Amsterdam vs São Paulo - City Size Comparison

Is Amsterdam Bigger Than São Paulo?

São Paulo is significantly larger, covering 6.9 times the area of Amsterdam. São Paulo spans 1,521 km² (587 mi²) while Amsterdam covers 219 km² (85 mi²) — a difference of 1,302 km². You could fit Amsterdam inside São Paulo approximately 6 times.

About Amsterdam

Capital of the Netherlands, known for its canals. Known as "Venice of the North", Amsterdam covers 219 km² with a population of 0.9 million. The city was established in 1275. Amsterdam is known for Canal ring, Rijksmuseum, Anne Frank House, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the GVB (Metro & Tram).

Amsterdam sits 2 meters below sea level and is protected by an elaborate system of dikes and pumping stations

About São Paulo

Brazil's largest city and financial center. Also known as "Sampa", São Paulo has an area of 1,521 km² and is home to 12.3 million people. The city dates back to 1554. Visitors come for Paulista Avenue, Ibirapuera Park, São Paulo Museum of Art, and much more. Getting around is easy with the São Paulo Metro.

São Paulo has the largest Japanese community outside Japan

Metropolitan Area Comparison

Looking beyond city limits, the São Paulo metropolitan area covers 7,947 km², which is 3.1x larger than greater Amsterdam at 2,580 km². The São Paulo metro area is also more populous, with 22.0 million people compared to 2.5 million.

Population Density

Amsterdam has a population density of 4,201 people per km² — a moderately dense city. São Paulo, with 8,107 people per km², is a densely populated city. São Paulo is noticeably denser, packing 1.9 times more people per square kilometer.

Climate & Time Zone

Amsterdam has a oceanic climate while São Paulo experiences humid subtropical conditions. When it's noon in Amsterdam, it's 8:00 AM in São Paulo — a 4-hour time difference.