Amsterdam ($55/sqft, 7.2% vacancy) and Warsaw ($270/sqft, 11.4% vacancy) compete on different axes: Amsterdam on talent depth and Warsaw on rent and tax.

  • Class A rent: Amsterdam $55/sqft vs Warsaw $270/sqft.
  • Vacancy: Amsterdam 7.2% vs Warsaw 11.4%.
  • Talent index: Amsterdam 86 vs Warsaw 80.
  • Corporate tax: Amsterdam 25.8% vs Warsaw 19%.
  • Premium flex/seat/month: Amsterdam $940 vs Warsaw $380.

Amsterdam vs Warsaw: Class A office comparison

Amsterdam ($55/sqft, 7.2% vacancy) and Warsaw ($270/sqft, 11.4% vacancy) compete on different axes: Amsterdam on talent depth and Warsaw on rent and tax.

TL;DR

  • Class A rent: Amsterdam $55/sqft vs Warsaw $270/sqft.
  • Vacancy: Amsterdam 7.2% vs Warsaw 11.4%.
  • Talent index: Amsterdam 86 vs Warsaw 80.
  • Corporate tax: Amsterdam 25.8% vs Warsaw 19%.
  • Premium flex/seat/month: Amsterdam $940 vs Warsaw $380.

Market data side-by-side

MetricAmsterdamWarsaw
RegionEMEAEMEA
CountryNetherlandsPoland
Class A rent (USD/sqft/yr)$55$270
Class A rent (local)50 EUR1080 PLN
Vacancy7.2%11.4%
Trendrisingrising
Prime yield4.5%5.6%
Premium flex / seat / month (USD)$940$380
Submarkets covered45
Corporate tax25.8%19%

Lease norms

MetricAmsterdamWarsaw
Typical term7 yrs5 yrs
Typical rent-free12 mos6 mos
Lease normsDutch leases run 5-10 years with break rights. Rent indexed to CPI annually. Servicekosten (operating expenses) billed separately. Bank guarantees of 3-6 months standard.Net leases (tenant pays opex, taxes, insurance separately). 5-7 year terms standard. Free rent of 4-9 months and TI of PLN 250-400/sqm typical.
Tax noteHeadline corporate tax 25.8% (19% on first €200k). Innovation Box and participation exemption regimes are meaningful.19% Polish corporate income tax (CIT). 9% reduced rate for small taxpayers. R&D tax credit available. Estonian-style CIT regime available for SMEs.

Talent

MetricAmsterdamWarsaw
Talent index (0–100)8680
Talent noteStrong English-fluent professional talent pool. Average all-in compensation indexes 86.Deepest tech, banking, and business services talent in Central Europe. Strong feed from University of Warsaw, Warsaw University of Technology, and Warsaw School of Economics. Polish-English bilingual professional base.

Transit & commute

Amsterdam: Schiphol Airport is 7 minutes by direct train from Zuidas. Strong S-Bahn equivalent (Sprinter / Intercity) coverage.

Warsaw: Warsaw Metro (M1, M2 lines), tram, and bus. SKM commuter rail. Warsaw Chopin Airport is connected via SKM commuter rail (~25 minutes). Modlin Airport serves low-cost carriers.

Top submarkets — Amsterdam

Top submarkets — Warsaw

  • Wola — trophy tier · PLN 1,100/sqm/yr · ≈ $25.5 PSF/yr USD
  • Centrum (CBD) — prime tier · PLN 1,000/sqm/yr · ≈ $23.2 PSF/yr USD
  • Powiśle & Praga — prime tier · PLN 800/sqm/yr · ≈ $18.6 PSF/yr USD

Decision criteria

Pick by cost

Amsterdam is the cheaper Class A market on a USD basis.

Pick by talent depth

Amsterdam has the deeper talent index (86/100 vs 80/100).

Pick by tax

Warsaw has the lower headline corporate tax (19% vs 25.8%). Local incentives can change the effective rate materially.

Pick by lease optionality

Amsterdam typical term is 7 years with 12 months free; Warsaw runs 5 years with 6 months free.

Pick by transit

Amsterdam: Schiphol Airport is 7 minutes by direct train from Zuidas. Strong S-Bahn equivalent (Sprinter / Intercity) coverage. Warsaw: Warsaw Metro (M1, M2 lines), tram, and bus. SKM commuter rail. Warsaw Chopin Airport is connected via SKM commuter rail (~25 minutes). Modlin Airport serves low-cost carriers.

Run a 4-city comparison

Score Amsterdam, Warsaw and up to two more markets side-by-side on Class A rent, vacancy, talent, corporate tax, and premium flex pricing — all in USD.

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Frequently asked questions

Is Class A office cheaper in Amsterdam or Warsaw?
Amsterdam is cheaper on a USD basis: $55/sqft vs $270/sqft.
Which has better talent depth, Amsterdam or Warsaw?
Amsterdam indexes higher on talent depth (86 vs 80).
Which has more sublease availability, Amsterdam or Warsaw?
Warsaw carries higher vacancy (11.4% vs 7.2%) and therefore typically more sublease">sublease overhang.
What lease term should I expect in Amsterdam vs Warsaw?
Amsterdam typical term is 7 years with 12 months rent-free; Warsaw typical term is 5 years with 6 months rent-free.
How does transit and commuter access compare?
Amsterdam: Schiphol Airport is 7 minutes by direct train from Zuidas. Strong S-Bahn equivalent (Sprinter / Intercity) coverage. Warsaw: Warsaw Metro (M1, M2 lines), tram, and bus. SKM commuter rail. Warsaw Chopin Airport is connected via SKM commuter rail (~25 minutes). Modlin Airport serves low-cost carriers.

Editorial provenance

Reviewed by Samuel Okafor — EMEA contributing editor. Last updated 2026-04-15. See our methodology and editorial standards.

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