City Map Compare/Houston vs San Antonio
vs
5 km
|

Houston

1,725 km²

San Antonio

1,209 km²

Houston vs San Antonio - City Size Comparison

Houston vs San Antonio - City Size Comparison

Houston

United States

Area1,725 km²
Population2.30M
Density1,333 /km²
Elevation13 m
Founded1836
San Antonio

United States

Area1,209 km²
Population1.43M
Density1,183 /km²
Elevation198 m
Founded1718

Area Comparison

Houston is 1.4x larger than San Antonio

Population Comparison

Houston has 1.6x more people than San Antonio

Is Houston Bigger Than San Antonio?

In terms of area, Houston is 1.4x the size of San Antonio. Houston spans 1,725 km² (666 mi²) while San Antonio covers 1,209 km² (467 mi²) — a difference of 516 km².

To put Houston's size in perspective, its area of 1,725 km² is roughly the same size as London. Meanwhile, San Antonio at 1,209 km² is about 1.3x smaller than 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. San Antonio works out to about 169,000 American football fields, 20 times the area of Manhattan, or 11 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 San Antonio

San Antonio is a city in the U.S. state of Texas. It is the seventh-most populous city in the United States, the second-most populous city in Texas, and the second-most populous city in the Southern U.S., with a population of 1.43 million at the 2020 census. The Greater San Antonio metropolitan area, with an estimated 2.76 million residents, ranks as the third-largest metropolitan area in Texas and the 24th-largest in the nation. It is the county seat of Bexar County.

Nicknamed "Alamo City", San Antonio has an area of 1,209 km² and is home to 1.4 million people. It was established in 1718. Visitors come for The Alamo, San Antonio River Walk, Tower of the Americas, and much more.

San Antonio is the seventh-most populous city in the United States and second-most populous in Texas, with 1.43 million residents.

Population Density

Houston has a population density of 1,333 people per km² — a relatively spread-out city. San Antonio, with 1,183 people per km², is a relatively spread-out city. Both cities have comparable density, though Houston is slightly more compact.

Key Differences at a Glance

History

San Antonio is ~118 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 San Antonio

San Antonio covers 1,209 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Rio de Janeiro (1,221 km²), Lagos (1,172 km²), Rome (1,285 km²), Los Angeles (1,302 km²), or Hong Kong (1,114 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is larger, Houston or San Antonio?
Houston is 1.4 times larger than San Antonio by area. Houston covers 1,725 km² while San Antonio spans 1,209 km², a difference of 516 km².
How many times does San Antonio fit inside Houston?
San Antonio (1,209 km²) fits inside Houston (1,725 km²) approximately 1 times. That means Houston is 1.4x the area of San Antonio.
What is the population difference between Houston and San Antonio?
Houston has approximately 2.3 million people, while San Antonio has about 1.4 million. Houston has 0.9 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Houston or San Antonio?
Houston is more densely populated with 1,333 people per km², compared to 1,183 people per km².
Which city is older, Houston or San Antonio?
San Antonio is older, founded around 1718, while Houston was established around 1836 — a difference of about 118 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 San Antonio

The straight-line distance from Houston to San Antonio is 305 km (189 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~52m.

Want to explore more? Compare city sizes for any two cities worldwide, or share your location live with friends.