Key Facts: Norway vs Hong Kong Wages
- Norway Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Hong Kong Minimum Wage
- HK$42.10/hr ($5.37 USD)
- Norway Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- kr55,150 /mo ($5,953.34 USD)
- Hong Kong Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- HK$20,500 /mo ($2,615.76 USD)
- Data Sources
- Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority (Arbeidstilsynet) (2026-05-28), 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)
Norway
Hong Kong
Updated 2026-05-28
Norway has no statutory minimum wage, while Hong Kong sets a floor of $5/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $5,953/mo in Norway versus $2,616/mo in Hong Kong, a 2.3:1 ratio.
Norway has higher GDP per capita ($102,038 vs $75,196). Norway's unemployment rate is 4.6% compared to Hong Kong's 2.8%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Norway | Hong Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | None | HK$42.10 $5.37 |
| Minimum wage /mo | None | HK$7,297 $931.08 |
| Minimum wage /yr | None | HK$87,568 $11,173.52 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | kr55,150 /mo $5,953.34 | HK$20,500 /mo $2,615.76 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | kr38,600 /mo $4,166.80 | HK$19,475 /mo $2,484.98 |
| Median individual income /yr | kr570,000 /yr $61,530.49 | HK$246,000 /yr $31,389.16 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Norway is higher.
Work Week
- Norway
-
37.5 hrs/wk standard
Max 40 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.4x pay
The Working Environment Act sets a maximum of 40 hours/week, but most collective agreements specify 37.5 hours. Overtime premium minimum 40% by law. Maximum overtime: 10 hrs/week, 25 hrs over 4 consecutive weeks, 200 hrs/year. Night and Sunday work requires additional premiums by agreement.
- 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.
See this comparison from Hong Kong's perspective: Hong Kong vs Norway
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Norway or Hong Kong?
In Norway, the minimum wage is no statutory minimum wage. In Hong Kong, it is HK$42.10/hr ($5.37 USD).
How much more does the average worker earn in Norway compared to Hong Kong?
The average gross salary in Norway is kr55,150/mo ($5,953.34 USD), compared to HK$20,500/mo ($2,615.76 USD) in Hong Kong. In USD terms, workers in Norway earn approximately 128% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Norway and Hong Kong is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Norway earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Hong Kong.
What is the cost of living difference between Norway and Hong Kong?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Norway has the higher GDP per capita at $102,038, which is 1.4x that of Hong Kong at $75,196. From Norway'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.