Taipei ($140/sqft, 4.2% vacancy) and Tokyo ($113/sqft, 4.6% vacancy) compete on different axes: Taipei on talent depth and Tokyo on rent and tax.
Taipei ($140/sqft, 4.2% vacancy) and Tokyo ($113/sqft, 4.6% vacancy) compete on different axes: Taipei on talent depth and Tokyo on rent and tax.
| Metric | Taipei | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Region | APAC | APAC |
| Country | Taiwan | Japan |
| Class A rent (USD/sqft/yr) | $140 | $113 |
| Class A rent (local) | 4500 TWD | 50000 JPY |
| Vacancy | 4.2% | 4.6% |
| Trend | rising | rising |
| Prime yield | 3.4% | 3% |
| Premium flex / seat / month (USD) | $580 | $980 |
| Submarkets covered | 5 | 6 |
| Corporate tax | 20% | 30.6% |
| Metric | Taipei | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Typical term | 5 yrs | 5 yrs |
| Typical rent-free | 3 mos | 4 mos |
| Lease norms | Net leases. 3-5 year terms standard with renewal options. Free rent of 2-4 months and TI of TWD 800-1,500/ping typical on a 5-year deal. | Tokyo leases are typically 5-7 years with a 2-year tenant notice. Standard leases are 'fixed-term' (teiki shakuya) or 'ordinary' (futsu shakuya) — fixed-term is increasingly common for Grade A. Rent is base + common-area maintenance billed separately. Restoration to original (genjo kaifuku) is contractual and significant. Personal seal (jitsuin) requirements apply. |
| Tax note | 20% Taiwan corporate income tax. Profit-seeking enterprise income tax structure with R&D credits and tax incentives for qualifying high-tech investment. | Effective corporate tax rate 30.6% (national + local). Tokyo Metropolitan corporate inhabitant tax adds a meaningful local component. |
| Metric | Taipei | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Talent index (0–100) | 86 | 84 |
| Talent note | Deepest semiconductor and electronics talent in Asia. Strong feed from National Taiwan University, NTHU, and the broader Taiwan university system. Mandarin and Taiwanese operating environment with strong English in tech. | The largest single-language white-collar talent pool in the world. Average all-in compensation for senior knowledge workers indexes 84 vs. New York's 100, though English-fluent bilingual talent commands a premium. |
Taipei: Taipei Metro (Brown, Red, Green, Orange, Blue Lines + circular). Taoyuan Airport MRT to TPE airport. Taipei is highly walkable and Metro-served.
Tokyo: JR Yamanote loop plus 13 metro lines connect every Class A address. Shinkansen termini at Tokyo, Shinagawa, and Ueno support inter-city corporate networks.
Tokyo is the cheaper Class A market on a USD basis.
Taipei has the deeper talent index (86/100 vs 84/100).
Taipei has the lower headline corporate tax (20% vs 30.6%). Local incentives can change the effective rate materially.
Taipei typical term is 5 years with 3 months free; Tokyo runs 5 years with 4 months free.
Taipei: Taipei Metro (Brown, Red, Green, Orange, Blue Lines + circular). Taoyuan Airport MRT to TPE airport. Taipei is highly walkable and Metro-served. Tokyo: JR Yamanote loop plus 13 metro lines connect every Class A address. Shinkansen termini at Tokyo, Shinagawa, and Ueno support inter-city corporate networks.
Score Taipei, Tokyo 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 Kenji Watanabe — APAC contributing editor. Last updated 2026-04-15. See our methodology and editorial standards.