Hong Kong is higher.

Work 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.

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.

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker in Hong Kong earns 1833% less per hour in USD terms than one in Bangladesh.

See this comparison from Bangladesh's perspective: Bangladesh vs Hong Kong

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Hong Kong or Bangladesh?

In Hong Kong, the minimum wage is HK$42.10/hr ($5.37 USD). In Bangladesh, it is ৳12,500/mo ($103.73 USD). Bangladesh has the higher rate by 1833% 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 more does the average worker earn in Hong Kong compared to Bangladesh?

The average gross salary in Hong Kong is HK$20,500/mo ($2,613.50 USD), compared to ৳18,000/mo ($149.38 USD) in Bangladesh. In USD terms, workers in Hong Kong earn approximately 1650% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Hong Kong and Bangladesh 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 Hong Kong and Bangladesh?

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 Hong Kong's perspective, this means goods and services are priced at a higher 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.