City Map Compare/Buenos Aires vs Seoul
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5 km
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Buenos Aires

203 km²

Seoul

605 km²

Buenos Aires vs Seoul - City Size Comparison

Buenos Aires vs Seoul - City Size Comparison

Buenos Aires

Argentina

Area203 km²
Population3.06M
Density15,074 /km²
Elevation25 m
Metro Pop.15.2M
Founded1536
Climatehumid subtropical
Seoul

South Korea

Area605 km²
Population9.77M
Density16,149 /km²
Elevation38 m
Metro Pop.25.5M
Founded18 BC
Climatehumid continental

Area Comparison

Buenos Aires is 3.0x smaller than Seoul

Population Comparison

Buenos Aires has 3.2x fewer people than Seoul

Is Buenos Aires Bigger Than Seoul?

In terms of area, Seoul is 3.0x the size of Buenos Aires. Seoul spans 605 km² (234 mi²) while Buenos Aires covers 203 km² (78 mi²) — a difference of 402 km². You could fit Buenos Aires inside Seoul approximately 2 times.

To put Buenos Aires's size in perspective, its area of 203 km² is roughly the same size as Amsterdam. Meanwhile, Seoul at 605 km² is about 1.3x smaller than New York City.

In more relatable units, Buenos Aires's 203 km² is about 28,000 American football fields, 100 times the area of Monaco, or 60 times the area of Central Park. Seoul works out to about 85,000 American football fields, 180 times the area of Central Park, or 10 times the area of Manhattan.

About Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires, officially the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, is the capital and largest city of Argentina. It is located on the southwest of the Río de la Plata. Buenos Aires is classified as an Alpha− global city, according to the GaWC 2024 ranking. The city proper has a population of 3.1 million and its urban area has a population of 16.7 million, making it the 21st most populous metropolitan area in the world.

Known as "Paris of South America", Buenos Aires covers 203 km² with a population of 3.1 million. The city was established in 1536. Buenos Aires is known for La Boca's Caminito, Recoleta Cemetery, Teatro Colón, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Buenos Aires Subte.

Buenos Aires is classified as an Alpha− global city according to the GaWC 2024 ranking.

About Seoul

Seoul, officially Seoul Special Metropolitan City, is the capital and largest city of South Korea, and the largest city in the whole of Korea. The broader Seoul Metropolitan Area, encompassing Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon, emerged as the world's sixth largest metropolitan economy in 2022, behind New York, Tokyo, Los Angeles, Paris, and London, and hosts more than half of South Korea's population.

Seoul has an area of 605 km² and is home to 9.8 million people. The city dates back to 18 BC. Visitors come for Gyeongbokgung Palace, Gangnam district, Myeongdong shopping, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Seoul Metro.

Seoul Metropolitan Area emerged as the world's sixth largest metropolitan economy in 2022, behind only NYC, Tokyo, LA, Paris, and London.

Metropolitan Area Comparison

Looking beyond city limits, the Seoul metropolitan area covers 11,704 km², which is 2.5x larger than greater Buenos Aires at 4,758 km². The Seoul metro area is also more populous, with 25.5 million people compared to 15.2 million.

Population Density

Buenos Aires has a population density of 15,074 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. Seoul, with 16,149 people per km², is an extremely dense urban environment. Both cities have comparable density, though Seoul is slightly more compact.

This comparison spans continents — Buenos Aires in South America versus Seoul in Asia. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.

Climate & Time Zone

Buenos Aires has a humid subtropical climate while Seoul experiences humid continental conditions. When it's noon in Seoul, it's midnight in Buenos Aires — a 12-hour time difference.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Buenos Aires fits inside Seoul ~2 times

Time Difference

12 hours apart

History

Seoul is ~1,554 years older

Cities Similar in Size to Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires covers 203 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Helsinki (214 km²), Amsterdam (219 km²), Stockholm (188 km²), Osaka (225 km²), or Boston (232 km²).

Cities Similar in Size to Seoul

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

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is larger, Buenos Aires or Seoul?
Seoul is 3.0 times larger than Buenos Aires by area. Seoul covers 605 km² while Buenos Aires spans 203 km², a difference of 402 km².
How many times does Buenos Aires fit inside Seoul?
Buenos Aires (203 km²) fits inside Seoul (605 km²) approximately 2 times. That means Seoul is 3.0x the area of Buenos Aires.
What is the population difference between Buenos Aires and Seoul?
Seoul has approximately 9.8 million people, while Buenos Aires has about 3.1 million. Seoul has 6.7 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Buenos Aires or Seoul?
Seoul is more densely populated with 16,149 people per km², compared to 15,074 people per km².
What is the time difference between Buenos Aires and Seoul?
Buenos Aires is in the UTC-3 timezone while Seoul is UTC+9. There is a 12-hour time difference between the two cities.
Which city is older, Buenos Aires or Seoul?
Seoul is older, founded around -18, while Buenos Aires was established around 1536 — a difference of about 1554 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 Buenos Aires and Seoul

The straight-line distance from Buenos Aires to Seoul is 19,432 km (12,074 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~23h 22m.

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