City Map Compare/Cape Town vs Moscow
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5 km
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Cape Town

2,455 km²

Moscow

2,511 km²

Cape Town vs Moscow - City Size Comparison

Cape Town vs Moscow - City Size Comparison

Cape Town

South Africa

Area2,455 km²
Population3.78M
Density1,540 /km²
Elevation5 m
Founded1652
Moscow

Russia

Area2,511 km²
Population12.54M
Density4,994 /km²
Elevation156 m
Metro Pop.17.1M
Founded1147
Climatehumid continental

Area Comparison

Cape Town is 1.0x smaller than Moscow

Population Comparison

Cape Town has 3.3x fewer people than Moscow

Is Cape Town Bigger Than Moscow?

Moscow is significantly larger, covering 1.0 times the area of Cape Town. Moscow spans 2,511 km² (970 mi²) while Cape Town covers 2,455 km² (948 mi²) — a difference of 56 km².

To put Cape Town's size in perspective, its area of 2,455 km² is roughly the same size as Moscow. Meanwhile, Moscow at 2,511 km² is roughly the same size as Luxembourg.

In more relatable units, Cape Town's 2,455 km² is about 344,000 American football fields, 42 times the area of Manhattan, or 23 times the area of Paris. Moscow, by comparison, equals about 352,000 American football fields, 42 times the area of Manhattan, or 24 times the area of Paris.

About Cape Town

Cape Town is the legislative capital of South Africa. It is the country's oldest city and the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. Cape Town is the country's second-largest city by population, after Johannesburg, and the largest city in the Western Cape. The city is part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality.

Known as "The Mother City", Cape Town covers 2,455 km² with a population of 3.8 million. The city was established in 1652. Cape Town is known for Table Mountain, Cape of Good Hope, Robben Island, among other attractions.

Cape Town is South Africa's oldest city, founded in 1652 and home to the seat of the national Parliament.

About Moscow

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).

Nicknamed "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.

Population Density

Cape Town has a population density of 1,540 people per km² — a relatively spread-out city. Moscow, with 4,994 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Moscow is dramatically more crowded, with 3.2x the population density.

Key Differences at a Glance

Density Gap

Moscow is 3.2x more densely populated

History

Moscow is ~505 years older

Cities Similar in Size to Cape Town

Cape Town covers 2,455 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Moscow (2,511 km²), Lima (2,672 km²), Tokyo (2,194 km²), Ho Chi Minh City (2,061 km²), or Shenzhen (1,997 km²).

Cities Similar in Size to Moscow

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).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is larger, Cape Town or Moscow?
Moscow is 1.0 times larger than Cape Town by area. Moscow covers 2,511 km² while Cape Town spans 2,455 km², a difference of 56 km².
How many times does Cape Town fit inside Moscow?
Cape Town (2,455 km²) fits inside Moscow (2,511 km²) approximately 1 times. That means Moscow is 1.0x the area of Cape Town.
What is the population difference between Cape Town and Moscow?
Moscow has approximately 12.5 million people, while Cape Town has about 3.8 million. Moscow has 8.8 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Cape Town or Moscow?
Moscow is more densely populated with 4,994 people per km², compared to 1,540 people per km².
Which city is older, Cape Town or Moscow?
Moscow is older, founded around 1147, while Cape Town was established around 1652 — a difference of about 505 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 Cape Town and Moscow

The straight-line distance from Cape Town to Moscow is 10,137 km (6,299 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~12h 26m.

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