# Seattle vs Washington DC: Class A office comparison

> Seattle ($52/sqft, 26.4% vacancy) and Washington DC ($58/sqft, 19.4% vacancy) compete on different axes: Seattle on talent depth and Washington DC on talent depth.

**Canonical URL:** https://classa.info/compare/seattle-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: Seattle $52/sqft vs Washington DC $58/sqft.
- Vacancy: Seattle 26.4% vs Washington DC 19.4%.
- Talent index: Seattle 92 vs Washington DC 92.
- Corporate tax: Seattle 21% vs Washington DC 27.1%.
- Premium flex/seat/month: Seattle $940 vs Washington DC $880.

## Key facts
- **cityA**: Seattle
- **cityB**: Washington DC
- **rentUsdA**: $52
- **rentUsdB**: $58
- **vacancyA**: 26.4%
- **vacancyB**: 19.4%
- **talentA**: 92
- **talentB**: 92
- **taxA**: 21%
- **taxB**: 27.1%

## FAQ
### Is Class A office cheaper in Seattle or Washington DC?
Seattle is cheaper on a USD basis: $52/sqft vs $58/sqft.

### Which has better talent depth, Seattle or Washington DC?
Roughly comparable.

### Which has more sublease availability, Seattle or Washington DC?
Seattle carries higher vacancy (26.4% vs 19.4%) and therefore typically more sublease overhang.

### What lease term should I expect in Seattle vs Washington DC?
Seattle typical term is 10 years with 16 months rent-free; Washington DC typical term is 10 years with 14 months rent-free.

### How does transit and commuter access compare?
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. 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/seattle-vs-washington-dc), updated 2026-04-15T00:00:00.000Z.