# San Francisco vs Seattle: Class A office comparison

> San Francisco ($78/sqft, 31.5% vacancy) and Seattle ($52/sqft, 26.4% vacancy) compete on different axes: San Francisco on talent depth and Seattle on rent and tax.

**Canonical URL:** https://classa.info/compare/san-francisco-vs-seattle
**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: San Francisco $78/sqft vs Seattle $52/sqft.
- Vacancy: San Francisco 31.5% vs Seattle 26.4%.
- Talent index: San Francisco 98 vs Seattle 92.
- Corporate tax: San Francisco 27% vs Seattle 21%.
- Premium flex/seat/month: San Francisco $1,280 vs Seattle $940.

## Key facts
- **cityA**: San Francisco
- **cityB**: Seattle
- **rentUsdA**: $78
- **rentUsdB**: $52
- **vacancyA**: 31.5%
- **vacancyB**: 26.4%
- **talentA**: 98
- **talentB**: 92
- **taxA**: 27%
- **taxB**: 21%

## FAQ
### Is Class A office cheaper in San Francisco or Seattle?
Seattle is cheaper on a USD basis: $52/sqft vs $78/sqft.

### Which has better talent depth, San Francisco or Seattle?
San Francisco indexes higher on talent depth (98 vs 92).

### Which has more sublease availability, San Francisco or Seattle?
San Francisco carries higher vacancy (31.5% vs 26.4%) and therefore typically more sublease overhang.

### What lease term should I expect in San Francisco vs Seattle?
San Francisco typical term is 7 years with 22 months rent-free; Seattle typical term is 10 years with 16 months rent-free.

### How does transit and commuter access compare?
San Francisco: BART, Muni, Caltrain, and the new Salesforce Transit Center anchor commute infrastructure. The Central Subway extension to Chinatown completed in 2023. Seattle: Sound Transit Link light rail (1 Line) extended in 2024 to Lynnwood; East Link to Bellevue / Redmond opening 2025-26. Streetcar serves South Lake Union. King County Metro bus network anchors local commute.

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