City Map Compare/Denver vs Los Angeles
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Denver

401 km²

Los Angeles

1,302 km²

Denver vs Los Angeles - City Size Comparison

Denver vs Los Angeles - City Size Comparison

Denver

United States

Area401 km²
Population0.72M
Density1,796 /km²
Elevation1,609 m
Founded1858
Climatecold semi-arid climate
Los Angeles

USA

Area1,302 km²
Population3.97M
Density3,049 /km²
Elevation71 m
Metro Pop.13.2M
Founded1781
ClimateMediterranean

Area Comparison

Denver is 3.2x smaller than Los Angeles

Population Comparison

Denver has 5.5x fewer people than Los Angeles

Is Denver Bigger Than Los Angeles?

Yes — Los Angeles is 3.2x larger than Denver by area. Los Angeles spans 1,302 km² (503 mi²) while Denver covers 401 km² (155 mi²) — a difference of 901 km². You could fit Denver inside Los Angeles approximately 3 times.

To put Denver's size in perspective, its area of 401 km² is about 1.5x smaller than Seoul. Meanwhile, Los Angeles at 1,302 km² is about 1.2x smaller than London.

Picture Denver another way: its area is large enough to fit about 56,000 American football fields, 200 times the area of Monaco, or 120 times the area of Central Park. Los Angeles works out to about 182,000 American football fields, 22 times the area of Manhattan, or 12 times the area of Paris.

About Denver

Denver is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Officially a consolidated city and county, it is located in the South Platte River valley on the western edge of the High Plains, and is just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains (Rockies). Denver is the 19th-most populous city in the United States and the fifth-most populous state capital, with a population of 715,522 at the 2020 census.

Known as "Mile High City", Denver covers 401 km² with a population of 0.7 million. The city was established in 1858. Denver is known for Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Denver Art Museum, Union Station, among other attractions.

Denver sits in the South Platte River valley just east of the Rocky Mountains' Front Range.

About Los Angeles

Los Angeles (LA) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Southern California. With an estimated 3.88 million residents within the city limits as of 2024, it is the second-most populous city in the United States, behind New York City, and the largest city in the Western United States. The city has an ethnically and culturally diverse population, and is the principal city of a metropolitan area of 12.9 million people (2024).

Also known as "The City of Angels", Los Angeles has an area of 1,302 km² and is home to 4.0 million people. The city dates back to 1781. Visitors come for Hollywood Sign, Santa Monica Pier, Beverly Hills, and much more. Getting around is easy with the LA Metro.

Los Angeles is the second-most populous city in the United States, home to 3.88 million residents within city limits as of 2024.

Population Density

Denver has a population density of 1,796 people per km² — a relatively spread-out city. Los Angeles, with 3,049 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Los Angeles is noticeably denser, packing 1.7 times more people per square kilometer.

Climate & Time Zone

Denver has a cold semi-arid climate climate while Los Angeles experiences Mediterranean conditions.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Denver fits inside Los Angeles ~3 times

Density Gap

Los Angeles is 1.7x more densely populated

Cities Similar in Size to Denver

Denver covers 401 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Vienna (415 km²), Portland (376 km²), Philadelphia (370 km²), Seattle (369 km²), or Dhaka (368 km²).

Cities Similar in Size to Los Angeles

Los Angeles covers 1,302 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Rome (1,285 km²), Phoenix (1,341 km²), Rio de Janeiro (1,221 km²), San Antonio (1,209 km²), or Lagos (1,172 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Denver bigger than Los Angeles?
Los Angeles is 3.2 times larger than Denver by area. Los Angeles covers 1,302 km² while Denver spans 401 km², a difference of 901 km².
How many times does Denver fit inside Los Angeles?
Denver (401 km²) fits inside Los Angeles (1,302 km²) approximately 3 times. That means Los Angeles is 3.2x the area of Denver.
What is the population difference between Denver and Los Angeles?
Los Angeles has approximately 4.0 million people, while Denver has about 0.7 million. Los Angeles has 3.3 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Denver or Los Angeles?
Los Angeles is more densely populated with 3,049 people per km², compared to 1,796 people per km².
Which city is older, Denver or Los Angeles?
Los Angeles is older, founded around 1781, while Denver was established around 1858 — a difference of about 77 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 Denver and Los Angeles

The straight-line distance from Denver to Los Angeles is 1,336 km (830 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~2h 4m.

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