City Map Compare/Budapest vs Rome
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5 km
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Budapest

525 km²

Rome

1,285 km²

Budapest vs Rome - City Size Comparison

Budapest vs Rome - City Size Comparison

Budapest

Hungary

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

Italy

Area1,285 km²
Population2.87M
Density2,233 /km²
Elevation21 m
Metro Pop.4.3M
Founded753 BC
ClimateMediterranean

Area Comparison

Budapest is 2.4x smaller than Rome

Population Comparison

Budapest has 1.7x fewer people than Rome

Is Budapest Bigger Than Rome?

Rome is significantly larger, covering 2.4 times the area of Budapest. Rome spans 1,285 km² (496 mi²) while Budapest covers 525 km² (203 mi²) — a difference of 760 km². You could fit Budapest inside Rome approximately 2 times.

To put Budapest's size in perspective, its area of 525 km² is about 1.2x smaller than Seoul. Meanwhile, Rome at 1,285 km² is about 1.2x smaller than London.

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. Rome, by comparison, equals about 180,000 American football fields, 22 times the area of Manhattan, or 12 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 Rome

Rome is the capital city and most populated comune (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special comune named Roma Capitale with a population of 2.7 million in an area of 1,287.36 km2 (497.1 mi2), Rome is the third most populous city in the European Union by population within city limits. The Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, with a population of 4.2 million, is the most populous metropolitan city in Italy.

Also known as "The Eternal City", Rome has an area of 1,285 km² and is home to 2.9 million people. The city dates back to 753 BC. Visitors come for Colosseum, Vatican City, Trevi Fountain, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Rome Metro.

Rome's special comune Roma Capitale spans 1,287 km2, making it the third most populous city in the EU within city limits

Population Density

Budapest has a population density of 3,219 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Rome, with 2,233 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Both cities have comparable density, though Budapest is slightly more compact.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Budapest fits inside Rome ~2 times

Density Gap

Budapest is 1.4x more densely populated

History

Rome is ~2,626 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 Rome

Rome covers 1,285 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Los Angeles (1,302 km²), Phoenix (1,341 km²), Rio de Janeiro (1,221 km²), San Antonio (1,209 km²), or Lagos (1,172 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Budapest actually bigger than Rome?
Rome is 2.4 times larger than Budapest by area. Rome covers 1,285 km² while Budapest spans 525 km², a difference of 760 km².
How many times does Budapest fit inside Rome?
Budapest (525 km²) fits inside Rome (1,285 km²) approximately 2 times. That means Rome is 2.4x the area of Budapest.
What is the population difference between Budapest and Rome?
Rome has approximately 2.9 million people, while Budapest has about 1.7 million. Rome has 1.2 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Budapest or Rome?
Budapest is more densely populated with 3,219 people per km², compared to 2,233 people per km².
Which city is older, Budapest or Rome?
Rome is older, founded around -753, while Budapest was established around 1873 — a difference of about 2626 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 Rome

The straight-line distance from Budapest to Rome is 809 km (502 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~1h 27m.

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