Key Facts: Sweden vs Hong Kong Wages
- Sweden Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Hong Kong Minimum Wage
- HK$42.10/hr ($5.37 USD)
- Sweden Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- kr40,000 /mo ($4,317.74 USD)
- Hong Kong Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- HK$20,500 /mo ($2,615.76 USD)
- Data Sources
- Medlingsinstitutet (Swedish National Mediation Office) (2026-02-24), 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)
Sweden 
Hong Kong
Updated 2026-05-04
Sweden has no statutory minimum wage, while Hong Kong sets a floor of $5/hr. Average salaries are higher in Sweden at $4,318/mo compared to $2,616/mo in Hong Kong. Hong Kong has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 2.8% compared to 8.7%.
Sweden has lower GDP per capita ($71,845 vs $75,196). Sweden's unemployment rate is 8.7% compared to Hong Kong's 2.8%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Sweden | 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 | kr40,000 /mo $4,317.74 | HK$20,500 /mo $2,615.76 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | kr30,000 /mo $3,238.31 | HK$19,475 /mo $2,484.98 |
| Median individual income /yr | kr367,000 /yr $39,615.29 | HK$246,000 /yr $31,389.16 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Sweden is higher.
Work Week
- Sweden
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Standard workweek is 40 hours (Working Hours Act / Arbetstidslagen). Maximum overtime is 48 hours over 4 weeks or 200 hours per calendar year. Overtime compensation is determined by collective agreements, not statute. Many agreements provide overtime at 150-200% of normal pay. EU Working Time Directive limits average to 48 hrs/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.
See this comparison from Hong Kong's perspective: Hong Kong vs Sweden
Compare Sweden with...
Sweden vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Sweden vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Sweden vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Sweden vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Sweden vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Sweden vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Sweden vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Sweden vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Sweden vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Sweden vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Sweden vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Sweden vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Sweden vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Sweden vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Sweden vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Sweden vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Sweden vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Sweden vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Sweden vs Switzerland 
Sweden vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Sweden vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Sweden vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Sweden vs Singapore 
Sweden vs Norway Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Sweden or Hong Kong?
In Sweden, 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 Sweden compared to Hong Kong?
The average gross salary in Sweden is kr40,000/mo ($4,317.74 USD), compared to HK$20,500/mo ($2,615.76 USD) in Hong Kong. In USD terms, workers in Sweden earn approximately 65% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Sweden and Hong Kong is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Sweden 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 Sweden 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 1.0x that of Sweden at $71,845. From Sweden'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.