A half-unpacked suitcase on a narrow bed, with a phone, a transit card, a coin purse and a notebook laid out beside it.

New to Hong Kong? What your first months really cost, and what you should never pay

What your employer must pay, what's genuinely yours to cover, and the fees you should never hand over.

By Kindoo teamPublished 2 min read

"Magkano po sa mga bagong dating ang gastos niyo?" How much do new arrivals spend? It's one of the most common questions in OFW groups, and a smart one to ask before you fly. Some costs really are yours. Many aren't, and that's where workers get hurt.

Who pays what when you start in Hong Kong Your employer pays your airfare both ways, a HK$100 a day travel allowance, your visa fee, medical treatment, food or at least HK$1,236 a month, and accommodation. You pay for your phone, transport, personal items, rest-day spending and remittance fees. You should never pay placement fees in the Philippines, more than HK$522 to a Hong Kong agency, or training loans taken out before you fly. Your employer pays You pay You should never pay Airfare to and from Hong Kong HK$100 a day travel allowance Your visa fee Your medical treatment Your food, or at least HK$1,236 a month instead Your accommodation SIM card and phone plan Transit card top-ups Personal items Rest-day food and travel Remittance fees Placement fees in the Philippines More than HK$522 to a Hong Kong agency (10% of HK$5,220) “Training” loans taken out before you fly Who pays what when you start in Hong Kong Your employer pays your airfare both ways, a HK$100 a day travel allowance, your visa fee, medical treatment, food or at least HK$1,236 a month, and accommodation. You pay for your phone, transport, personal items, rest-day spending and remittance fees. You should never pay placement fees in the Philippines, more than HK$522 to a Hong Kong agency, or training loans taken out before you fly. Your employer pays You pay You should never pay Airfare to and from Hong Kong HK$100 a day travel allowance Your visa fee Your medical treatment Your food, or at least HK$1,236 a month instead Your accommodation SIM card and phone plan Transit card top-ups Personal items Rest-day food and travel Remittance fees Placement fees in the Philippines More than HK$522 to a Hong Kong agency (10% of HK$5,220) “Training” loans taken out before you fly
Who pays what when you start in Hong Kong.

What you should not be paying

  • Placement fees in the Philippines. For household service workers, Philippine rules don't allow placement fees to be charged to the worker.
  • More than 10% of your first month's wage to a Hong Kong agency. That's the legal maximum. At the new minimum wage of HK$5,220, it's HK$522.
  • Costs your employer must cover. Under the Standard Employment Contract, your employer pays your airfare to and from Hong Kong, a food and travelling allowance of HK$100 a day for the journey, your visa fee, and your medical treatment while you're employed.

Warning signs of a debt trap

Most serious money trouble for new arrivals starts before they land: an agency or finance company "lends" you a training or processing fee, then collects it from your salary for months. Be very careful if:

  • you're asked to sign a loan before departure, especially with a company the agency recommends
  • fees are described as "training", "accommodation in the Philippines" or "processing" and add up to more than the legal limits
  • someone wants to hold your passport, bank card or ATM PIN

If this is happening to you, talk to the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) in Hong Kong or a migrant worker NGO before you sign or pay anything else.

What you will pay yourself

These are the real early costs most new arrivals mention:

  • A local SIM card and mobile plan, so you can call home and use your banking and remittance apps
  • A transit card and top-ups for rest-day travel
  • Personal items not covered by your employer, such as toiletries, a few clothes for Hong Kong's weather, and a towel and slippers of your own
  • Rest-day spending: food and transport on your days off
  • Your first padala to family, plus the transfer fee

Getting through the month before your first salary

Your first salary arrives about a month after you start, so plan for that gap:

  1. Bring a small cash buffer if you can, and keep it separate from everything else.
  2. Track every peso for the first month, even in a notebook. You'll learn quickly what Hong Kong actually costs you.
  3. Agree on the first padala with your family before you leave. That way there's no pressure to send more than you can afford in month one.
  4. When the first salary lands, pay yourself first. Put a fixed amount into savings before sending anything, even if it's small. See our guide to saving for yourself first.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Rules on fees can change; check with the DMW and the MWO in Hong Kong.

Sources

This article is general information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Government rules and rates change; confirm current figures with the official agency before acting.

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