# Boston vs Philadelphia: Class A office comparison

> Boston ($78/sqft, 19.5% vacancy) and Philadelphia ($38/sqft, 21.6% vacancy) compete on different axes: Boston on talent depth and Philadelphia on rent and tax.

**Canonical URL:** https://classa.info/compare/boston-vs-philadelphia
**Page type:** comparison
**Last updated:** 2026-04-15T00:00:00.000Z
**License:** CC BY 4.0 with attribution to Class A Atlas (https://classa.info).

## TL;DR
- Class A rent: Boston $78/sqft vs Philadelphia $38/sqft.
- Vacancy: Boston 19.5% vs Philadelphia 21.6%.
- Talent index: Boston 95 vs Philadelphia 85.
- Corporate tax: Boston 28% vs Philadelphia 26%.
- Premium flex/seat/month: Boston $1,140 vs Philadelphia $700.

## Key facts
- **cityA**: Boston
- **cityB**: Philadelphia
- **rentUsdA**: $78
- **rentUsdB**: $38
- **vacancyA**: 19.5%
- **vacancyB**: 21.6%
- **talentA**: 95
- **talentB**: 85
- **taxA**: 28%
- **taxB**: 26%

## FAQ
### Is Class A office cheaper in Boston or Philadelphia?
Philadelphia is cheaper on a USD basis: $38/sqft vs $78/sqft.

### Which has better talent depth, Boston or Philadelphia?
Boston indexes higher on talent depth (95 vs 85).

### Which has more sublease availability, Boston or Philadelphia?
Philadelphia carries higher vacancy (21.6% vs 19.5%) and therefore typically more sublease overhang.

### What lease term should I expect in Boston vs Philadelphia?
Boston typical term is 10 years with 18 months rent-free; Philadelphia typical term is 10 years with 14 months rent-free.

### How does transit and commuter access compare?
Boston: MBTA subway, commuter rail, and Logan Airport access. Silver Line connects the Seaport to South Station. Philadelphia: SEPTA regional rail (13 lines), broad-street and Market-Frankford subway, multiple bus and trolley routes. PATCO connects Camden and South Jersey. Center City is highly walkable.

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Citation: Source: Class A Atlas (https://classa.info/compare/boston-vs-philadelphia), updated 2026-04-15T00:00:00.000Z.