Key Facts: Suriname vs Hong Kong Wages
- Suriname Minimum Wage
- Sr$2,166/mo ($59.02 USD)
- Hong Kong Minimum Wage
- HK$42.10/hr ($5.37 USD)
- Suriname Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Sr$5,500 /mo ($149.86 USD)
- Hong Kong Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- HK$20,500 /mo ($2,615.76 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Labour, Technological Development and Environment — Suriname / ILO (2026-02-25), 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)
Suriname
Hong Kong
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in Suriname is roughly 11 times higher than in Hong Kong in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a upper-middle-income and a high-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $150/mo in Suriname versus $2,616/mo in Hong Kong, a 17.5:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Hong Kong is 3.4x that of Suriname, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Suriname has lower GDP per capita ($21,801 vs $75,196). Suriname's unemployment rate is 7.8% compared to Hong Kong's 2.8%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Suriname | Hong Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | HK$42.10 $5.37 |
| Minimum wage /mo | Sr$2,166 $59.02 | HK$7,297 $931.08 |
| Minimum wage /yr | Sr$25,992 $708.23 | HK$87,568 $11,173.52 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Sr$5,500 /mo $149.86 | HK$20,500 /mo $2,615.76 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | Sr$4,700 /mo $128.07 | HK$19,475 /mo $2,484.98 |
| Median individual income /yr | Sr$28,000 /yr $762.94 | HK$246,000 /yr $31,389.16 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Suriname is higher.
Work Week
- Suriname
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Suriname Labour Act sets the standard workweek at 40 hours (8 hours/day, 5 days). Maximum including overtime is 48 hours. Overtime is compensated at a minimum of 1.5x the regular wage. Sunday and public holiday work is typically at 2x.
- 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.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Hong Kong to Suriname would see a 999% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings.
See this comparison from Hong Kong's perspective: Hong Kong vs Suriname
Compare Suriname with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Suriname or Hong Kong?
In Suriname, the minimum wage is Sr$2,166/mo ($59.02 USD). In Hong Kong, it is HK$42.10/hr ($5.37 USD). Suriname has the higher rate by 999% 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 Suriname compared to Hong Kong?
The average gross salary in Suriname is Sr$5,500/mo ($149.86 USD), compared to HK$20,500/mo ($2,615.76 USD) in Hong Kong. In USD terms, workers in Suriname earn approximately 1645% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Suriname and Hong Kong 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 Suriname.
What is the cost of living difference between Suriname 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 3.4x that of Suriname at $21,801. From Suriname'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.