LONDON—London's West End continued to be the world's highest-priced office market but Asia dominated the world's most expensive office locations, accounting for four of the top five markets, according to CBRE Research's semi-annual Global Prime Office Occupancy Costs survey.
The study also found that the real estate recovery in the Ireland remained on track, with Dublin (26.1%) and Belfast (13.3%) showing the largest and fourth-largest year-over-year prime occupancy cost increases, respectively among the 127 cities surveyed. In North America real estate fundamentals remained strong with Seattle (Downtown), San Francisco (Peninsula) and Vancouver (Suburban) among the 10 markets with the fastest growing prime occupancy costs
London West End's overall prime occupancy costs of $267 per sq. ft. per year topped the “most expensive” list. Hong Kong (Central) followed with total prime occupancy costs of $254 per sq. ft., Beijing (Finance Street) ($196 per sq. ft.), Beijing (Central Business District) ($188 per sq. ft.) and New Delhi (Connaught Place CBD) ($157 per sq. ft.) rounded out the top five.
The change in prime office occupancy costs mirrored the gradual recovery of the global economy. Global prime office occupancy costs rose 2% year-over-year, with the Americas up 2.9%, EMEA rising 1.5% and Asia Pacific up 1.4%.

“Occupier caution has declined and corporate confidence has been on the rise and this confidence is starting to translate into a degree of expansionary momentum,“ said Richard Barkham Global Chief Economist, CBRE. “At the same time, many office markets are increasingly short of the quality, modern, flexible and highly accessible or CBD-located office buildings which corporations are seeking to execute workplace strategies that will drive productivity and attract or retain talent.”

CBRE tracks occupancy costs for prime office space in 127 markets around the globe. Of the top 50 “most expensive” markets, 19 were in EMEA, 20 were in Asia Pacific and 11 were in the Americas.