--- title: "Singapore vs Tokyo: Class A office comparison" description: "Side-by-side Class A office comparison for Singapore and Tokyo — rent, vacancy, talent, tax, lease norms, transit, and top submarkets." canonical: https://classa.info/compare/singapore-vs-tokyo pageType: comparison lastUpdated: 2026-04-15T00:00:00.000Z license: "CC BY 4.0 with attribution to Class A Atlas (https://classa.info)." --- > Singapore ($102/sqft, 5.4% vacancy) and Tokyo ($113/sqft, 4.6% vacancy) compete on different axes: Singapore on talent depth and Tokyo on rent and tax. ## TL;DR - Class A rent: Singapore $102/sqft vs Tokyo $113/sqft. - Vacancy: Singapore 5.4% vs Tokyo 4.6%. - Talent index: Singapore 92 vs Tokyo 84. - Corporate tax: Singapore 17% vs Tokyo 30.6%. - Premium flex/seat/month: Singapore $1,180 vs Tokyo $980. # Singapore vs Tokyo: Class A office comparison **Singapore ($102/sqft, 5.4% vacancy) and Tokyo ($113/sqft, 4.6% vacancy) compete on different axes: Singapore on talent depth and Tokyo on rent and tax.** ## TL;DR - [Class A](/glossary/class-a) rent: Singapore $102/sqft vs Tokyo $113/sqft. - Vacancy: Singapore 5.4% vs Tokyo 4.6%. - Talent index: Singapore 92 vs Tokyo 84. - Corporate tax: Singapore 17% vs Tokyo 30.6%. - [Premium flex](/topics/lease-vs-flex)/seat/month: Singapore $1,180 vs Tokyo $980. ## Market data side-by-side | Metric | Singapore | Tokyo| | Region | APAC | APAC| | Country | Singapore | Japan| | Class A rent (USD/sqft/yr) | $102 | $113| | Class A rent (local) | 11.5 SGD | 50000 JPY| | Vacancy | 5.4% | 4.6%| | Trend | rising | rising| | Prime yield | 3.6% | 3%| | Premium flex / seat / month (USD) | $1,180 | $980| | Submarkets covered | 6 | 6| | Corporate tax | 17% | 30.6%| ## Lease norms | Metric | Singapore | Tokyo| | Typical term | 4 yrs | 5 yrs| | Typical rent-free | 6 mos | 4 mos| | Lease norms | Singapore leases are typically 3-5 years, gross-rent based with the landlord covering most operating expenses inside the rent. Rent-free of 4-9 months on a 5-year term is standard. Rent reviews on renewal are open-market. Bank guarantees of 3-6 months are routine. Reinstatement at lease-end is contractual and usually significant — budget for it. | Tokyo leases are typically 5-7 years with a 2-year tenant notice. Standard leases are 'fixed-term' (teiki shakuya) or 'ordinary' (futsu shakuya) — fixed-term is increasingly common for Grade A. Rent is base + common-area maintenance billed separately. Restoration to original (genjo kaifuku) is contractual and significant. Personal seal (jitsuin) requirements apply.| | Tax note | Headline corporate tax of 17%, with a partial tax exemption for the first SGD 200,000 of chargeable income. A network of double-tax treaties and the Singapore Variable Capital Company (VCC) regime make Singapore particularly attractive for fund managers and family offices. | Effective corporate tax rate 30.6% (national + local). Tokyo Metropolitan corporate inhabitant tax adds a meaningful local component.| ## Talent | Metric | Singapore | Tokyo| | Talent index (0–100) | 92 | 84| | Talent note | Premium APAC talent hub. Average all-in compensation indexes 92 vs. New York's 100. | The largest single-language white-collar talent pool in the world. Average all-in compensation for senior knowledge workers indexes 84 vs. New York's 100, though English-fluent bilingual talent commands a premium.