Brussels ($35/sqft, 8.2% vacancy) and Paris ($102/sqft, 7.6% vacancy) compete on different axes: Brussels on rent and tax and Paris on talent depth.
Brussels ($35/sqft, 8.2% vacancy) and Paris ($102/sqft, 7.6% vacancy) compete on different axes: Brussels on rent and tax and Paris on talent depth.
| Metric | Brussels | Paris |
|---|---|---|
| Region | EMEA | EMEA |
| Country | Belgium | France |
| Class A rent (USD/sqft/yr) | $35 | $102 |
| Class A rent (local) | 32 EUR | 95 EUR |
| Vacancy | 8.2% | 7.6% |
| Trend | flat | rising |
| Prime yield | 5.4% | 4% |
| Premium flex / seat / month (USD) | $580 | $1,180 |
| Submarkets covered | 5 | 6 |
| Corporate tax | 25% | 25% |
| Metric | Brussels | Paris |
|---|---|---|
| Typical term | 9 yrs | 9 yrs |
| Typical rent-free | 8 mos | 18 mos |
| Lease norms | Net leases. 9-year terms with break options at years 3 and 6 (Belgian 3/6/9 standard). Free rent of 6-12 months and TI of €60-€100/sqm typical. | The bail commercial is the standard lease — 9 years with tenant break rights at year 3 and year 6. Rent is indexed annually to the ILAT or ICC indices. Rent-free of 12-24 months on a 9-year term is standard. Service charges and tax foncière are typically passed through. Restoration to original is the default obligation. |
| Tax note | 25% Belgian corporate income tax. Notional Interest Deduction and innovation income deduction available. SME rate of 20% on first €100k for qualifying small companies. | Headline corporate tax 25%. Local cotisation foncière des entreprises (CFE) and contribution sur la valeur ajoutée des entreprises (CVAE) add a meaningful local layer. Île-de-France tertiary tax (TSB) applies to office occupiers. |
| Metric | Brussels | Paris |
|---|---|---|
| Talent index (0–100) | 84 | 90 |
| Talent note | Deepest multilingual professional talent pool in the EU — French, Dutch, English, and German fluency is standard. Strong EU institutional, regulatory, lobbying, and trade association talent. | Strong financial-services and luxury-brand talent pool. Average all-in compensation indexes 90 vs. New York's 100. |
Brussels: STIB Metro (4 lines), tram, and bus. SNCB national rail anchors regional and EU-wide connectivity. Brussels Airport (BRU) is connected via SNCB rail (~17 minutes to Brussels-Central).
Paris: RER A and the Métro span the entire QCA. The Grand Paris Express network is materially reshaping Greater Paris commute economics through 2030.
Brussels is the cheaper Class A market on a USD basis.
Paris has the deeper talent index (90/100 vs 84/100).
Tax rates are tied.
Brussels typical term is 9 years with 8 months free; Paris runs 9 years with 18 months free.
Brussels: STIB Metro (4 lines), tram, and bus. SNCB national rail anchors regional and EU-wide connectivity. Brussels Airport (BRU) is connected via SNCB rail (~17 minutes to Brussels-Central). Paris: RER A and the Métro span the entire QCA. The Grand Paris Express network is materially reshaping Greater Paris commute economics through 2030.
Score Brussels, Paris 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 Samuel Okafor — EMEA contributing editor. Last updated 2026-04-15. See our methodology and editorial standards.