City Map Compare/Berlin vs São Paulo
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Berlin

892 km²

São Paulo

1,521 km²

Berlin vs São Paulo - City Size Comparison

Berlin vs São Paulo - City Size Comparison

Berlin

Germany

Area892 km²
Population3.65M
Density4,092 /km²
Elevation34 m
Metro Pop.6.1M
Founded1237
Climateoceanic
São Paulo

Brazil

Area1,521 km²
Population12.33M
Density8,107 /km²
Elevation760 m
Metro Pop.22.0M
Founded1554
Climatehumid subtropical

Area Comparison

Berlin is 1.7x smaller than São Paulo

Population Comparison

Berlin has 3.4x fewer people than São Paulo

Is Berlin Bigger Than São Paulo?

São Paulo is significantly larger, covering 1.7 times the area of Berlin. São Paulo spans 1,521 km² (587 mi²) while Berlin covers 892 km² (344 mi²) — a difference of 629 km².

To put Berlin's size in perspective, its area of 892 km² is about 1.1x the size of New York City. Meanwhile, São Paulo at 1,521 km² is roughly the same size as London.

Picture Berlin another way: its area is large enough to fit about 125,000 American football fields, 15 times the area of Manhattan, or 8 times the area of Paris. For São Paulo, that's about 213,000 American football fields, 26 times the area of Manhattan, or 14 times the area of Paris.

About Berlin

Berlin is the capital of Germany, as well as its largest city by both area and population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the highest population within its city limits of any city in the European Union. The city is also one of the states of Germany, being the third-smallest state in the country by area. Berlin is surrounded by the state of Brandenburg, bordering Brandenburg's capital Potsdam to the southwest.

Berlin covers 892 km² with a population of 3.6 million. The city was established in 1237. Berlin is known for Brandenburg Gate, Berlin Wall, Reichstag Building, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the BVG (U-Bahn & S-Bahn).

Berlin holds the highest population within city limits of any city in the European Union, with 3.7 million inhabitants.

About São Paulo

São Paulo is the capital city of the state of the same name, as well as the most populous city in Brazil, South America, the Americas, and in both the Western and Southern Hemispheres. The city exerts international influence in commerce, finance, culture, gastronomy, arts, fashion, technology, entertainment and media, having been listed by UNESCO's Creative Cities Network as a "City of Film" and the title of "World Capital of Gastronomy", and by the Globalization and World Cities Research…

Nicknamed "Sampa", São Paulo has an area of 1,521 km² and is home to 12.3 million people. It was established in 1554. Visitors come for Avenida Paulista, Ibirapuera Park, São Paulo Museum of Art, and much more. Getting around is easy with the São Paulo Metro.

São Paulo is the most populous city in Brazil, the Americas, and both the Western and Southern Hemispheres.

Metropolitan Area Comparison

Looking beyond city limits, the São Paulo metropolitan area covers 7,947 km², which is 2.1x larger than greater Berlin at 3,743 km². The São Paulo metro area is also more populous, with 22.0 million people compared to 6.1 million.

Population Density

Berlin has a population density of 4,092 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 2.0 times more people per square kilometer.

This comparison spans continents — Berlin in Europe versus São Paulo in South America. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.

Climate & Time Zone

Berlin has a oceanic climate while São Paulo experiences humid subtropical conditions. Winters differ dramatically: São Paulo stays around 17°C while Berlin drops to 1°C. When it's noon in Berlin, it's 8:00 AM in São Paulo — a 4-hour time difference.

Key Differences at a Glance

Density Gap

São Paulo is 2.0x more densely populated

Time Difference

4 hours apart

History

Berlin is ~317 years older

Cities Similar in Size to Berlin

Berlin covers 892 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Santiago (838 km²), Kyoto (828 km²), San Diego (964 km²), Abu Dhabi (972 km²), or Dallas (997 km²).

Cities Similar in Size to São Paulo

São Paulo covers 1,521 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Mexico City (1,485 km²), Delhi (1,484 km²), Bangkok (1,569 km²), London (1,572 km²), or Bogotá (1,578 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is larger, Berlin or São Paulo?
São Paulo is 1.7 times larger than Berlin by area. São Paulo covers 1,521 km² while Berlin spans 892 km², a difference of 629 km².
How many times does Berlin fit inside São Paulo?
Berlin (892 km²) fits inside São Paulo (1,521 km²) approximately 1 times. That means São Paulo is 1.7x the area of Berlin.
What is the population difference between Berlin and São Paulo?
São Paulo has approximately 12.3 million people, while Berlin has about 3.6 million. São Paulo has 8.7 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Berlin or São Paulo?
São Paulo is more densely populated with 8,107 people per km², compared to 4,092 people per km².
What is the time difference between Berlin and São Paulo?
Berlin is in the UTC+1 timezone while São Paulo is UTC-3. There is a 4-hour time difference between the two cities.
Which city is older, Berlin or São Paulo?
Berlin is older, founded around 1237, while São Paulo was established around 1554 — a difference of about 317 years.
How does the map comparison work?
Our synchronized map comparison tool displays both cities at the same zoom level. When you zoom in or out on one map, the other automatically adjusts to maintain the same scale, allowing you to directly compare the relative sizes of both cities.
Can I compare other cities?
Yes! Use the city selectors at the top of the page to choose any two cities from our database of 50+ major cities worldwide, or enter custom coordinates for any location.

Distance Between Berlin and São Paulo

The straight-line distance from Berlin to São Paulo is 10,253 km (6,371 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~12h 34m.

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