Hong KongWe do our best to keep this updated as the rules change. Please cross-check with the relevant authority for the very latest details.
Budgeting for a foreign domestic helper involves more than the monthly salary.
The main recurring items are the Minimum Allowable Wage (or above), food or a food allowance, and helper insurance. One-off costs typically include the visa application fee and, if you use an agency or processing service, its service fee.
Since August 2013 there is NO employer levy for foreign domestic helpers.
Use the cost calculator in the HelperDoc employer app for a personalised breakdown: Home, then Cost Calculator.
Source: Immigration Department and Labour Department guidance.
Last updated on 4 Sept 2026.
This answer is plain-language guidance and not legal advice. For complex situations, please contact the relevant authority — the Hong Kong Labour Department, Hong Kong Immigration Department, POEA / DMW (Philippines), MOM (Singapore), Tadbeer (UAE), Musaned (Saudi Arabia), or your legal counsel.