- The UK offers expats the highest salaries followed by Japan and India
- Hong Kong offers the highest add-on benefits
- India offers expats a higher pay package than the USA and Australia
Singapore and Hong Kong may be at the top of the list of the most expensive places to stay in Asia but the best pay packages for expats are offered by companies in Japan. According to a survey conducted by ECA, Asia is one of the best places for expats. Here is a list of countries with best expat pay packages.
MyExpatriate Market Pay Survey
MyExpatriate Market Pay Survey is ECA’s annual survey on pay packages offered to expats. Along with the salary component, it also takes into account perks such as allowances for accommodation and international school subsidies along with the tax systems prevalent in different countries.
Data for the survey was collected in the latter half of 2018 from employees in over 280 companies spread across 160 countries and 10,000 international assignees.
Countries With The Best Pay Expat Pay Packages – An Overview
The UK topped the global list with an average annual expat pay package of $421,798. Japan came in second followed by China, India and Hong Kong. While Singapore did not come into the top 10 list worldwide, it stood at the 9th position on the list of countries in Asia offering Expats the best pay packages.
| Country | Annual Expat Pay Package |
|---|---|
| UK | $421,798 |
| Japan | $386,451 |
| China | $310,204 |
| India | $299,728 |
| France | $264,500 |
| Hong Kong | $276,417 |
| South Korea | Above $265,000 |
| Australia | $266,848 |
| Argentina | Above $200,000 |
| Turkey | Above $200,000 |
Expat Salaries In The UK
On average, expats receive an annual salary of $421,798 in the UK. The country has maintained its rank at the top of the list for the past 5 years. One of the reasons for the high salaries paid to expats is the housing crisis in London and other cities.
Expat Salaries In Japan
On average, expats who are mid-level employees in Japanese companies earn about $386,451 each year. According to a report by ECA International, this is higher than the pay packages offered by any other Asian country. A stronger Yen and steeper housing costs also led to Japan seeing a dramatic increase in the expat packages offered over the last year.
Expat Salaries In China
Companies in the city of Shanghai pay the highest packages to expats as compared to any other city across the world. However, as a country, China comes in at the third place because salary trends in other cities have been moving downwards.
Expat Salaries In India
In India, the average annual salary paid to expats employed as mid-level staff is about $299,728. Though the pay package attracts talent from overseas, living here has its own challenges. This includes high pollution levels, bad traffic and overcrowded cities.
Expat Salaries In France
Keeping in mind the taxation structure in France and the add on benefits, expats in France can earn an average of $264,500 annually. This puts France at the 5th place on the list of countries offering expats the highest pay packages.
Expat Salaries In Hong Kong
Companies in Hong Kong pay international employees $276,417 on an average. Though the add-on benefits offered here are the highest in Asia, Hong Kong is the least-affordable city in the world.
The UK may offer the highest pay packages but the cost of living in this country is also much higher than in other places. The average annual salary offered to expats in the USA is about $250,028.
Australia offers expats a slightly higher pay package of just about $266,848 but still attracts oversea talent because of its coastal cities and wide open spaces.
Also See
- 6 Best Governed Countries in the World to Immigrate and Settle
- Top 10 Countries Where You Can Immigrate and Settle Easily
- 10 Best Countries To Work And Make Money
