City Map Compare/Budapest vs London
vs
5 km
|

Budapest

525 km²

London

1,572 km²

Budapest vs London - City Size Comparison

Budapest vs London - City Size Comparison

Budapest

Hungary

Area525 km²
Population1.69M
Density3,219 /km²
Elevation117 m
Founded1873
London

UK

Area1,572 km²
Population8.98M
Density5,712 /km²
Elevation11 m
Metro Pop.14.3M
Founded43
Climateoceanic

Area Comparison

Budapest is 3.0x smaller than London

Population Comparison

Budapest has 5.3x fewer people than London

Is Budapest Bigger Than London?

London is significantly larger, covering 3.0 times the area of Budapest. London spans 1,572 km² (607 mi²) while Budapest covers 525 km² (203 mi²) — a difference of 1,047 km². You could fit Budapest inside London approximately 2 times.

To put Budapest's size in perspective, its area of 525 km² is about 1.2x smaller than Seoul. Meanwhile, London at 1,572 km² is about 1.4x smaller than Tokyo (city proper).

Budapest's footprint is roughly about 74,000 American football fields, 150 times the area of Central Park, or 9 times the area of Manhattan — pick whichever unit feels intuitive. London, by comparison, equals about 220,000 American football fields, 27 times the area of Manhattan, or 15 times the area of Paris.

About Budapest

Budapest is the capital and most populous city of Hungary. It is Hungary's primate city with 1.7 million inhabitants and its greater metro area has a population of about 3.3 million, representing one-third of the country's population and producing above 40% of the country's economic output. Budapest is the political, economic, and cultural center of the country, among the ten largest cities in the European Union and the second largest urban area in Central and Eastern Europe.

Known as "Pearl of the Danube", Budapest covers 525 km² with a population of 1.7 million. The city was established in 1873. Budapest is known for Buda Castle, Hungarian Parliament Building, Chain Bridge, among other attractions.

Budapest's metro area holds about 3.3 million people, roughly one-third of Hungary's entire population.

About London

London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of 9.1 million people in 2024. Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Western Europe, with a population of 15.1 million. London stands on the River Thames in southeast England, at the head of a 50-mile (80 km) tidal estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a major settlement for nearly 2,000 years.

Nicknamed "The Big Smoke", London has an area of 1,572 km² and is home to 9.0 million people. The city dates back to 43. Visitors come for Big Ben, Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace, and much more. Getting around is easy with the London Underground.

London has been a major settlement for nearly 2,000 years, tracing its roots back to Roman times around 47 AD.

Population Density

Budapest has a population density of 3,219 people per km² — a moderately dense city. London, with 5,712 people per km², is a densely populated city. London is noticeably denser, packing 1.8 times more people per square kilometer.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Budapest fits inside London ~2 times

Density Gap

London is 1.8x more densely populated

History

London is ~1,830 years older

Cities Similar in Size to Budapest

Budapest covers 525 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Warsaw (517 km²), Montreal (498 km²), Prague (496 km²), Auckland (559 km²), or Mumbai (603 km²).

Cities Similar in Size to London

London covers 1,572 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Bangkok (1,569 km²), Bogotá (1,578 km²), São Paulo (1,521 km²), Johannesburg (1,644 km²), or Mexico City (1,485 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is larger, Budapest or London?
London is 3.0 times larger than Budapest by area. London covers 1,572 km² while Budapest spans 525 km², a difference of 1,047 km².
How many times does Budapest fit inside London?
Budapest (525 km²) fits inside London (1,572 km²) approximately 2 times. That means London is 3.0x the area of Budapest.
What is the population difference between Budapest and London?
London has approximately 9.0 million people, while Budapest has about 1.7 million. London has 7.3 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Budapest or London?
London is more densely populated with 5,712 people per km², compared to 3,219 people per km².
Which city is older, Budapest or London?
London is older, founded around 43, while Budapest was established around 1873 — a difference of about 1830 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 Budapest and London

The straight-line distance from Budapest to London is 1,450 km (901 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~2h 12m.

Want to explore more? Compare city sizes for any two cities worldwide, or share your location live with friends.