Los Angeles ($65/sqft, 22.5% vacancy) and Seattle ($52/sqft, 26.4% vacancy) compete on different axes: Los Angeles on talent depth and Seattle on talent depth.
Los Angeles ($65/sqft, 22.5% vacancy) and Seattle ($52/sqft, 26.4% vacancy) compete on different axes: Los Angeles on talent depth and Seattle on talent depth.
| Metric | Los Angeles | Seattle |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Americas | Americas |
| Country | United States | United States |
| Class A rent (USD/sqft/yr) | $65 | $52 |
| Class A rent (local) | 65 USD | 52 USD |
| Vacancy | 22.5% | 26.4% |
| Trend | flat | softening |
| Prime yield | 5.8% | 6.7% |
| Premium flex / seat / month (USD) | $1,080 | $940 |
| Submarkets covered | 6 | 5 |
| Corporate tax | 27% | 21% |
| Metric | Los Angeles | Seattle |
|---|---|---|
| Typical term | 7 yrs | 10 yrs |
| Typical rent-free | 14 mos | 16 mos |
| Lease norms | Modified-gross with op-ex escalations. Rent-free 12-20 months on a 10-year term is standard. TI of $130-$200/sqft achievable. California Civil Code 1938 disclosure (CASp) is mandatory. | Modified-gross structures with operating-expense pass-throughs. 10-12 year terms standard for trophy. Free rent of 12-18 months and TI of $100-$150/sqft typical on a 10-year deal. |
| Tax note | Combined federal + California corporate tax effectively 27%. LA City business license tax applies. | 21% federal corporate income tax. No Washington State corporate income tax. Washington B&O tax applies to gross receipts (rates vary by activity). Seattle JumpStart payroll expense tax applies to tenants with $7M+ payroll. |
| Metric | Los Angeles | Seattle |
|---|---|---|
| Talent index (0–100) | 92 | 92 |
| Talent note | Deepest entertainment, streaming, gaming, and aerospace talent pool in the world. Average all-in compensation indexes 92 vs. New York. | Deepest cloud, AI, and SaaS engineering talent pool in North America. UW and a deep network of T-1 engineering programs feed. Cost-of-living advantage versus Bay Area is structural. |
Los Angeles: Metro Rail expansion (Purple Line extension, K Line) is reshaping commute economics — but LA remains predominantly car-based.
Seattle: Sound Transit Link light rail (1 Line) extended in 2024 to Lynnwood; East Link to Bellevue / Redmond opening 2025-26. Streetcar serves South Lake Union. King County Metro bus network anchors local commute.
Seattle is the cheaper Class A market on a USD basis.
Talent indices are tied at 92/100.
Seattle has the lower headline corporate tax (21% vs 27%). Local incentives can change the effective rate materially.
Los Angeles typical term is 7 years with 14 months free; Seattle runs 10 years with 16 months free.
Los Angeles: Metro Rail expansion (Purple Line extension, K Line) is reshaping commute economics — but LA remains predominantly car-based. Seattle: Sound Transit Link light rail (1 Line) extended in 2024 to Lynnwood; East Link to Bellevue / Redmond opening 2025-26. Streetcar serves South Lake Union. King County Metro bus network anchors local commute.
Score Los Angeles, Seattle 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.