Boston ($78/sqft, 19.5% vacancy) and San Diego ($56/sqft, 18.4% vacancy) compete on different axes: Boston on talent depth and San Diego on rent and tax.
Boston ($78/sqft, 19.5% vacancy) and San Diego ($56/sqft, 18.4% vacancy) compete on different axes: Boston on talent depth and San Diego on rent and tax.
| Metric | Boston | San Diego |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Americas | Americas |
| Country | United States | United States |
| Class A rent (USD/sqft/yr) | $78 | $56 |
| Class A rent (local) | 78 USD | 56 USD |
| Vacancy | 19.5% | 18.4% |
| Trend | flat | flat |
| Prime yield | 6.2% | 6.4% |
| Premium flex / seat / month (USD) | $1,140 | $880 |
| Submarkets covered | 6 | 5 |
| Corporate tax | 28% | 27.9% |
| Metric | Boston | San Diego |
|---|---|---|
| Typical term | 10 yrs | 10 yrs |
| Typical rent-free | 18 mos | 12 mos |
| Lease norms | Modified-gross with op-ex escalations. Rent-free 18-24 months on 10-year term standard. Lab leases carry distinct economics — base rent plus operating expenses plus utilities pass-through. | Modified-gross structures with opex pass-throughs. 10-12 year terms common for life sciences. Free rent of 10-14 months and TI of $100-$160/sqft typical on a 10-year Class A deal; lab fitouts run materially higher. |
| Tax note | Combined federal + Massachusetts corporate tax 28%. | 21% federal plus 8.84% California corporate franchise tax for an effective rate near 27.9%. California property tax (Prop 13) base is set at acquisition; meaningful for long-term ownership. |
| Metric | Boston | San Diego |
|---|---|---|
| Talent index (0–100) | 95 | 86 |
| Talent note | Deepest STEM and life-sciences talent pool in the US — anchored by MIT, Harvard, BU. Average all-in compensation indexes 95. | Deep life sciences, biotech, defense, and intelligence talent. UCSD and the Salk / Scripps research cluster anchor. Deep naval and Marine veteran talent pool. |
Boston: MBTA subway, commuter rail, and Logan Airport access. Silver Line connects the Seaport to South Station.
San Diego: MTS trolley (Blue, Green, Orange, UC San Diego Blue Line extension to UTC). COASTER and Sprinter commuter rail. Heavy car dependency outside the urban core.
San Diego is the cheaper Class A market on a USD basis.
Boston has the deeper talent index (95/100 vs 86/100).
San Diego has the lower headline corporate tax (27.9% vs 28%). Local incentives can change the effective rate materially.
Boston typical term is 10 years with 18 months free; San Diego runs 10 years with 12 months free.
Boston: MBTA subway, commuter rail, and Logan Airport access. Silver Line connects the Seaport to South Station. San Diego: MTS trolley (Blue, Green, Orange, UC San Diego Blue Line extension to UTC). COASTER and Sprinter commuter rail. Heavy car dependency outside the urban core.
Score Boston, San Diego 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 Miriam Hollander — Lead market analyst. Last updated 2026-04-15. See our methodology and editorial standards.