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USA
Brazil
Area Comparison
Boston is 5.3x smaller than Rio de Janeiro
Population Comparison
Boston has 9.9x fewer people than Rio de Janeiro
In terms of area, Rio de Janeiro is 5.3x the size of Boston. Rio de Janeiro spans 1,221 km² (471 mi²) while Boston covers 232 km² (90 mi²) — a difference of 989 km². You could fit Boston inside Rio de Janeiro approximately 5 times.
To put Boston's size in perspective, its area of 232 km² is roughly the same size as Amsterdam. Meanwhile, Rio de Janeiro at 1,221 km² is about 1.3x smaller than London.
A historic city and academic center in the northeastern US. Known as "Beantown", Boston covers 232 km² with a population of 0.7 million. The city was established in 1630. Boston is known for Harvard & MIT, Freedom Trail, Fenway Park, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the MBTA (The T).
Boston's subway system (the T) opened in 1897, making it the oldest subway in North America
Brazil's iconic coastal city known for Carnival. Nicknamed "The Marvelous City", Rio de Janeiro has an area of 1,221 km² and is home to 6.8 million people. Its history stretches back to 1565. Visitors come for Christ the Redeemer, Copacabana Beach, Carnival, and much more. Getting around is easy with the MetrôRio.
Rio's Christ the Redeemer statue is struck by lightning an average of 6 times per year
Looking beyond city limits, the Boston metropolitan area covers 11,700 km², which is 1.7x larger than greater Rio de Janeiro at 6,744 km². The Rio de Janeiro metro area is also more populous, with 13.5 million people compared to 4.9 million.
Boston has a population density of 2,931 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Rio de Janeiro, with 5,528 people per km², is a densely populated city. Rio de Janeiro is noticeably denser, packing 1.9 times more people per square kilometer.
This comparison spans continents — Boston in North America versus Rio de Janeiro in South America. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Boston has a humid continental climate while Rio de Janeiro experiences tropical savanna conditions. Winters differ dramatically: Rio de Janeiro stays around 21°C while Boston drops to -1°C. When it's noon in Rio de Janeiro, it's 10:00 AM in Boston — a 2-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Boston fits inside Rio de Janeiro ~5 times
Density Gap
Rio de Janeiro is 1.9x more densely populated
The straight-line distance from Boston to Rio de Janeiro is 7,802 km (4,848 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~9h 41m. See full distance details, including timezone difference and city facts.
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