Hong Kong North Korea

Updated 2026-05-04

Hong Kong

Minimum Wage

HK$42.10 /hr

$5.37 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

HK$20,500 /mo

North Korea

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

₩100,000 /mo

Avg. salary: +2254% Hong Kong vs North Korea

Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, Hong Kong mandates a wage floor of $5/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $2,616/mo in Hong Kong versus $111/mo in North Korea, a 23.5:1 ratio.

Hong Kong's unemployment rate is 2.8% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Hong Kong and North Korea
Metric	Hong Kong	North Korea	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	HK$42.10 $5.37	None	—
Minimum wage /mo	HK$7,297 $931.08	None	—
Minimum wage /yr	HK$87,568 $11,173.52	None	—
Avg. gross salary /mo	HK$20,500 /mo $2,615.76	₩100,000 /mo $111.11	+2254.2%
Avg. net salary /mo	HK$19,475 /mo $2,484.98	₩90,000 /mo $100	+2385.0%
Median individual income /yr	HK$246,000 /yr $31,389.16	N/A/yr	—

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.
North Korea: 48 hrs/wk standard

The North Korean Labour Law formally sets an 8-hour working day. In practice, many workers are required to spend additional hours in compulsory political study, military training, and 'volunteer' labour campaigns. The actual workweek for state employees varies widely by sector and location. No independent verification of labour conditions is possible.

See this comparison from North Korea's perspective: North Korea vs Hong Kong

Compare Hong Kong with...

Hong Kong vs United States $ 7.25 /hr

Hong Kong vs China ¥ 25 /hr

Hong Kong vs Germany € 13.9 /hr

Hong Kong vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr

Hong Kong vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo

Hong Kong vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr

Hong Kong vs France € 12.02 /hr

Hong Kong vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr

Hong Kong vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr

Hong Kong vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr

Hong Kong vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr

Hong Kong vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr

Hong Kong vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo

Hong Kong vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr

Hong Kong vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr

Hong Kong vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr

Hong Kong vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr

Hong Kong vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr

Hong Kong vs Switzerland

Hong Kong vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr

Hong Kong vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo

Hong Kong vs Sweden

Hong Kong vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr

Hong Kong vs Singapore

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Hong Kong or North Korea?

In Hong Kong, the minimum wage is HK$42.10/hr ($5.37 USD). In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.

How much more does the average worker earn in Hong Kong compared to North Korea?

The average gross salary in Hong Kong is HK$20,500/mo ($2,615.76 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in Hong Kong earn approximately 2254% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Hong Kong and North Korea 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 North Korea.