City Map Compare/Budapest vs Madrid
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5 km
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Budapest

525 km²

Madrid

604 km²

Budapest vs Madrid - City Size Comparison

Budapest vs Madrid - City Size Comparison

Budapest

Hungary

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

Spain

Area604 km²
Population3.33M
Density5,513 /km²
Elevation650 m
Metro Pop.6.8M
Founded852
Climatehot-summer Mediterranean

Area Comparison

Budapest is 1.2x smaller than Madrid

Population Comparison

Budapest has 2.0x fewer people than Madrid

Is Budapest Bigger Than Madrid?

In terms of area, Madrid is 1.2x the size of Budapest. Madrid spans 604 km² (233 mi²) while Budapest covers 525 km² (203 mi²) — a difference of 79 km².

To put Budapest's size in perspective, its area of 525 km² is about 1.2x smaller than Seoul. Meanwhile, Madrid at 604 km² is roughly the same size as Seoul.

In more relatable units, Budapest's 525 km² is about 74,000 American football fields, 150 times the area of Central Park, or 9 times the area of Manhattan. Madrid works out to about 85,000 American football fields, 180 times the area of Central Park, or 10 times the area of Manhattan.

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 Madrid

Madrid is the capital and most populous city of Spain. It had a population of over 3.4 million in the city proper in 2025, and a metropolitan area population of approximately 6.8 million. Madrid is the second-largest city in the European Union (EU), after Berlin, and its metropolitan area is the second-largest in the EU, after Paris. The municipality covers an area of 605.77 square kilometres (233.89 sq mi).

Also known as "La Villa y Corte", Madrid has an area of 604 km² and is home to 3.3 million people. It was established in 852. Visitors come for Royal Palace of Madrid, Prado Museum, Plaza Mayor, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Madrid Metro.

Madrid is the second-largest city in the European Union after Berlin, with over 3.4 million residents in the city proper

Population Density

Budapest has a population density of 3,219 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Madrid, with 5,513 people per km², is a densely populated city. Madrid is noticeably denser, packing 1.7 times more people per square kilometer.

Key Differences at a Glance

Density Gap

Madrid is 1.7x more densely populated

History

Madrid is ~1,021 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 Madrid

Madrid covers 604 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Seoul (605 km²), Mumbai (603 km²), Chicago (606 km²), Toronto (630 km²), or Hyderabad (650 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Budapest actually bigger than Madrid?
Madrid is 1.2 times larger than Budapest by area. Madrid covers 604 km² while Budapest spans 525 km², a difference of 79 km².
How many times does Budapest fit inside Madrid?
Budapest (525 km²) fits inside Madrid (604 km²) approximately 1 times. That means Madrid is 1.2x the area of Budapest.
What is the population difference between Budapest and Madrid?
Madrid has approximately 3.3 million people, while Budapest has about 1.7 million. Madrid has 1.6 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Budapest or Madrid?
Madrid is more densely populated with 5,513 people per km², compared to 3,219 people per km².
Which city is older, Budapest or Madrid?
Madrid is older, founded around 852, while Budapest was established around 1873 — a difference of about 1021 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 Madrid

The straight-line distance from Budapest to Madrid is 1,975 km (1,227 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~2h 49m.

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