City Map Compare/Houston vs Mexico City
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Houston

1,725 km²

Mexico City

1,485 km²

Houston vs Mexico City - City Size Comparison

Houston vs Mexico City - City Size Comparison

Houston

United States

Area1,725 km²
Population2.30M
Density1,333 /km²
Elevation13 m
Founded1836
Mexico City

Mexico

Area1,485 km²
Population9.21M
Density6,202 /km²
Elevation2,240 m
Metro Pop.21.8M
Founded1325
Climatesubtropical highland

Area Comparison

Houston is 1.2x larger than Mexico City

Population Comparison

Houston has 4.0x fewer people than Mexico City

Is Houston Bigger Than Mexico City?

Yes — Houston is 1.2x larger than Mexico City by area. Houston spans 1,725 km² (666 mi²) while Mexico City covers 1,485 km² (573 mi²) — a difference of 240 km².

To put Houston's size in perspective, its area of 1,725 km² is roughly the same size as London. Meanwhile, Mexico City at 1,485 km² is roughly the same size as London.

Picture Houston another way: its area is large enough to fit about 242,000 American football fields, 29 times the area of Manhattan, or 16 times the area of Paris. Mexico City, by comparison, equals about 208,000 American football fields, 25 times the area of Manhattan, or 14 times the area of Paris.

About Houston

Houston is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Texas and the Southern United States. It is the fourth-most populous city in the United States, with a population of 2.3 million at the 2020 census. The Greater Houston metropolitan area, at 7.8 million residents, is the fifth-most populous metropolitan area in the nation and second-most populous in Texas. Located in Southeast Texas near Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, Houston is the county seat of Harris County.

Known as "Space City", Houston covers 1,725 km² with a population of 2.3 million. The city was established in 1836. Houston is known for NASA Johnson Space Center, Space Center Houston, Houston Astros, among other attractions.

Houston is the fourth-most populous US city with 2.3 million residents at the 2020 census, leading the entire South.

About Mexico City

Mexico City is the capital and most populous city of Mexico, as well as the most populous city in North America. It is one of the most important cultural and financial centers in the world, and is classified as an Alpha world city according to the Globalization and World Cities Research Network (GaWC) 2024 ranking. Mexico City is located in the Valley of Mexico within the high Mexican central plateau, at an altitude of 2,240 meters.

Also known as "CDMX", Mexico City has an area of 1,485 km² and is home to 9.2 million people. Its history stretches back to 1325. Visitors come for Zocalo square, Chapultepec Park, Frida Kahlo Museum, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Mexico City Metro.

Mexico City sits at an altitude of 2,240 meters in the Valley of Mexico on the high Mexican central plateau.

Population Density

Houston has a population density of 1,333 people per km² — a relatively spread-out city. Mexico City, with 6,202 people per km², is a densely populated city. Mexico City is dramatically more crowded, with 4.7x the population density.

Key Differences at a Glance

Density Gap

Mexico City is 4.7x more densely populated

History

Mexico City is ~511 years older

Cities Similar in Size to Houston

Houston covers 1,725 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Riyadh (1,798 km²), Johannesburg (1,644 km²), Bogotá (1,578 km²), London (1,572 km²), or Bangkok (1,569 km²).

Cities Similar in Size to Mexico City

Mexico City covers 1,485 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Delhi (1,484 km²), São Paulo (1,521 km²), Bangkok (1,569 km²), London (1,572 km²), or Bogotá (1,578 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Houston actually bigger than Mexico City?
Houston is 1.2 times larger than Mexico City by area. Houston covers 1,725 km² while Mexico City spans 1,485 km², a difference of 240 km².
How many times does Mexico City fit inside Houston?
Mexico City (1,485 km²) fits inside Houston (1,725 km²) approximately 1 times. That means Houston is 1.2x the area of Mexico City.
What is the population difference between Houston and Mexico City?
Mexico City has approximately 9.2 million people, while Houston has about 2.3 million. Mexico City has 6.9 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Houston or Mexico City?
Mexico City is more densely populated with 6,202 people per km², compared to 1,333 people per km².
Which city is older, Houston or Mexico City?
Mexico City is older, founded around 1325, while Houston was established around 1836 — a difference of about 511 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 Houston and Mexico City

The straight-line distance from Houston to Mexico City is 1,209 km (751 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~1h 55m.

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