Key Facts: Hong Kong vs Taiwan Wages
- Hong Kong Minimum Wage
- HK$42.10/hr ($5.37 USD)
- Taiwan Minimum Wage
- NT$190/hr ($6.11 USD)
- Hong Kong Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- HK$20,500 /mo ($2,615.76 USD)
- Taiwan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- NT$58,000 /mo ($1,864.95 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 Labor (MOL), Republic of China (Taiwan) (2026-02-24)
Hong Kong 
Taiwan
Updated 2026-05-04
Both high-income economies, Hong Kong and Taiwan set comparable minimum wage floors in USD terms. Average salaries are higher in Hong Kong at $2,616/mo compared to $1,865/mo in Taiwan.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Hong Kong | Taiwan |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | HK$42.10 $5.37 | NT$190 $6.11 |
| Minimum wage /mo | HK$7,297 $931.08 | NT$28,590 $919.29 |
| Minimum wage /yr | HK$87,568 $11,173.52 | NT$343,080 $11,031.51 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | HK$20,500 /mo $2,615.76 | NT$58,000 /mo $1,864.95 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | HK$19,475 /mo $2,484.98 | NT$50,500 /mo $1,623.79 |
| Median individual income /yr | HK$246,000 /yr $31,389.16 | NT$546,000 /yr $17,556.27 |
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.
- Taiwan
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 40 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.34x pay
Labour Standards Act sets 40 hours/week, 8 hours/day. Two mandatory rest days per week (one fixed, one flexible). Overtime: first 2 hrs at 1.34x, next 2 hrs at 1.67x. Monthly overtime cap of 46 hours (may be extended to 54 hours with union/labour-management agreement, max 138 hrs/3 months).
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Hong Kong earns 14% less per hour in USD terms than one in Taiwan.
See this comparison from Taiwan's perspective: Taiwan 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$ 24.95 /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 Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Hong Kong vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /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 Taiwan?
In Hong Kong, the minimum wage is HK$42.10/hr ($5.37 USD). In Taiwan, it is NT$190/hr ($6.11 USD). Taiwan has the higher rate by 14% 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 Taiwan?
The average gross salary in Hong Kong is HK$20,500/mo ($2,615.76 USD), compared to NT$58,000/mo ($1,864.95 USD) in Taiwan. In USD terms, workers in Hong Kong earn approximately 40% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Hong Kong and Taiwan 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 Taiwan.