Cairo vs São Paulo - City Size Comparison

Is Cairo Bigger Than São Paulo?

Cairo is significantly larger, covering 2.0 times the area of São Paulo. Cairo spans 3,085 km² (1,191 mi²) while São Paulo covers 1,521 km² (587 mi²) — a difference of 1,564 km². You could fit São Paulo inside Cairo approximately 2 times.

About Cairo

Egypt's capital and the largest city in the Arab world. 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, Egyptian Museum, Khan el-Khalili bazaar, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Cairo Metro.

Cairo is the only major city in the world where you can see ancient pyramids from the city center

About São Paulo

Brazil's largest city and financial center. Often called "Sampa", São Paulo has an area of 1,521 km² and is home to 12.3 million people. Its history stretches back to 1554. Visitors come for Paulista Avenue, Ibirapuera Park, São Paulo Museum of Art, and much more. Getting around is easy with the São Paulo Metro.

São Paulo has the largest Japanese community outside Japan

Metropolitan Area Comparison

Looking beyond city limits, the São Paulo metropolitan area covers 7,947 km², which is 1.2x larger than greater Cairo at 6,588 km². The São Paulo metro area is also more populous, with 22.0 million people compared to 21.3 million.

Population Density

Cairo has a population density of 3,274 people per km² — a moderately dense city. São Paulo, with 8,107 people per km², is a densely populated city. São Paulo is noticeably denser, packing 2.5 times more people per square kilometer.

Climate & Time Zone

Cairo has a hot desert climate while São Paulo experiences humid subtropical conditions. When it's noon in Cairo, it's 7:00 AM in São Paulo — a 5-hour time difference.