Dublin ($70/sqft, 14.3% vacancy) and Zurich ($105/sqft, 3.8% vacancy) compete on different axes: Dublin on rent and tax and Zurich on talent depth.
Dublin ($70/sqft, 14.3% vacancy) and Zurich ($105/sqft, 3.8% vacancy) compete on different axes: Dublin on rent and tax and Zurich on talent depth.
| Metric | Dublin | Zurich |
|---|---|---|
| Region | EMEA | EMEA |
| Country | Ireland | Switzerland |
| Class A rent (USD/sqft/yr) | $70 | $105 |
| Class A rent (local) | 65 EUR | 95 CHF |
| Vacancy | 14.3% | 3.8% |
| Trend | softening | flat |
| Prime yield | 4.8% | 3.2% |
| Premium flex / seat / month (USD) | $720 | $1,280 |
| Submarkets covered | 5 | 5 |
| Corporate tax | 12.5% | 19.7% |
| Metric | Dublin | Zurich |
|---|---|---|
| Typical term | 10 yrs | 7 yrs |
| Typical rent-free | 12 mos | 6 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. | Standard 5-10 year leases. Rent indexed to Swiss CPI annually. Nebenkosten billed separately. Cautio (deposit) of 3-6 months standard. Cantonal stamp duty applies. |
| 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. | Effective combined federal + cantonal + municipal corporate tax in Zurich approximately 19.7%. Switzerland's tax cooperation regimes for multinationals (e.g. Patent Box) are meaningful. |
| Metric | Dublin | Zurich |
|---|---|---|
| Talent index (0–100) | 86 | 96 |
| 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. | Deepest financial and pharma talent pool in continental Europe per capita. Average all-in compensation indexes 96. |
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.
Zurich: Zurich Hauptbahnhof anchors SBB and S-Bahn. Tram network covers the central city. Zurich Airport is 12 minutes by S-Bahn.
Dublin is the cheaper Class A market on a USD basis.
Zurich has the deeper talent index (96/100 vs 86/100).
Dublin has the lower headline corporate tax (12.5% vs 19.7%). Local incentives can change the effective rate materially.
Dublin typical term is 10 years with 12 months free; Zurich runs 7 years with 6 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. Zurich: Zurich Hauptbahnhof anchors SBB and S-Bahn. Tram network covers the central city. Zurich Airport is 12 minutes by S-Bahn.
Score Dublin, Zurich 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.