--- title: "Best cities for AI and machine-learning companies" description: "Best cities for AI and machine-learning companies. Ranked 10 global markets with data on rent, talent, tax, and vacancy. Top picks: San Francisco, New York, Lon" canonical: https://classa.info/best/best-cities-for-ai-and-machine-learning-companies pageType: best-of lastUpdated: 2026-05-29T16:17:29.065Z license: "CC BY 4.0 with attribution to Class A Atlas (https://classa.info)." --- > San Francisco leads this ranking — talent index 98/100, Class A rent $78/sqft/yr, 31.5% vacancy — followed by New York and London. ## TL;DR - #1 San Francisco (score 100/100) — San Francisco combines a 98/100 talent index with proximity to leading universities and research labs — making it a natural cluster for AI/ML companies at Class A rent of $78/sqft/yr. - #2 New York (score 95/100) — New York combines a 100/100 talent index with proximity to leading universities and research labs — making it a natural cluster for AI/ML companies at Class A rent of $102/sqft/yr. - Lowest rent on this list: Seoul at $34/sqft/yr. - Deepest talent: New York at 100/100 talent index. - Lowest corporate tax: Singapore at 17%. # Best cities for AI and machine-learning companies **San Francisco leads this ranking — talent index 98/100, [Class A](/glossary/class-a) rent $78/sqft/yr, 31.5% vacancy — followed by New York and London.** ## TL;DR - #1 San Francisco (score 100/100) — San Francisco combines a 98/100 talent index with proximity to leading universities and research labs — making it a natural cluster for AI/ML companies at Class A rent of $78/sqft/yr. - #2 New York (score 95/100) — New York combines a 100/100 talent index with proximity to leading universities and research labs — making it a natural cluster for AI/ML companies at Class A rent of $102/sqft/yr. - Lowest rent on this list: Seoul at $34/sqft/yr. - Deepest talent: New York at 100/100 talent index. - Lowest corporate tax: Singapore at 17%. ## Ranked list - **#1 [San Francisco](/cities/san-francisco)** — San Francisco combines a 98/100 talent index with proximity to leading universities and research labs — making it a natural cluster for AI/ML companies at Class A rent of $78/sqft/yr. *(score 100/100)* - **#2 [New York](/cities/new-york)** — New York combines a 100/100 talent index with proximity to leading universities and research labs — making it a natural cluster for AI/ML companies at Class A rent of $102/sqft/yr. *(score 95/100)* - **#3 [London](/cities/london)** — London combines a 96/100 talent index with proximity to leading universities and research labs — making it a natural cluster for AI/ML companies at Class A rent of $121/sqft/yr. *(score 90/100)* - **#4 [Singapore](/cities/singapore)** — Singapore combines a 92/100 talent index with proximity to leading universities and research labs — making it a natural cluster for AI/ML companies at Class A rent of $102/sqft/yr. *(score 85/100)* - **#5 [Boston](/cities/boston)** — Boston combines a 95/100 talent index with proximity to leading universities and research labs — making it a natural cluster for AI/ML companies at Class A rent of $78/sqft/yr. *(score 80/100)* - **#6 [Toronto](/cities/toronto)** — Toronto combines a 80/100 talent index with proximity to leading universities and research labs — making it a natural cluster for AI/ML companies at Class A rent of $58/sqft/yr. *(score 75/100)* - **#7 [Tel Aviv](/cities/tel-aviv)** — Tel Aviv combines a 90/100 talent index with proximity to leading universities and research labs — making it a natural cluster for AI/ML companies at Class A rent of $66/sqft/yr. *(score 70/100)* - **#8 [Amsterdam](/cities/amsterdam)** — Amsterdam combines a 86/100 talent index with proximity to leading universities and research labs — making it a natural cluster for AI/ML companies at Class A rent of $54/sqft/yr. *(score 65/100)* - **#9 [Seoul](/cities/seoul)** — Seoul combines a 82/100 talent index with proximity to leading universities and research labs — making it a natural cluster for AI/ML companies at Class A rent of $34/sqft/yr. *(score 60/100)* - **#10 [Beijing](/cities/beijing)** — Beijing combines a 90/100 talent index with proximity to leading universities and research labs — making it a natural cluster for AI/ML companies at Class A rent of $50/sqft/yr. *(score 55/100)* ## Frequently asked questions ****What is the #1 city on this list and why?**** : San Francisco ranks #1 with a score of 100/100. San Francisco combines a 98/100 talent index with proximity to leading universities and research labs — making it a natural cluster for AI/ML companies at Class A rent of $78/sqft/yr. Class A rent is $78/sqft/yr with 31.5% vacancy and a talent index of 98/100. ****Which city on this list has the cheapest Class A office rent?**** : Seoul has the lowest Class A rent at $34/sqft/yr, versus $121/sqft/yr for the most expensive market on the list (London). ****Which city has the deepest talent pool?**** : New York scores highest on talent depth at 100/100. The talent index measures the [density](/glossary/density) and quality of professional knowledge-economy workers across finance, technology, legal, and consulting sectors. ****Which city on this list has the lowest corporate tax rate?**** : Singapore carries the lowest headline corporate tax at 17%. Effective rates can differ materially due to IP box regimes, R&D credits, and bilateral tax treaties — always verify with a local adviser. ****Which city offers the most competitive premium flex pricing?**** : Beijing has the most competitive [premium flex](/topics/lease-vs-flex) office pricing at $580/seat/month. Premium flex includes full-service Class A-equivalent co-working with dedicated floors, branding options, and enterprise lease terms. ****How is the ranking score calculated?**** : Scores use an editorial composite weighted for the specific use case — typically rent competitiveness, talent depth, lease optionality, regulatory infrastructure, and regional market depth. Scores run 0–100 and are reviewed quarterly alongside market data updates. ****How often is this list updated?**** : Class A rent, [vacancy rate](/glossary/vacancy-rate), talent index, and corporate tax data are reviewed quarterly. Rankings are updated when market conditions shift materially — typically a >5% change in a key metric or a structural market event such as a major new supply wave or policy change. --- Citation: Source: Class A Atlas (https://classa.info/best/best-cities-for-ai-and-machine-learning-companies), updated 2026-05-29T16:17:29.065Z.