# New York vs Washington DC: Class A office comparison

> New York ($102/sqft, 17.4% vacancy) and Washington DC ($58/sqft, 19.4% vacancy) compete on different axes: New York on talent depth and Washington DC on rent and tax.

**Canonical URL:** https://classa.info/compare/new-york-vs-washington-dc
**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: New York $102/sqft vs Washington DC $58/sqft.
- Vacancy: New York 17.4% vs Washington DC 19.4%.
- Talent index: New York 100 vs Washington DC 92.
- Corporate tax: New York 27.5% vs Washington DC 27.1%.
- Premium flex/seat/month: New York $1,450 vs Washington DC $880.

## Key facts
- **cityA**: New York
- **cityB**: Washington DC
- **rentUsdA**: $102
- **rentUsdB**: $58
- **vacancyA**: 17.4%
- **vacancyB**: 19.4%
- **talentA**: 100
- **talentB**: 92
- **taxA**: 27.5%
- **taxB**: 27.1%

## FAQ
### Is Class A office cheaper in New York or Washington DC?
Washington DC is cheaper on a USD basis: $58/sqft vs $102/sqft.

### Which has better talent depth, New York or Washington DC?
New York indexes higher on talent depth (100 vs 92).

### Which has more sublease availability, New York or Washington DC?
Washington DC carries higher vacancy (19.4% vs 17.4%) and therefore typically more sublease overhang.

### What lease term should I expect in New York vs Washington DC?
New York typical term is 10 years with 14 months rent-free; Washington DC typical term is 10 years with 14 months rent-free.

### How does transit and commuter access compare?
New York: MTA subway lines, Metro-North, LIRR, and PATH converge on Midtown and the Financial District, anchored by Grand Central, Penn Station, and the Oculus. Class A landlords now factor commute time as part of their leasing pitch. Washington DC: WMATA Metro (six lines) plus VRE and MARC commuter rail. Union Station anchors regional rail. Trophy office clusters all sit within a 5-minute walk of a Metro station.

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