Cairo
3,085 km²
Moscow
2,511 km²
Egypt
Russia
Area Comparison
Cairo is 1.2x larger than Moscow
Population Comparison
Cairo has 1.2x fewer people than Moscow
Cairo is significantly larger, covering 1.2 times the area of Moscow. Cairo spans 3,085 km² (1,191 mi²) while Moscow covers 2,511 km² (970 mi²) — a difference of 574 km².
To put Cairo's size in perspective, its area of 3,085 km² is about 1.2x the size of Luxembourg. Meanwhile, Moscow at 2,511 km² is roughly the same size as Luxembourg.
Cairo's footprint is roughly about 432,000 American football fields, 52 times the area of Manhattan, or 29 times the area of Paris — pick whichever unit feels intuitive. For Moscow, that's about 352,000 American football fields, 42 times the area of Manhattan, or 24 times the area of Paris.
Cairo is the capital and largest city of Egypt and the Cairo Governorate. It is home to more than 9.8 million people. It is also part of the largest urban agglomeration in Africa, the Arab world, and the Middle East. The Greater Cairo metropolitan area is one of the largest in the world by population with over 22 million people. Areas of what would become Cairo were inhabited from pre-dynastic and early-dynastic ancient Egypt c.
Known as "The City of a Thousand Minarets", Cairo covers 3,085 km² with a population of 10.1 million. The city was established in 969. Cairo is known for Pyramids of Giza, Great Sphinx, Egyptian Museum, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Cairo Metro.
Cairo is home to more than 9.8 million people and is part of the largest urban agglomeration in Africa and the Arab world.
Moscow is the capital and largest city of Russia, standing on the Moskva River in Central Russia. It has a population estimated at over 13 million residents within the city limits, over 19.1 million residents in the urban area, and over 21.5 million residents in its metropolitan area. The city covers an area of 2,511 square kilometers (970 mi2), while the urban area covers 5,891 square kilometers (2,275 mi2), and the metropolitan area covers over 26,000 square kilometers (10,000 mi2).
Often called "Third Rome", Moscow has an area of 2,511 km² and is home to 12.5 million people. Its history stretches back to 1147. Visitors come for Red Square, Kremlin, Saint Basil's Cathedral, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Moscow Metro.
Moscow's metropolitan area covers over 26,000 square kilometers, making it one of the largest metropolitan footprints in Europe.
Looking beyond city limits, the Cairo metropolitan area covers 6,588 km², which is 1.1x larger than greater Moscow at 5,891 km². The Cairo metro area is also more populous, with 21.3 million people compared to 17.1 million.
Cairo has a population density of 3,274 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Moscow, with 4,994 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Moscow is noticeably denser, packing 1.5 times more people per square kilometer.
This comparison spans continents — Cairo in Africa versus Moscow in Europe. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Cairo has a hot desert climate while Moscow experiences humid continental conditions. Winters differ dramatically: Cairo stays around 14°C while Moscow drops to -8°C.
Density Gap
Moscow is 1.5x more densely populated
History
Cairo is ~178 years older
Cairo covers 3,085 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Hanoi (3,359 km²), Karachi (3,527 km²), Lima (2,672 km²), Moscow (2,511 km²), or Cape Town (2,455 km²).
Moscow covers 2,511 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Cape Town (2,455 km²), Lima (2,672 km²), Tokyo (2,194 km²), Ho Chi Minh City (2,061 km²), or Cairo (3,085 km²).
The straight-line distance from Cairo to Moscow is 2,903 km (1,804 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~3h 55m.
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