# Philadelphia vs Washington DC: Class A office comparison

> Philadelphia ($38/sqft, 21.6% vacancy) and Washington DC ($58/sqft, 19.4% vacancy) compete on different axes: Philadelphia on rent and tax and Washington DC on talent depth.

**Canonical URL:** https://classa.info/compare/philadelphia-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: Philadelphia $38/sqft vs Washington DC $58/sqft.
- Vacancy: Philadelphia 21.6% vs Washington DC 19.4%.
- Talent index: Philadelphia 85 vs Washington DC 92.
- Corporate tax: Philadelphia 26% vs Washington DC 27.1%.
- Premium flex/seat/month: Philadelphia $700 vs Washington DC $880.

## Key facts
- **cityA**: Philadelphia
- **cityB**: Washington DC
- **rentUsdA**: $38
- **rentUsdB**: $58
- **vacancyA**: 21.6%
- **vacancyB**: 19.4%
- **talentA**: 85
- **talentB**: 92
- **taxA**: 26%
- **taxB**: 27.1%

## FAQ
### Is Class A office cheaper in Philadelphia or Washington DC?
Philadelphia is cheaper on a USD basis: $38/sqft vs $58/sqft.

### Which has better talent depth, Philadelphia or Washington DC?
Washington DC indexes higher on talent depth (92 vs 85).

### Which has more sublease availability, Philadelphia or Washington DC?
Philadelphia carries higher vacancy (21.6% vs 19.4%) and therefore typically more sublease overhang.

### What lease term should I expect in Philadelphia vs Washington DC?
Philadelphia 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?
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. 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.

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