# San Francisco vs Washington DC: Class A office comparison

> San Francisco ($78/sqft, 31.5% vacancy) and Washington DC ($58/sqft, 19.4% vacancy) compete on different axes: San Francisco on talent depth and Washington DC on rent and tax.

**Canonical URL:** https://classa.info/compare/san-francisco-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: San Francisco $78/sqft vs Washington DC $58/sqft.
- Vacancy: San Francisco 31.5% vs Washington DC 19.4%.
- Talent index: San Francisco 98 vs Washington DC 92.
- Corporate tax: San Francisco 27% vs Washington DC 27.1%.
- Premium flex/seat/month: San Francisco $1,280 vs Washington DC $880.

## Key facts
- **cityA**: San Francisco
- **cityB**: Washington DC
- **rentUsdA**: $78
- **rentUsdB**: $58
- **vacancyA**: 31.5%
- **vacancyB**: 19.4%
- **talentA**: 98
- **talentB**: 92
- **taxA**: 27%
- **taxB**: 27.1%

## FAQ
### Is Class A office cheaper in San Francisco or Washington DC?
Washington DC is cheaper on a USD basis: $58/sqft vs $78/sqft.

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

### Which has more sublease availability, San Francisco or Washington DC?
San Francisco carries higher vacancy (31.5% vs 19.4%) and therefore typically more sublease overhang.

### What lease term should I expect in San Francisco vs Washington DC?
San Francisco typical term is 7 years with 22 months rent-free; Washington DC typical term is 10 years with 14 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. 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/san-francisco-vs-washington-dc), updated 2026-04-15T00:00:00.000Z.