# San Francisco vs Vancouver: Class A office comparison

> San Francisco ($78/sqft, 31.5% vacancy) and Vancouver ($38/sqft, 11.2% vacancy) compete on different axes: San Francisco on talent depth and Vancouver on rent and tax.

**Canonical URL:** https://classa.info/compare/san-francisco-vs-vancouver
**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 Vancouver $38/sqft.
- Vacancy: San Francisco 31.5% vs Vancouver 11.2%.
- Talent index: San Francisco 98 vs Vancouver 84.
- Corporate tax: San Francisco 27% vs Vancouver 27%.
- Premium flex/seat/month: San Francisco $1,280 vs Vancouver $720.

## Key facts
- **cityA**: San Francisco
- **cityB**: Vancouver
- **rentUsdA**: $78
- **rentUsdB**: $38
- **vacancyA**: 31.5%
- **vacancyB**: 11.2%
- **talentA**: 98
- **talentB**: 84
- **taxA**: 27%
- **taxB**: 27%

## FAQ
### Is Class A office cheaper in San Francisco or Vancouver?
Vancouver is cheaper on a USD basis: $38/sqft vs $78/sqft.

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

### Which has more sublease availability, San Francisco or Vancouver?
San Francisco carries higher vacancy (31.5% vs 11.2%) and therefore typically more sublease overhang.

### What lease term should I expect in San Francisco vs Vancouver?
San Francisco typical term is 7 years with 22 months rent-free; Vancouver typical term is 10 years with 10 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. Vancouver: TransLink SkyTrain (Expo, Millennium, Canada Lines) plus SeaBus to North Vancouver and West Coast Express commuter rail. Downtown is highly walkable and SkyTrain-served.

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