San Francisco leads this ranking — talent index 98/100, Class A rent $78/sqft/yr, 31.5% vacancy — followed by New York and London.

  • #1 San Francisco (score 100/100) — San Francisco combines a 98/100 talent index with proximity to leading universities and research labs — making it a natural cluster for AI/ML companies at Class A rent of $78/sqft/yr.
  • #2 New York (score 95/100) — New York combines a 100/100 talent index with proximity to leading universities and research labs — making it a natural cluster for AI/ML companies at Class A rent of $102/sqft/yr.
  • Lowest rent on this list: Seoul at $34/sqft/yr.
  • Deepest talent: New York at 100/100 talent index.
  • Lowest corporate tax: Singapore at 17%.

Best cities for AI and machine-learning companies

San Francisco leads this ranking — talent index 98/100, Class A rent $78/sqft/yr, 31.5% vacancy — followed by New York and London.

TL;DR

  • #1 San Francisco (score 100/100) — San Francisco combines a 98/100 talent index with proximity to leading universities and research labs — making it a natural cluster for AI/ML companies at Class A rent of $78/sqft/yr.
  • #2 New York (score 95/100) — New York combines a 100/100 talent index with proximity to leading universities and research labs — making it a natural cluster for AI/ML companies at Class A rent of $102/sqft/yr.
  • Lowest rent on this list: Seoul at $34/sqft/yr.
  • Deepest talent: New York at 100/100 talent index.
  • Lowest corporate tax: Singapore at 17%.

Ranked list

  1. #1 San Francisco — San Francisco combines a 98/100 talent index with proximity to leading universities and research labs — making it a natural cluster for AI/ML companies at Class A rent of $78/sqft/yr. (score 100/100)
  2. #2 New York — New York combines a 100/100 talent index with proximity to leading universities and research labs — making it a natural cluster for AI/ML companies at Class A rent of $102/sqft/yr. (score 95/100)
  3. #3 London — London combines a 96/100 talent index with proximity to leading universities and research labs — making it a natural cluster for AI/ML companies at Class A rent of $121/sqft/yr. (score 90/100)
  4. #4 Singapore — Singapore combines a 92/100 talent index with proximity to leading universities and research labs — making it a natural cluster for AI/ML companies at Class A rent of $102/sqft/yr. (score 85/100)
  5. #5 Boston — Boston combines a 95/100 talent index with proximity to leading universities and research labs — making it a natural cluster for AI/ML companies at Class A rent of $78/sqft/yr. (score 80/100)
  6. #6 Toronto — Toronto combines a 80/100 talent index with proximity to leading universities and research labs — making it a natural cluster for AI/ML companies at Class A rent of $58/sqft/yr. (score 75/100)
  7. #7 Tel Aviv — Tel Aviv combines a 90/100 talent index with proximity to leading universities and research labs — making it a natural cluster for AI/ML companies at Class A rent of $66/sqft/yr. (score 70/100)
  8. #8 Amsterdam — Amsterdam combines a 86/100 talent index with proximity to leading universities and research labs — making it a natural cluster for AI/ML companies at Class A rent of $54/sqft/yr. (score 65/100)
  9. #9 Seoul — Seoul combines a 82/100 talent index with proximity to leading universities and research labs — making it a natural cluster for AI/ML companies at Class A rent of $34/sqft/yr. (score 60/100)
  10. #10 Beijing — Beijing combines a 90/100 talent index with proximity to leading universities and research labs — making it a natural cluster for AI/ML companies at Class A rent of $50/sqft/yr. (score 55/100)

Frequently asked questions

What is the #1 city on this list and why?
San Francisco ranks #1 with a score of 100/100. San Francisco combines a 98/100 talent index with proximity to leading universities and research labs — making it a natural cluster for AI/ML companies at Class A rent of $78/sqft/yr. Class A rent is $78/sqft/yr with 31.5% vacancy and a talent index of 98/100.
Which city on this list has the cheapest Class A office rent?
Seoul has the lowest Class A rent at $34/sqft/yr, versus $121/sqft/yr for the most expensive market on the list (London).
Which city has the deepest talent pool?
New York scores highest on talent depth at 100/100. The talent index measures the density and quality of professional knowledge-economy workers across finance, technology, legal, and consulting sectors.
Which city on this list has the lowest corporate tax rate?
Singapore carries the lowest headline corporate tax at 17%. Effective rates can differ materially due to IP box regimes, R&D credits, and bilateral tax treaties — always verify with a local adviser.
Which city offers the most competitive premium flex pricing?
Beijing has the most competitive premium flex office pricing at $580/seat/month. Premium flex includes full-service Class A-equivalent co-working with dedicated floors, branding options, and enterprise lease terms.
How is the ranking score calculated?
Scores use an editorial composite weighted for the specific use case — typically rent competitiveness, talent depth, lease optionality, regulatory infrastructure, and regional market depth. Scores run 0–100 and are reviewed quarterly alongside market data updates.
How often is this list updated?
Class A rent, vacancy rate, talent index, and corporate tax data are reviewed quarterly. Rankings are updated when market conditions shift materially — typically a >5% change in a key metric or a structural market event such as a major new supply wave or policy change.