China (SAR) · East Asia · Currency: HKD
Hong Kong has a cost of living index of 73.6, making it a high cost city compared to New York (baseline = 100). It ranks #19 out of 113 cities tracked globally.
The local currency is HKD. A salary of $75,000 USD in New York would need to be approximately HK$432,289 in Hong Kong to maintain the same purchasing power.
The approximate effective income tax rate in China (SAR) is 13% for a mid-range earner. Including social security and other mandatory deductions, the total deduction rate is approximately 13.0%.
Estimated monthly expense allocation for a mid-range earner living in Hong Kong. Housing costs are based on average one-bedroom rent in the city center (HK$19,578/month), with other categories adjusted for the local cost of living index.
Estimates based on a mid-range salary adjusted for Hong Kong's COLI of 73.6 and China (SAR)'s total deduction rate of 13.0%. Individual expenses will vary.
Estimated annual deductions for a mid-range salary of HK$432,289 in Hong Kong. This shows all mandatory payroll deductions as a local employee.
Rates shown are for a local employee. Expat rates may differ — use the main converter for personalized calculations.
Two numbers per role: local market (verified national stats, OECD estimate, or COLI fallback — same badges as /is-my-salary-good/) and a lifestyle equivalent (NYC baseline × city COLI / 100). The equivalent is not market pay. Senior column is COLI-scaled.
| Job Title | Local market (mid) | Lifestyle equivalent (mid) | COLI senior equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doctor (General) | HK$634,337 OECD / estimated · Estimated · Census & Statistics HK | HK$1,037,494 COLI equivalent | HK$2,017,349 |
| Surgeon | HK$986,747 OECD / estimated · Estimated · Census & Statistics HK | HK$1,613,880 COLI equivalent | HK$2,881,928 |
| Dentist | HK$601,446 OECD / estimated · Estimated · Census & Statistics HK | HK$922,217 COLI equivalent | HK$1,729,157 |
| Pharmacist | HK$391,566 OECD / estimated · Estimated · Census & Statistics HK | HK$720,482 COLI equivalent | HK$1,152,771 |
| Nurse | HK$181,687 OECD / estimated · Estimated · Census & Statistics HK | HK$334,304 COLI equivalent | HK$576,386 |
| Psychologist | HK$266,265 OECD / estimated · Estimated · Census & Statistics HK | HK$489,928 COLI equivalent | HK$864,578 |
| Software Engineer | HK$386,084 OECD / estimated · Estimated · Census & Statistics HK | HK$489,928 COLI equivalent | HK$1,037,494 |
| DevOps Engineer | HK$431,506 OECD / estimated · Estimated · Census & Statistics HK | HK$547,566 COLI equivalent | HK$1,008,675 |
| Data Scientist | HK$431,506 OECD / estimated · Estimated · Census & Statistics HK | HK$547,566 COLI equivalent | HK$979,855 |
| Mechanical Engineer | HK$305,422 OECD / estimated · Estimated · Census & Statistics HK | HK$449,581 COLI equivalent | HK$806,940 |
| Civil Engineer | HK$281,928 OECD / estimated · Estimated · Census & Statistics HK | HK$414,998 COLI equivalent | HK$778,120 |
| Electrical Engineer | HK$313,253 OECD / estimated · Estimated · Census & Statistics HK | HK$461,108 COLI equivalent | HK$835,759 |
| Architect | HK$281,928 OECD / estimated · Estimated · Census & Statistics HK | HK$414,998 COLI equivalent | HK$749,301 |
| UX Designer | HK$340,663 OECD / estimated · Estimated · Census & Statistics HK | HK$432,289 COLI equivalent | HK$806,940 |
| Product Manager | HK$454,217 OECD / estimated · Estimated · Census & Statistics HK | HK$576,386 COLI equivalent | HK$1,095,133 |
| Project Manager | HK$325,783 OECD / estimated · Estimated · Census & Statistics HK | HK$461,108 COLI equivalent | HK$864,578 |
| Financial Analyst | HK$397,048 OECD / estimated · Estimated · Census & Statistics HK | HK$449,581 COLI equivalent | HK$835,759 |
| Accountant | HK$315,602 OECD / estimated · Estimated · Census & Statistics HK | HK$357,359 COLI equivalent | HK$634,024 |
| Business Analyst | HK$305,422 OECD / estimated · Estimated · Census & Statistics HK | HK$432,289 COLI equivalent | HK$806,940 |
| Consultant | HK$366,506 OECD / estimated · Estimated · Census & Statistics HK | HK$518,747 COLI equivalent | HK$1,037,494 |
| Investment Banker | HK$763,554 OECD / estimated · Estimated · Census & Statistics HK | HK$864,578 COLI equivalent | HK$2,017,349 |
| Actuary | HK$559,940 OECD / estimated · Estimated · Census & Statistics HK | HK$634,024 COLI equivalent | HK$1,152,771 |
| Lawyer | HK$454,217 OECD / estimated · Estimated · Census & Statistics HK | HK$576,386 COLI equivalent | HK$1,268,048 |
| Paralegal | HK$236,193 OECD / estimated · Estimated · Census & Statistics HK | HK$299,720 COLI equivalent | HK$489,928 |
| Marketing Manager | HK$293,205 OECD / estimated · Estimated · Census & Statistics HK | HK$414,998 COLI equivalent | HK$778,120 |
| Sales Manager | HK$325,783 OECD / estimated · Estimated · Census & Statistics HK | HK$461,108 COLI equivalent | HK$922,217 |
| Graphic Designer | HK$317,012 COLI estimate only — not market pay | HK$317,012 COLI equivalent | HK$576,386 |
