City Map Compare/Chennai vs San Francisco
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Chennai

426,830,040 km²

San Francisco

121 km²

Chennai vs San Francisco - City Size Comparison

Chennai vs San Francisco - City Size Comparison

Chennai

India

Area426,830,040 km²
Population6.60M
Density0 /km²
Elevation6 m
Founded1639
San Francisco

USA

Area121 km²
Population0.87M
Density7,190 /km²
Elevation16 m
Metro Pop.4.7M
Founded1776
ClimateMediterranean

Area Comparison

Chennai is 3527521.0x larger than San Francisco

Population Comparison

Chennai has 7.6x more people than San Francisco

Is Chennai Bigger Than San Francisco?

Yes — Chennai is 3527521.0x larger than San Francisco by area. Chennai spans 426,830,040 km² (164,799,932 mi²) while San Francisco covers 121 km² (47 mi²) — a difference of 426,829,919 km². You could fit San Francisco inside Chennai approximately 3527520 times.

Meanwhile, San Francisco at 121 km² is about 1.2x the size of Paris (city proper).

In more relatable units, Chennai's 426,830,040 km² is about 59,780,100,000 American football fields. For San Francisco, that's about 17,000 American football fields, 60 times the area of Monaco, or 35 times the area of Central Park.

About Chennai

Chennai, also known as Madras, is the capital and largest city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost state of India. It is located on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal. As per the 2011 Indian census, Chennai is the sixth-most-populous city in India and forms the fourth-most-populous urban agglomeration. The city is coterminous with Chennai district, which together with the adjoining suburbs constitutes the Chennai Metropolitan Area, one of the largest metropolitan areas of India.

Known as "Madras", Chennai covers 426,830,040 km² with a population of 6.6 million. The city was established in 1639. Chennai is known for Marina Beach, Kapaleeshwarar Temple, Fort St. George, among other attractions.

Chennai, formerly Madras, is the capital of Tamil Nadu and the sixth-most-populous city in India.

About San Francisco

San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the fourth-most populous city in California and the 17th-most populous in the United States, with a population of 826,079 in 2025. Among U.S. cities with a population of 300,000 or more, San Francisco is ranked first by per capita income, second by population density, and sixth by aggregate income as of 2023.

Nicknamed "The City by the Bay", San Francisco has an area of 121 km² and is home to 0.9 million people. The city dates back to 1776. Visitors come for Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, Cable cars, and much more. Getting around is easy with the BART & Muni.

San Francisco ranks first by per capita income among all US cities with 300,000+ residents as of 2023.

Population Density

Chennai has a population density of 0 people per km² — a low-density, sprawling urban area. San Francisco, with 7,190 people per km², is a densely populated city. San Francisco is dramatically more crowded, with Infinityx the population density.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

San Francisco fits inside Chennai ~3527520 times

Density Gap

San Francisco is Infinityx more densely populated

History

Chennai is ~137 years older

Cities Similar in Size to Chennai

Chennai covers 426,830,040 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Doha (132,000,000 km²), Dublin (114,990,000 km²), Hangzhou (16,854 km²), Beijing (16,411 km²), or Brisbane (15,826 km²).

Cities Similar in Size to San Francisco

San Francisco covers 121 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Vancouver (115 km²), Paris (105 km²), Miami (143 km²), Barcelona (101 km²), or Lisbon (100 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is larger, Chennai or San Francisco?
Chennai is 3527521.0 times larger than San Francisco by area. Chennai covers 426,830,040 km² while San Francisco spans 121 km², a difference of 426,829,919 km².
How many times does San Francisco fit inside Chennai?
San Francisco (121 km²) fits inside Chennai (426,830,040 km²) approximately 3527520 times. That means Chennai is 3527521.0x the area of San Francisco.
What is the population difference between Chennai and San Francisco?
Chennai has approximately 6.6 million people, while San Francisco has about 0.9 million. Chennai has 5.7 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Chennai or San Francisco?
San Francisco is more densely populated with 7,190 people per km², compared to 0 people per km².
Which city is older, Chennai or San Francisco?
Chennai is older, founded around 1639, while San Francisco was established around 1776 — a difference of about 137 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 Chennai and San Francisco

The straight-line distance from Chennai to San Francisco is 13,884 km (8,627 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~16h 50m.

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