Hong Kong Helper Total Cost Calculator — First Year & Monthly
What a foreign domestic helper really costs: MAW wage + food allowance + insurance + agency + flights + levy amortized. First-year total and monthly, free.
Figures as a dated snapshot — verify current rates at fdh.labour.gov.hk. Not legal advice; not affiliated with any agency or government department.
How to use this tool
- 1
Start from the defaults: MAW wage, food allowance, insurance, agency, flights, medicals and the amortized levy.
- 2
Adjust each figure to your own quotes — or tick food-in-kind to drop the allowance.
- 3
Read the monthly total, the first-year total and each later year.
- 4
Print the cost sheet to keep with your hiring file.
FAQ
▸How much does it cost per month to employ a helper in Hong Kong?
At the current minimums, the monthly wage (Minimum Allowable Wage HK$5,100) plus a food allowance of HK$1,236 when meals are not provided comes to HK$6,336 before insurance; the calculator adds EC insurance and the amortized levy for the full stack.
▸What one-off costs come with hiring a helper?
Typically the agency/placement fee, two one-way airfares (onward to Hong Kong and home leave), pre-employment and re-employment medicals, and the first year's Employees' Compensation insurance premium. The calculator itemizes each with editable defaults.
▸Do I pay the Employee Retraining Levy?
The levy is HK$9,600 per two-year contract and has been waived by repeated extensions — the calculator shows it amortized (HK$400/month) so you can see the un-waived exposure, and you can exclude it. Verify the current waiver status at fdh.labour.gov.hk.