| Content Writer | HK$288,193 COLI estimate only — not market pay | HK$288,193 COLI equivalent | HK$518,747 |
| HR Manager | HK$285,060 OECD / estimated · Estimated · Census & Statistics HK | HK$403,470 COLI equivalent | HK$749,301 |
| Operations Manager | HK$333,928 OECD / estimated · Estimated · Census & Statistics HK | HK$472,636 COLI equivalent | HK$864,578 |
| CEO / Executive | HK$895,904 OECD / estimated · Estimated · Census & Statistics HK | HK$1,268,048 COLI equivalent | HK$2,881,928 |
| Teacher | HK$169,157 OECD / estimated · Estimated · Census & Statistics HK | HK$276,665 COLI equivalent | HK$489,928 |
| Professor | HK$334,789 OECD / estimated · Estimated · Census & Statistics HK | HK$547,566 COLI equivalent | HK$1,037,494 |
| Research Scientist | HK$299,548 OECD / estimated · Estimated · Census & Statistics HK | HK$489,928 COLI equivalent | HK$893,398 |
| Pilot | HK$691,663 COLI estimate only — not market pay | HK$691,663 COLI equivalent | HK$1,440,964 |
| Chef | HK$288,193 COLI estimate only — not market pay | HK$288,193 COLI equivalent | HK$576,386 |
| Journalist | HK$299,720 COLI estimate only — not market pay | HK$299,720 COLI equivalent | HK$547,566 |
Salary ranges are estimates adjusted by Hong Kong's COLI (73.6) relative to the New York baseline (100). Actual salaries depend on experience, company, and industry.
Understanding your take-home pay is critical when evaluating a move to Hong Kong. With total deductions of approximately 13.0% (income tax + social security) in China (SAR) and average one-bedroom rent of HK$19,578/month, here is what a mid-range salary looks like:
After taxes, a mid-range earner in Hong Kong takes home approximately HK$31,341 per month. With housing consuming roughly 45% of after-tax income, careful budgeting is essential in this high cost city. Your purchasing power in Hong Kong is 136% of what it would be in New York for the same nominal salary.
22 neighborhoods tracked with cost multipliers relative to the city average. This neighborhood-level data helps you understand exactly how costs vary within Hong Kong.
| Neighborhood | Multiplier | vs City Avg |
|---|---|---|
| The Peak | 1.50x | +50% |
| Central | 1.40x | +40% |
| Mid-Levels | 1.30x | +30% |
| Repulse Bay | 1.30x | +30% |
| Causeway Bay | 1.25x | +25% |
| Happy Valley | 1.22x | +22% |
| Wan Chai | 1.18x | +18% |
| Tsim Sha Tsui | 1.15x | +15% |
| Discovery Bay | 1.10x | +10% |
| Kennedy Town | 1.05x | +5% |
| North Point | 1.00x | +0% |
| Quarry Bay | 0.98x | -2% |
| Mong Kok | 0.92x | -8% |
| Aberdeen | 0.92x | -8% |
| Hung Hom | 0.88x | -12% |
| Sai Kung | 0.85x | -15% |
| Tseung Kwan O | 0.80x | -20% |
| Sham Shui Po | 0.78x | -22% |
| Sha Tin | 0.78x | -22% |
| Tai Po | 0.72x | -28% |
| Tuen Mun | 0.68x | -32% |
| Yuen Long | 0.65x | -35% |
To maintain the same standard of living as $75,000 USD in Hong Kong, here's what you'd need in other cities:
| City | COLI | Equivalent Salary | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 100 | $101,902 | +26% |
| London | 87.5 | £67,142 | +16% |
| Singapore | 87.7 | S$116,421 | +16% |
| Dubai | 72.4 | AED 267,276 | -2% |
| Berlin | 51.2 | €44,238 | -30% |
| Tokyo | 77.3 | ¥12,202,291 | +5% |
| Sydney | 74.5 | A$107,873 | +1% |
| Toronto | 62.3 | C$85,953 | -15% |
See detailed side-by-side comparisons of salaries, rent, taxes, and neighborhoods.
Use our free converter tool with 2,400+ neighborhood adjustments
Open Salary ConverterThe cost of living index (COLI) for Hong Kong is 73.6, which ranks #19 out of 113 cities globally. New York is the baseline at 100.
To maintain the same purchasing power as $75,000 USD in New York, you would need approximately HK$432,289 in Hong Kong.
The average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center of Hong Kong is approximately HK$19,578 per month (local currency).
The approximate effective income tax rate for a mid-range earner in China (SAR) is approximately 13%. Including social security and other mandatory contributions, total deductions are approximately 13.0%.
The most affordable neighborhoods include Tai Po, Tuen Mun, Yuen Long.
The most expensive neighborhoods are The Peak, Central, Mid-Levels.
Our cost of living index (COLI) uses New York City as the baseline (COLI = 100). Indices are derived from multiple sources including Numbeo, Expatistan, and national statistics agencies. Exchange rates are sourced from the European Central Bank.
Tax rates represent approximate effective rates for mid-range earners based on OECD Taxing Wages data and do not constitute tax advice. Neighborhood cost multipliers are estimated from local rental indices and property data. Salary ranges are modeled by adjusting global baseline figures by each city's COLI.
Last updated: 2026-08-31. Data is refreshed periodically and may not reflect very recent changes. All figures are estimates for informational purposes only.
Other cities in East Asia: