# San Francisco vs Tokyo: Class A office comparison

> San Francisco ($78/sqft, 31.5% vacancy) and Tokyo ($113/sqft, 4.6% vacancy) compete on different axes: San Francisco on talent depth and Tokyo on rent and tax.

**Canonical URL:** https://classa.info/compare/san-francisco-vs-tokyo
**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 Tokyo $113/sqft.
- Vacancy: San Francisco 31.5% vs Tokyo 4.6%.
- Talent index: San Francisco 98 vs Tokyo 84.
- Corporate tax: San Francisco 27% vs Tokyo 30.6%.
- Premium flex/seat/month: San Francisco $1,280 vs Tokyo $980.

## Key facts
- **cityA**: San Francisco
- **cityB**: Tokyo
- **rentUsdA**: $78
- **rentUsdB**: $113
- **vacancyA**: 31.5%
- **vacancyB**: 4.6%
- **talentA**: 98
- **talentB**: 84
- **taxA**: 27%
- **taxB**: 30.6%

## FAQ
### Is Class A office cheaper in San Francisco or Tokyo?
San Francisco is cheaper on a USD basis: $78/sqft vs $113/sqft.

### Which has better talent depth, San Francisco or Tokyo?
San Francisco indexes higher on talent depth (98 vs 84).

### Which has more sublease availability, San Francisco or Tokyo?
San Francisco carries higher vacancy (31.5% vs 4.6%) and therefore typically more sublease overhang.

### What lease term should I expect in San Francisco vs Tokyo?
San Francisco typical term is 7 years with 22 months rent-free; Tokyo typical term is 5 years with 4 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. Tokyo: JR Yamanote loop plus 13 metro lines connect every Class A address. Shinkansen termini at Tokyo, Shinagawa, and Ueno support inter-city corporate networks.

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