City Map Compare/Johannesburg vs Montreal
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Johannesburg

1,644 km²

Montreal

498 km²

Johannesburg vs Montreal - City Size Comparison

Johannesburg vs Montreal - City Size Comparison

Johannesburg

South Africa

Area1,644 km²
Population4.80M
Density2,920 /km²
Elevation1,753 m
Founded1886
Montreal

Canada

Area498 km²
Population1.76M
Density3,534 /km²
Elevation31 m
Founded1642

Area Comparison

Johannesburg is 3.3x larger than Montreal

Population Comparison

Johannesburg has 2.7x more people than Montreal

Is Johannesburg Bigger Than Montreal?

Johannesburg is significantly larger, covering 3.3 times the area of Montreal. Johannesburg spans 1,644 km² (635 mi²) while Montreal covers 498 km² (192 mi²) — a difference of 1,146 km². You could fit Montreal inside Johannesburg approximately 3 times.

To put Johannesburg's size in perspective, its area of 1,644 km² is roughly the same size as London. Meanwhile, Montreal at 498 km² is about 1.2x smaller than Seoul.

In more relatable units, Johannesburg's 1,644 km² is about 230,000 American football fields, 28 times the area of Manhattan, or 16 times the area of Paris. For Montreal, that's about 70,000 American football fields, 150 times the area of Central Park, or 8 times the area of Manhattan.

About Johannesburg

Johannesburg, colloquially known as Jozi, Joburg or "The City of Gold", is the most populous city in South Africa. The City of Johannesburg itself has a population of 5,538,596, while the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality has a population of 6,599,190, making it one of the 100 largest urban areas in the world. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, and seat of the country's highest court, the Constitutional Court.

Known as "Jozi", Johannesburg covers 1,644 km² with a population of 4.8 million. The city was established in 1886. Johannesburg is known for Apartheid Museum, Soweto township, Constitutional Court, among other attractions.

Johannesburg ranks among the world's 100 largest urban areas, with a metro population of about 6.6 million.

About Montreal

Montreal is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest in Canada, and the eighth-largest in North America. Founded in 1642 as Ville-Marie, or "City of Mary", it now takes its name from Mount Royal, the triple-peaked mountain around which the early settlement was built. The city is centred on the Island of Montreal and a few, much smaller, peripheral islands, the largest of which is Île Bizard.

Often called "MTL", Montreal has an area of 498 km² and is home to 1.8 million people. Its history stretches back to 1642. Visitors come for Mount Royal, Notre-Dame Basilica, Old Montreal, and much more.

Montreal was founded in 1642 as Ville-Marie, meaning 'City of Mary', before adopting its current name from Mount Royal.

Population Density

Johannesburg has a population density of 2,920 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Montreal, with 3,534 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Both cities have comparable density, though Montreal is slightly more compact.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Montreal fits inside Johannesburg ~3 times

History

Montreal is ~244 years older

Cities Similar in Size to Johannesburg

Johannesburg covers 1,644 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Bogotá (1,578 km²), London (1,572 km²), Bangkok (1,569 km²), Houston (1,725 km²), or São Paulo (1,521 km²).

Cities Similar in Size to Montreal

Montreal covers 498 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Prague (496 km²), Warsaw (517 km²), Budapest (525 km²), Oslo (454 km²), or Auckland (559 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is larger, Johannesburg or Montreal?
Johannesburg is 3.3 times larger than Montreal by area. Johannesburg covers 1,644 km² while Montreal spans 498 km², a difference of 1,146 km².
How many times does Montreal fit inside Johannesburg?
Montreal (498 km²) fits inside Johannesburg (1,644 km²) approximately 3 times. That means Johannesburg is 3.3x the area of Montreal.
What is the population difference between Johannesburg and Montreal?
Johannesburg has approximately 4.8 million people, while Montreal has about 1.8 million. Johannesburg has 3.0 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Johannesburg or Montreal?
Montreal is more densely populated with 3,534 people per km², compared to 2,920 people per km².
Which city is older, Johannesburg or Montreal?
Montreal is older, founded around 1642, while Johannesburg was established around 1886 — a difference of about 244 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 Johannesburg and Montreal

The straight-line distance from Johannesburg to Montreal is 12,920 km (8,028 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~15h 42m.

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