Bangalore ($1/sqft, 14.2% vacancy) and Hong Kong ($186/sqft, 12.8% vacancy) compete on different axes: Bangalore on rent and tax and Hong Kong on talent depth.
Bangalore ($1/sqft, 14.2% vacancy) and Hong Kong ($186/sqft, 12.8% vacancy) compete on different axes: Bangalore on rent and tax and Hong Kong on talent depth.
| Metric | Bangalore | Hong Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Region | APAC | APAC |
| Country | India | Hong Kong SAR |
| Class A rent (USD/sqft/yr) | $1 | $186 |
| Class A rent (local) | 110 INR | 1450 HKD |
| Vacancy | 14.2% | 12.8% |
| Trend | rising | softening |
| Prime yield | 8.5% | 3.4% |
| Premium flex / seat / month (USD) | $280 | $1,320 |
| Submarkets covered | 5 | 5 |
| Corporate tax | 25.17% | 16.5% |
| Metric | Bangalore | Hong Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Typical term | 9 yrs | 3 yrs |
| Typical rent-free | 6 mos | 8 mos |
| Lease norms | Net leases (tenant pays opex, taxes separately). 9-year terms with 3-year lock-ins standard. Free rent of 4-9 months and TI of INR 1,500-3,000/sqft typical on a 9-year Class A deal. | Hong Kong leases are typically 3 years (with renewal option) or 6 years on the trophy tier. Rent-free of 6-12 months on a 3-year term is current market. Rent is gross with management fees billed separately. Stamp duty is payable on lease execution. Bank guarantees of 3 months are standard. |
| Tax note | 22% base corporate income tax plus surcharges and cess for an effective rate of 25.17%. New manufacturing companies eligible for 15% concessional rate. SEZ benefits available in selected GCC parks. | Profits tax at 16.5% (8.25% on the first HKD 2 million for qualifying entities). No VAT, no capital gains tax, no withholding tax on dividends. |
| Metric | Bangalore | Hong Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Talent index (0–100) | 82 | 88 |
| Talent note | Deepest tech and engineering talent pool in India — anchored by IISc, IIM Bangalore, IIIT-B, and a deep network of engineering colleges. English-fluent professional base supports global delivery operations. | Premium financial-services talent depth, particularly for cross-border China-mainland mandates. Average all-in compensation indexes 88 vs. New York's 100. |
Bangalore: BMRCL Namma Metro (Purple, Green, Yellow Lines), BMTC bus. Whitefield is now Metro-served (2023). Bengaluru Suburban Rail under construction. Heavy congestion on Outer Ring Road remains a tenant concern.
Hong Kong: MTR coverage across the entire Class A footprint. Airport Express to Chek Lap Kok in 24 minutes from Central. The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge and Express Rail to Shenzhen and Guangzhou support cross-border occupier strategies.
Bangalore is the cheaper Class A market on a USD basis.
Hong Kong has the deeper talent index (88/100 vs 82/100).
Hong Kong has the lower headline corporate tax (16.5% vs 25.17%). Local incentives can change the effective rate materially.
Bangalore typical term is 9 years with 6 months free; Hong Kong runs 3 years with 8 months free.
Bangalore: BMRCL Namma Metro (Purple, Green, Yellow Lines), BMTC bus. Whitefield is now Metro-served (2023). Bengaluru Suburban Rail under construction. Heavy congestion on Outer Ring Road remains a tenant concern. Hong Kong: MTR coverage across the entire Class A footprint. Airport Express to Chek Lap Kok in 24 minutes from Central. The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge and Express Rail to Shenzhen and Guangzhou support cross-border occupier strategies.
Score Bangalore, Hong Kong and up to two more markets side-by-side on Class A rent, vacancy, talent, corporate tax, and premium flex pricing — all in USD.
Reviewed by Kenji Watanabe — APAC contributing editor. Last updated 2026-04-15. See our methodology and editorial standards.