Dublin ($70/sqft, 14.3% vacancy) and Paris ($102/sqft, 7.6% vacancy) compete on different axes: Dublin on rent and tax and Paris on talent depth.
Dublin ($70/sqft, 14.3% vacancy) and Paris ($102/sqft, 7.6% vacancy) compete on different axes: Dublin on rent and tax and Paris on talent depth.
| Metric | Dublin | Paris |
|---|---|---|
| Region | EMEA | EMEA |
| Country | Ireland | France |
| Class A rent (USD/sqft/yr) | $70 | $102 |
| Class A rent (local) | 65 EUR | 95 EUR |
| Vacancy | 14.3% | 7.6% |
| Trend | softening | rising |
| Prime yield | 4.8% | 4% |
| Premium flex / seat / month (USD) | $720 | $1,180 |
| Submarkets covered | 5 | 6 |
| Corporate tax | 12.5% | 25% |
| Metric | Dublin | Paris |
|---|---|---|
| Typical term | 10 yrs | 9 yrs |
| Typical rent-free | 12 mos | 18 mos |
| Lease norms | FRI (Full Repairing and Insuring) leases dominate. 10-year terms with tenant break options at year 5 standard. Free rent of 9-15 months and TI of €60-€110/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 | 12.5% headline corporate tax on trading income; 25% on passive income. Knowledge Development Box (KDB) effective 6.25% rate available for qualifying IP income. R&D tax credit at 30% supplements. | 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 | Dublin | Paris |
|---|---|---|
| Talent index (0–100) | 86 | 90 |
| Talent note | Deep tech, pharma, finance, and legal services talent. EU talent pool accessible without immigration friction. Strong feed from TCD, UCD, and the broader Irish university system. | Strong financial-services and luxury-brand talent pool. Average all-in compensation indexes 90 vs. New York's 100. |
Dublin: Dublin Bus, Luas tram (Red, Green Lines), DART rail. MetroLink under construction (target 2031). Dublin Airport is bus-served (no rail). The Docklands trophy core is Luas Red Line and DART-served.
Paris: RER A and the Métro span the entire QCA. The Grand Paris Express network is materially reshaping Greater Paris commute economics through 2030.
Dublin is the cheaper Class A market on a USD basis.
Paris has the deeper talent index (90/100 vs 86/100).
Dublin has the lower headline corporate tax (12.5% vs 25%). Local incentives can change the effective rate materially.
Dublin typical term is 10 years with 12 months free; Paris runs 9 years with 18 months free.
Dublin: Dublin Bus, Luas tram (Red, Green Lines), DART rail. MetroLink under construction (target 2031). Dublin Airport is bus-served (no rail). The Docklands trophy core is Luas Red Line and DART-served. 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 Dublin, 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.