Key Facts: Hong Kong vs Saudi Arabia Wages
- Hong Kong Minimum Wage
- HK$42.10/hr ($5.37 USD)
- Saudi Arabia Minimum Wage
- ﷼23.08/hr ($6.15 USD)
- Hong Kong Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- HK$20,500 /mo ($2,613.50 USD)
- Saudi Arabia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ﷼10,500 /mo ($2,800 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 Human Resources and Social Development; minimum wage for Saudi nationals at SAR 4,000/mo unchanged since March 2021 Nitaqat reforms (2026-05-04)
Hong Kong 
Saudi Arabia
Updated 2026-05-04
Both high-income economies, Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia set comparable minimum wage floors in USD terms. Average salaries are lower in Hong Kong at $2,613/mo compared to $2,800/mo in Saudi Arabia.
From Hong Kong's perspective: adjusting for purchasing power, Hong Kong's minimum wage buys less than Saudi Arabia's. The PPP-adjusted hourly rate in Hong Kong is $8 international dollars, compared to $12 in Saudi Arabia. Hong Kong has higher GDP per capita ($75,196 vs $71,375). Hong Kong's unemployment rate is 2.8% compared to Saudi Arabia's 3.0%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Hong Kong | Saudi Arabia |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | HK$42.10 $5.37 | ﷼23.08 $6.15 |
| Minimum wage /mo | HK$7,297 $930.28 | ﷼4,000 $1,066.67 |
| Minimum wage /yr | HK$87,568 $11,163.83 | ﷼48,000 $12,800 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | HK$20,500 /mo $2,613.50 | ﷼10,500 /mo $2,800 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | HK$19,475 /mo $2,482.82 | ﷼10,500 /mo $2,800 |
| Median individual income /yr | HK$246,000 /yr $31,361.95 | 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.
- Saudi Arabia
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Saudi Labour Law sets 8 hrs/day, 48 hrs/week (6-day week). During Ramadan, reduced to 6 hrs/day, 36 hrs/week for Muslim employees. Overtime capped at 2 hrs/day. Overtime paid at base hourly rate + 50%. Friday is the standard weekly rest day. Government sector works 35 hrs/week (Sun-Thu).
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Hong Kong earns 15% less per hour in USD terms than one in Saudi Arabia.
See this comparison from Saudi Arabia's perspective: Saudi Arabia 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 ₹ 4,628 /mo 
Hong Kong vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Hong Kong vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Hong Kong vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Hong Kong vs Australia A$ 26.44 /hr 
Hong Kong vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Hong Kong vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Hong Kong vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Hong Kong vs Netherlands € 14.71 /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 Singapore 
Hong Kong vs Norway 
Hong Kong vs Austria 
Hong Kong vs Malaysia RM 8.72 /hr 
Hong Kong vs Denmark Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Hong Kong or Saudi Arabia?
In Hong Kong, the minimum wage is HK$42.10/hr ($5.37 USD). In Saudi Arabia, it is ﷼23.08/hr ($6.15 USD). Saudi Arabia has the higher rate by 15% 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 Hong Kong compared to Saudi Arabia?
The average gross salary in Hong Kong is HK$20,500/mo ($2,613.50 USD), compared to ﷼10,500/mo ($2,800 USD) in Saudi Arabia. In USD terms, workers in Hong Kong earn approximately 7% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Saudi Arabia earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Hong Kong.
Which country has better purchasing power for minimum wage workers, Hong Kong or Saudi Arabia?
After adjusting for local prices using purchasing power parity (PPP), minimum wage workers in Saudi Arabia can afford more than those in Hong Kong. The PPP-adjusted rate is $8 in Hong Kong and $12 in Saudi Arabia. PPP converts wages into equivalent US dollar buying power, accounting for what a unit of currency actually buys locally. The 66% purchasing power gap means that even if the nominal wage in Hong Kong appears competitive, minimum wage workers there face greater constraints on day-to-day spending.
What is the cost of living difference between Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia?
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 1.1x that of Saudi Arabia at $71,375. 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.