Miami ($78/sqft, 11.8% vacancy) and São Paulo ($40/sqft, 19.4% vacancy) compete on different axes: Miami on rent and tax and São Paulo on talent depth.

  • Class A rent: Miami $78/sqft vs São Paulo $40/sqft.
  • Vacancy: Miami 11.8% vs São Paulo 19.4%.
  • Talent index: Miami 78 vs São Paulo 80.
  • Corporate tax: Miami 21% vs São Paulo 34%.
  • Premium flex/seat/month: Miami $920 vs São Paulo $380.

Miami vs São Paulo: Class A office comparison

Miami ($78/sqft, 11.8% vacancy) and São Paulo ($40/sqft, 19.4% vacancy) compete on different axes: Miami on rent and tax and São Paulo on talent depth.

TL;DR

  • Class A rent: Miami $78/sqft vs São Paulo $40/sqft.
  • Vacancy: Miami 11.8% vs São Paulo 19.4%.
  • Talent index: Miami 78 vs São Paulo 80.
  • Corporate tax: Miami 21% vs São Paulo 34%.
  • Premium flex/seat/month: Miami $920 vs São Paulo $380.

Market data side-by-side

MetricMiamiSão Paulo
RegionAmericasAmericas
CountryUnited StatesBrazil
Class A rent (USD/sqft/yr)$78$40
Class A rent (local)78 USD200 BRL
Vacancy11.8%19.4%
Trendrisingrising
Prime yield5.4%7.6%
Premium flex / seat / month (USD)$920$380
Submarkets covered55
Corporate tax21%34%

Lease norms

MetricMiamiSão Paulo
Typical term7 yrs5 yrs
Typical rent-free9 mos6 mos
Lease normsModified-gross structures dominate; 7-10 year terms are common. Free rent of 6-12 months and TI of $80-$140/sqft typical on a 10-year deal. Personal guarantees common for sub-investment-grade tenants.Net leases. 5-year terms standard with statutory renewal rights under Brazilian commercial lease law (Lei do Inquilinato). Free rent of 4-9 months and TI of BRL 600-1,200/sqm typical.
Tax note21% federal corporate income tax; no Florida state corporate income tax for most pass-through structures. Florida assesses a 5.5% corporate income tax on C-corps. No personal income tax.15% federal IRPJ corporate tax plus 9% CSLL plus 10% surcharge on profits above BRL 240k = effective 34%. Plus PIS/COFINS, ISS (municipal), and ICMS (state) for various activities.

Talent

MetricMiamiSão Paulo
Talent index (0–100)7880
Talent noteStrong bilingual (Spanish-English) finance and legal talent. Deep Latin American banking, asset management, and family-office concentrations. Tech talent is shallower than NY/SF but growing rapidly.Deep banking, professional services, and tech talent. Strong feed from USP, FGV, Insper, and ITA. Portuguese-English bilingual professional base in international corporate.

Transit & commute

Miami: Metromover (free downtown), Metrorail to Brickell and Government Center, Brightline regional rail, MIA Mover from Miami International Airport. Brickell and Downtown are walkable; Wynwood and Coral Gables remain car-dependent.

São Paulo: São Paulo Metro (6 lines), CPTM commuter rail, monorail. Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) connected via CPTM Line 13. Congonhas Airport (CGH) closer to the city.

Top submarkets — Miami

Top submarkets — São Paulo

Decision criteria

Pick by cost

São Paulo is the cheaper Class A market on a USD basis.

Pick by talent depth

São Paulo has the deeper talent index (80/100 vs 78/100).

Pick by tax

Miami has the lower headline corporate tax (21% vs 34%). Local incentives can change the effective rate materially.

Pick by lease optionality

Miami typical term is 7 years with 9 months free; São Paulo runs 5 years with 6 months free.

Pick by transit

Miami: Metromover (free downtown), Metrorail to Brickell and Government Center, Brightline regional rail, MIA Mover from Miami International Airport. Brickell and Downtown are walkable; Wynwood and Coral Gables remain car-dependent. São Paulo: São Paulo Metro (6 lines), CPTM commuter rail, monorail. Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) connected via CPTM Line 13. Congonhas Airport (CGH) closer to the city.

Run a 4-city comparison

Score Miami, São Paulo and up to two more markets side-by-side on Class A rent, vacancy, talent, corporate tax, and premium flex pricing — all in USD.

Run a 4-city comparison →

Frequently asked questions

Is Class A office cheaper in Miami or São Paulo?
São Paulo is cheaper on a USD basis: $40/sqft vs $78/sqft.
Which has better talent depth, Miami or São Paulo?
São Paulo indexes higher on talent depth (80 vs 78).
Which has more sublease availability, Miami or São Paulo?
São Paulo carries higher vacancy (19.4% vs 11.8%) and therefore typically more sublease">sublease overhang.
What lease term should I expect in Miami vs São Paulo?
Miami typical term is 7 years with 9 months rent-free; São Paulo typical term is 5 years with 6 months rent-free.
How does transit and commuter access compare?
Miami: Metromover (free downtown), Metrorail to Brickell and Government Center, Brightline regional rail, MIA Mover from Miami International Airport. Brickell and Downtown are walkable; Wynwood and Coral Gables remain car-dependent. São Paulo: São Paulo Metro (6 lines), CPTM commuter rail, monorail. Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) connected via CPTM Line 13. Congonhas Airport (CGH) closer to the city.

Editorial provenance

Reviewed by Miriam Hollander — Lead market analyst. Last updated 2026-04-15. See our methodology and editorial standards.

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