# Boston vs San Francisco: Class A office comparison

> Boston ($78/sqft, 19.5% vacancy) and San Francisco ($78/sqft, 31.5% vacancy) compete on different axes: Boston on rent and tax and San Francisco on talent depth.

**Canonical URL:** https://classa.info/compare/boston-vs-san-francisco
**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 San Francisco $78/sqft.
- Vacancy: Boston 19.5% vs San Francisco 31.5%.
- Talent index: Boston 95 vs San Francisco 98.
- Corporate tax: Boston 28% vs San Francisco 27%.
- Premium flex/seat/month: Boston $1,140 vs San Francisco $1,280.

## Key facts
- **cityA**: Boston
- **cityB**: San Francisco
- **rentUsdA**: $78
- **rentUsdB**: $78
- **vacancyA**: 19.5%
- **vacancyB**: 31.5%
- **talentA**: 95
- **talentB**: 98
- **taxA**: 28%
- **taxB**: 27%

## FAQ
### Is Class A office cheaper in Boston or San Francisco?
Roughly comparable in USD per sqft.

### Which has better talent depth, Boston or San Francisco?
San Francisco indexes higher on talent depth (98 vs 95).

### Which has more sublease availability, Boston or San Francisco?
San Francisco carries higher vacancy (31.5% vs 19.5%) and therefore typically more sublease overhang.

### What lease term should I expect in Boston vs San Francisco?
Boston typical term is 10 years with 18 months rent-free; San Francisco typical term is 7 years with 22 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. San Francisco: BART, Muni, Caltrain, and the new Salesforce Transit Center anchor commute infrastructure. The Central Subway extension to Chinatown completed in 2023.

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