Key Facts: Turkmenistan vs Hong Kong Wages
- Turkmenistan Minimum Wage
- T1,160/mo ($331.43 USD)
- Hong Kong Minimum Wage
- HK$42.10/hr ($5.37 USD)
- Turkmenistan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- T2,500 /mo ($714.29 USD)
- Hong Kong Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- HK$20,500 /mo ($2,615.76 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Turkmenistan government sources (2026-05-04), 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)
Turkmenistan
Hong Kong
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in Turkmenistan is roughly 62 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: $714/mo in Turkmenistan versus $2,616/mo in Hong Kong, a 3.7:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Hong Kong is 3.5x that of Turkmenistan, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Turkmenistan has lower GDP per capita ($21,213 vs $75,196). Turkmenistan's unemployment rate is 4.3% compared to Hong Kong's 2.8%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Turkmenistan | Hong Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | HK$42.10 $5.37 |
| Minimum wage /mo | T1,160 $331.43 | HK$7,297 $931.08 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | HK$87,568 $11,173.52 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | T2,500 /mo $714.29 | HK$20,500 /mo $2,615.76 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | N/A/mo | HK$19,475 /mo $2,484.98 |
| Median individual income /yr | T30,000 /yr $8,571.43 | HK$246,000 /yr $31,389.16 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Turkmenistan is higher.
Work Week
- Turkmenistan
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Code sets 40 hours/week (8 hours/day, 5 days). Saturday and Sunday are rest days. State-sector employees work standard government hours. The gas industry may have different shift arrangements.
- 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 Turkmenistan would see a 6070% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings.
See this comparison from Hong Kong's perspective: Hong Kong vs Turkmenistan
Compare Turkmenistan with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Turkmenistan or Hong Kong?
In Turkmenistan, the minimum wage is T1,160/mo ($331.43 USD). In Hong Kong, it is HK$42.10/hr ($5.37 USD). Turkmenistan has the higher rate by 6070% 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 Turkmenistan compared to Hong Kong?
The average gross salary in Turkmenistan is T2,500/mo ($714.29 USD), compared to HK$20,500/mo ($2,615.76 USD) in Hong Kong. In USD terms, workers in Turkmenistan earn approximately 266% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Turkmenistan 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 Turkmenistan.
What is the cost of living difference between Turkmenistan 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 3.5x that of Turkmenistan at $21,213. From Turkmenistan'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.