Key Facts: South Korea vs Hong Kong Wages
- South Korea Minimum Wage
- ₩10,320/hr ($6.84 USD)
- Hong Kong Minimum Wage
- HK$42.10/hr ($5.37 USD)
- South Korea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₩3,960,000 /mo ($2,624.88 USD)
- Hong Kong Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- HK$20,500 /mo ($2,615.76 USD)
- Data Sources
- Minimum Wage Commission (최저임금위원회) (2026-05-15), 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)
South Korea 
Hong Kong
Updated 2026-05-15
Both high-income economies, South Korea and Hong Kong set comparable minimum wage floors in USD terms. Average salaries are higher in South Korea at $2,625/mo compared to $2,616/mo in Hong Kong.
From South Korea's perspective: adjusting for purchasing power, South Korea's minimum wage buys more than Hong Kong's. The PPP-adjusted hourly rate in South Korea is $13 international dollars, compared to $8 in Hong Kong. South Korea has lower GDP per capita ($61,051 vs $75,196). South Korea's unemployment rate is 2.7% compared to Hong Kong's 2.8%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | South Korea | Hong Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | ₩10,320 $6.84 | HK$42.10 $5.37 |
| Minimum wage /mo | ₩2,156,880 $1,429.69 | HK$7,297 $931.08 |
| Minimum wage /yr | ₩25,882,560 $17,156.22 | HK$87,568 $11,173.52 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ₩3,960,000 /mo $2,624.88 | HK$20,500 /mo $2,615.76 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ₩3,170,000 /mo $2,101.23 | HK$19,475 /mo $2,484.98 |
| Median individual income /yr | ₩33,360,000 /yr $22,112.63 | HK$246,000 /yr $31,389.16 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means South Korea is higher.
Work Week
- South Korea
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 52 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Standards Act sets 40 hrs/week base with maximum 12 hrs overtime (52 total). Overtime, night work (10pm-6am), and holiday work each receive a 50% premium. Businesses with 5-49 employees had a phased implementation completed in 2021. Government proposed a flexible 69-hour weekly cap in 2023 but withdrew after public backlash.
- Hong Kong
-
hrs/wk standard
Hong Kong has NO statutory standard working hours or maximum working hours for most employees (a rare situation globally). The government has considered legislation but has not enacted a standard hours law. Working hours are determined by individual employment contracts. Average actual working hours are ~40-44 hrs/week. Overtime pay is not legally mandated except for certain specific occupations.
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Hong Kong to South Korea would see a 27% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings.
See this comparison from Hong Kong's perspective: Hong Kong vs South Korea
Compare South Korea with...
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South Korea vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
South Korea vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
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South Korea vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
South Korea vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
South Korea vs France € 12.02 /hr 
South Korea vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
South Korea vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
South Korea vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
South Korea vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
South Korea vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
South Korea vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
South Korea vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
South Korea vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
South Korea vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
South Korea vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
South Korea vs Switzerland 
South Korea vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
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South Korea vs Sweden 
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South Korea vs Norway Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in South Korea or Hong Kong?
In South Korea, the minimum wage is ₩10,320/hr ($6.84 USD). In Hong Kong, it is HK$42.10/hr ($5.37 USD). South Korea has the higher rate by 27% 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 South Korea compared to Hong Kong?
The average gross salary in South Korea is ₩3,960,000/mo ($2,624.88 USD), compared to HK$20,500/mo ($2,615.76 USD) in Hong Kong. In USD terms, workers in South Korea earn approximately 0% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between South Korea and Hong Kong is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in South Korea 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, South Korea or Hong Kong?
After adjusting for local prices using purchasing power parity (PPP), minimum wage workers in South Korea can afford more than those in Hong Kong. The PPP-adjusted rate is $13 in South Korea and $8 in Hong Kong. PPP converts wages into equivalent US dollar buying power, accounting for what a unit of currency actually buys locally. The 70% 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 South Korea and Hong Kong?
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 1.2x that of South Korea at $61,051. From South Korea's perspective, this means goods and services are priced at a lower 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.