Barcelona vs São Paulo - City Size Comparison

Is Barcelona Bigger Than São Paulo?

São Paulo is significantly larger, covering 15.1 times the area of Barcelona. São Paulo spans 1,521 km² (587 mi²) while Barcelona covers 101 km² (39 mi²) — a difference of 1,420 km². You could fit Barcelona inside São Paulo approximately 15 times.

About Barcelona

A Mediterranean city known for Gaudi's architecture. Known as "The City of Counts", Barcelona covers 101 km² with a population of 1.7 million. The city was founded around 230 BC. Barcelona is known for Sagrada Família, Park Güell, La Rambla, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Barcelona Metro (TMB).

Gaudí's Sagrada Família has been under construction since 1882 and is expected to be completed around 2026

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 9.9x larger than greater Barcelona at 803 km². The São Paulo metro area is also more populous, with 22.0 million people compared to 5.6 million.

Population Density

Barcelona has a population density of 16,436 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. São Paulo, with 8,107 people per km², is a densely populated city. Barcelona is noticeably denser, packing 2.0 times more people per square kilometer.

Climate & Time Zone

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