Hong Kong and Japan are both active EFL markets right now. Here's what the listings this month reveal about pay, costs, and where the balance tips.
The salaries
🇭🇰
Hong Kong
HK$6,000 – HK$27,000 / mo
£606–£2,727 / $810–$3,643 / €705–€3,172
Average: HK$20,917 (£2,113 / $2,822 / €2,457)
🇯🇵
Japan
¥252,800 – ¥300,000 / mo
£1,289–£1,530 / $1,722–$2,044 / €1,499–€1,779
Average: ¥263,570 (£1,344 / $1,796 / €1,563)
Take-home pay
Tax rates are simplified estimates for a typical foreign teacher's salary bracket, not precise calculations — actual tax owed depends on progressive brackets, tax treaties, residency status, social insurance contributions, and local practice. Treat as a rough planning figure, not tax advice.
Cost of living
Typical monthly costs — single person, modest lifestyle (local currency, GBP / USD / EUR)
Rent — 1-bed city-centre apartment
🇭🇰
HK$12,663 (£1,279 / $1,709 / €1,487)
🇯🇵
¥133,922 (£683 / $912 / €794)
Food & groceries
🇭🇰
HK$3,218 (£325 / $434 / €378)
🇯🇵
¥55,490 (£283 / $378 / €329)
Local transport
🇭🇰
HK$614 (£62 / $83 / €72)
🇯🇵
¥10,588 (£54 / $72 / €63)
Going out & socialising
🇭🇰
HK$2,297 (£232 / $310 / €270)
🇯🇵
¥37,647 (£192 / $257 / €223)
Estimated monthly total
🇭🇰
HK$18,792 (£1,898 / $2,536 / €2,207)
🇯🇵
¥237,647 (£1,212 / $1,619 / €1,410)
Adjusted for city size: Hong Kong figures averaged across 4 listing cities (Wanchai, Hong kong, Hong Kong, Kowloon) — 77% of the national hub baseline; Japan figures averaged across 3 listing cities (Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya) — 83% of the national hub baseline.
Japan is roughly 14% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Hong Kong, based on typical rent, food and transport costs.
Cost-of-living figures are indicative estimates compiled from publicly available sources including Numbeo, Mercer Cost of Living, and the Economist Intelligence Unit Worldwide Cost of Living survey, and are not sourced from TEFL.com listings.
Monthly savings potential
Estimated net salary minus estimated total monthly living costs (rent, food, transport and socialising combined). A negative figure suggests that role/location may need savings brought from home or a lower-cost lifestyle than assumed here — treat as a rough guide, not a budget.
Benefits breakdown
Each percentage is the share of Hong Kong's (or Japan's) included teaching posts whose listing mentioned the benefit. A missing benefit isn't necessarily unavailable, just not stated in that listing.
The verdict
🇭🇰Hong Kong
The appeal of Hong Kong centres on high salaries, international hub. The average teaching salary works out to around HK$20,917 (£2,113 / $2,822 / €2,457)/mo. Expect more variation in pay here than in Japan, depending on the role and school.
🇯🇵Japan
Japan attracts EFL teachers with unique culture, strong infrastructure. The average salary lands at ¥263,570 (£1,344 / $1,796 / €1,563)/mo. Salaries here are more tightly clustered than in Hong Kong, making typical earnings fairly predictable. The cost of living runs about 14% lower than Hong Kong — which adds real value to the take-home pay.
Hong Kong or Japan? Either way, today's TEFL market offers real choice — and real opportunities to build a life abroad on a teacher's salary. Worth noting: Japan works out roughly 14% cheaper day-to-day, which can make a real difference to take-home value.
Browse Hong Kong and Japan jobs below and at TEFL.com →
