Singapore leads this ranking — talent index 92/100, Class A rent $102/sqft/yr, 5.4% vacancy — followed by Hong Kong and Tokyo.

  • #1 Singapore (score 100/100) — Singapore offers 6 Class A submarkets, a 92/100 talent index, and 17% corporate tax — the dominant APAC HQ address in Singapore.
  • #2 Hong Kong (score 93/100) — Hong Kong offers 5 Class A submarkets, a 88/100 talent index, and 16.5% corporate tax — the #2 APAC HQ address in Hong Kong SAR.
  • Lowest rent on this list: Seoul at $34/sqft/yr.
  • Deepest talent: Singapore at 92/100 talent index.
  • Lowest corporate tax: Hong Kong at 16.5%.

Best APAC cities for a regional HQ

Singapore leads this ranking — talent index 92/100, Class A rent $102/sqft/yr, 5.4% vacancy — followed by Hong Kong and Tokyo.

TL;DR

  • #1 Singapore (score 100/100) — Singapore offers 6 Class A submarkets, a 92/100 talent index, and 17% corporate tax — the dominant APAC HQ address in Singapore.
  • #2 Hong Kong (score 93/100) — Hong Kong offers 5 Class A submarkets, a 88/100 talent index, and 16.5% corporate tax — the #2 APAC HQ address in Hong Kong SAR.
  • Lowest rent on this list: Seoul at $34/sqft/yr.
  • Deepest talent: Singapore at 92/100 talent index.
  • Lowest corporate tax: Hong Kong at 16.5%.

Ranked list

  1. #1 Singapore — Singapore offers 6 Class A submarkets, a 92/100 talent index, and 17% corporate tax — the dominant APAC HQ address in Singapore. (score 100/100)
  2. #2 Hong Kong — Hong Kong offers 5 Class A submarkets, a 88/100 talent index, and 16.5% corporate tax — the #2 APAC HQ address in Hong Kong SAR. (score 93/100)
  3. #3 Tokyo — Tokyo offers 6 Class A submarkets, a 84/100 talent index, and 30.6% corporate tax — the #3 APAC HQ address in Japan. (score 86/100)
  4. #4 Sydney — Sydney offers 6 Class A submarkets, a 85/100 talent index, and 30% corporate tax — the #4 APAC HQ address in Australia. (score 79/100)
  5. #5 Seoul — Seoul offers 6 Class A submarkets, a 82/100 talent index, and 24.2% corporate tax — the #5 APAC HQ address in South Korea. (score 72/100)
  6. #6 Shanghai — Shanghai offers 5 Class A submarkets, a 76/100 talent index, and 25% corporate tax — the #6 APAC HQ address in China. (score 65/100)
  7. #7 Melbourne — Melbourne offers 5 Class A submarkets, a 84/100 talent index, and 30% corporate tax — the #7 APAC HQ address in Australia. (score 58/100)
  8. #8 Beijing — Beijing offers 5 Class A submarkets, a 90/100 talent index, and 25% corporate tax — the #8 APAC HQ address in China. (score 51/100)

Frequently asked questions

What is the #1 city on this list and why?
Singapore ranks #1 with a score of 100/100. Singapore offers 6 Class A submarkets, a 92/100 talent index, and 17% corporate tax — the dominant APAC HQ address in Singapore. Class A rent is $102/sqft/yr with 5.4% vacancy and a talent index of 92/100.
Which city on this list has the cheapest Class A office rent?
Seoul has the lowest Class A rent at $34/sqft/yr, versus $123/sqft/yr for the most expensive market on the list (Hong Kong).
Which city has the deepest talent pool?
Singapore scores highest on talent depth at 92/100. 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?
Hong Kong carries the lowest headline corporate tax at 16.5%. 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.