Istanbul
5,461 km²
Melbourne
9,993 km²
Turkey
Australia
Area Comparison
Istanbul is 1.8x smaller than Melbourne
Population Comparison
Istanbul has 3.0x more people than Melbourne
In terms of area, Melbourne is 1.8x the size of Istanbul. Melbourne spans 9,993 km² (3,858 mi²) while Istanbul covers 5,461 km² (2,109 mi²) — a difference of 4,532 km².
To put Istanbul's size in perspective, its area of 5,461 km² is about 1.2x smaller than Shanghai. Meanwhile, Melbourne at 9,993 km² is about 1.6x the size of Shanghai.
In more relatable units, Istanbul's 5,461 km² is about 765,000 American football fields, 92 times the area of Manhattan, or 52 times the area of Paris. Melbourne, by comparison, equals about 1,400,000 American football fields, 170 times the area of Manhattan, or 95 times the area of Paris.
Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey, constituting the country's economic, cultural, and historical center. With a population of over 15 million, it is home to 18% of the population of Turkey. Istanbul is among the largest cities in Europe and in the world by population. It is a city on two continents; about two-thirds of its population live in Europe and the rest in Asia.
Known as "City on Two Continents", Istanbul covers 5,461 km² with a population of 15.5 million. The city was founded around 660 BC. Istanbul is known for Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Istanbul Metro.
Istanbul is one of the only major cities to span two continents, with about two-thirds of its population living in Europe and the rest in Asia.
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second most-populous city in Australia. The city's name generally refers to a 9,993-square-kilometre (3,858 sq mi) area, comprising an urban agglomeration of 31 local government areas. The name is also used to specifically refer to the local government area named City of Melbourne, whose area is centred on the Melbourne central business district and some immediate surrounds.
Melbourne has an area of 9,993 km² and is home to 5.1 million people. Its history stretches back to 1835. Visitors come for Federation Square, Flinders Street Station, Melbourne Cricket Ground, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Melbourne Trams & Metro.
Melbourne's metropolitan area spans 9,993 square kilometers across 31 local government areas, making it Australia's second-most-populous city.
Looking beyond city limits, the Melbourne metropolitan area covers 9,993 km², which is 1.8x larger than greater Istanbul at 5,461 km². The Istanbul metro area is also more populous, with 15.5 million people compared to 5.1 million.
Istanbul has a population density of 2,831 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Melbourne, with 508 people per km², is a relatively spread-out city. Istanbul is dramatically more crowded, with 5.6x the population density.
This comparison spans continents — Istanbul in Europe versus Melbourne in Oceania. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Both cities share a oceanic climate, though local geography creates distinct microclimates in each. When it's noon in Melbourne, it's 5:00 AM in Istanbul — a 7-hour time difference.
Density Gap
Istanbul is 5.6x more densely populated
Time Difference
7 hours apart
History
Istanbul is ~2,495 years older
Istanbul covers 5,461 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Shanghai (6,341 km²), Perth (6,417 km²), Dubai (4,114 km²), Guangzhou (7,434 km²), or Karachi (3,527 km²).
Melbourne covers 9,993 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Xi'an (10,097 km²), Wuhan (8,569 km²), Sydney (12,368 km²), Guangzhou (7,434 km²), or Chengdu (14,378 km²).
The straight-line distance from Istanbul to Melbourne is 14,630 km (9,090 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~17h 43m.
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