| ## Transit & commute **Singapore:** The MRT network reaches every CBD address. Changi Airport is 20 minutes by MRT or taxi. Jurong Region Line and Cross Island Line expansions are extending the catchment. **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. ## Top submarkets — Singapore - [**Marina Bay**](/cities/singapore/marina-bay) — [trophy tier](/topics/trophy-asset-selection) · S$14.5/sqft/mo · ≈ $129 PSF/yr USD - [**Raffles Place**](/cities/singapore/raffles-place) — trophy tier · S$13.2/sqft/mo · ≈ $117 PSF/yr USD - [**Shenton Way & Tanjong Pagar**](/cities/singapore/shenton-way-tanjong-pagar) — prime tier · S$11.5/sqft/mo · ≈ $102 PSF/yr USD ## Top submarkets — Tokyo - [**Azabudai & Roppongi**](/cities/tokyo/azabudai-roppongi) — trophy tier · ¥60,000/[tsubo](/topics/apac-lease-conventions)">tsubo/mo · ≈ $136 PSF/yr USD - [**Marunouchi & Otemachi**](/cities/tokyo/marunouchi-otemachi) — trophy tier · ¥55,000/tsubo/mo · ≈ $124 PSF/yr USD - [**Toranomon**](/cities/tokyo/toranomon) — trophy tier · ¥50,000/tsubo/mo · ≈ $113 PSF/yr USD ## Decision criteria ### Pick by cost Singapore is the cheaper Class A market on a USD basis. ### Pick by talent depth Singapore has the deeper talent index (92/100 vs 84/100). ### Pick by tax Singapore has the lower headline corporate tax (17% vs 30.6%). Local incentives can change the effective rate materially. ### Pick by lease optionality Singapore typical term is 4 years with 6 months free; Tokyo runs 5 years with 4 months free. ### Pick by transit Singapore: The MRT network reaches every CBD address. Changi Airport is 20 minutes by MRT or taxi. Jurong Region Line and Cross Island Line expansions are extending the catchment. 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. ## Run a 4-city comparison Score Singapore, Tokyo and up to two more markets side-by-side on Class A rent, vacancy, talent, corporate tax, and premium flex pricing — all in USD. [**Run a 4-city comparison →**](/tools/city-comparator) ## Frequently asked questions ****Is Class A office cheaper in Singapore or Tokyo?**** : Singapore is cheaper on a USD basis: $102/sqft vs $113/sqft. ****Which has better talent depth, Singapore or Tokyo?**** : Singapore indexes higher on talent depth (92 vs 84). ****Which has more sublease availability, Singapore or Tokyo?**** : Singapore carries higher vacancy (5.4% vs 4.6%) and therefore typically more sublease overhang. ****What lease term should I expect in Singapore vs Tokyo?**** : Singapore typical term is 4 years with 6 months rent-free; Tokyo typical term is 5 years with 4 months rent-free. ****How does transit and commuter access compare?**** : Singapore: The MRT network reaches every CBD address. Changi Airport is 20 minutes by MRT or taxi. Jurong Region Line and Cross Island Line expansions are extending the catchment. 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. ## Editorial provenance Reviewed by [**Kenji Watanabe**](/about/authors/kenji-watanabe) — APAC contributing editor. Last updated 2026-04-15. See our [methodology](/about/methodology) and [editorial standards](/about/editorial-standards). ### Primary sources for this page - [CBRE Marketview reports](https://www.cbre.com/insights) — CBRE - [JLL Office Insight](https://www.jll.com/en/trends-and-insights) — JLL - [Cushman & Wakefield Marketbeat](https://www.cushmanwakefield.com/en/insights) — Cushman & Wakefield - [Savills World Research](https://www.savills.com/research_articles/) — Savills - [Colliers Global Office Outlook](https://www.colliers.com/en/research) — Colliers [Full sources index](/about/sources) · [Submit a correction](/about/corrections) --- Citation: Source: Class A Atlas (https://classa.info/compare/singapore-vs-tokyo), updated 2026-04-15T00:00:00.000Z.