City Map Compare/Kyoto vs San Diego
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5 km
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Kyoto

828 km²

San Diego

964 km²

Kyoto vs San Diego - City Size Comparison

Kyoto vs San Diego - City Size Comparison

Kyoto

Japan

Area828 km²
Population1.46M
Density1,763 /km²
Founded794
San Diego

United States

Area964 km²
Population1.39M
Density1,442 /km²
Elevation422 m
Founded1769

Area Comparison

Kyoto is 1.2x smaller than San Diego

Population Comparison

Kyoto has 1.1x more people than San Diego

Is Kyoto Bigger Than San Diego?

San Diego is significantly larger, covering 1.2 times the area of Kyoto. San Diego spans 964 km² (372 mi²) while Kyoto covers 828 km² (320 mi²) — a difference of 136 km².

To put Kyoto's size in perspective, its area of 828 km² is roughly the same size as New York City. Meanwhile, San Diego at 964 km² is roughly the same size as Berlin.

In more relatable units, Kyoto's 828 km² is about 116,000 American football fields, 14 times the area of Manhattan, or 8 times the area of Paris. For San Diego, that's about 135,000 American football fields, 16 times the area of Manhattan, or 9 times the area of Paris.

About Kyoto

Kyoto, officially Kyoto City , is the capital city of Kyoto Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan's largest and most populous island of Honshu. As of 2020, the city had a population of 1.46 million, making it the ninth-most populous city in Japan. More than half (56.8%) of Kyoto Prefecture's population resides in the city. The city is the cultural anchor of the substantially larger Greater Kyoto, a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) home to a census-estimated 3.8 million people.

Known as "Thousand-Year Capital", Kyoto covers 828 km² with a population of 1.5 million. The city was established in 794. Kyoto is known for Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion, Gion geisha district, among other attractions.

More than half of Kyoto Prefecture's entire population lives within Kyoto City itself.

About San Diego

San Diego is a city on the Pacific coast of Southern California, adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. It is the eighth-most populous city in the U.S. and second-most populous city in California with a population of over 1.4 million, while the San Diego metropolitan area with over 3.3 million residents is the 18th-largest metropolitan area in the country. San Diego is the county seat of San Diego County.

Also known as "America's Finest City", San Diego has an area of 964 km² and is home to 1.4 million people. It was established in 1769. Visitors come for San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park, Coronado Beach, and much more.

San Diego sits directly on the Mexico-United States border, making it California's southwesternmost major city.

Population Density

Kyoto has a population density of 1,763 people per km² — a relatively spread-out city. San Diego, with 1,442 people per km², is a relatively spread-out city. Both cities have comparable density, though Kyoto is slightly more compact.

Key Differences at a Glance

History

Kyoto is ~975 years older

Cities Similar in Size to Kyoto

Kyoto covers 828 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Santiago (838 km²), New York (783 km²), Berlin (892 km²), Hamburg (755 km²), or Bangalore (741 km²).

Cities Similar in Size to San Diego

San Diego covers 964 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Abu Dhabi (972 km²), Dallas (997 km²), Berlin (892 km²), Santiago (838 km²), or Hong Kong (1,114 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kyoto actually bigger than San Diego?
San Diego is 1.2 times larger than Kyoto by area. San Diego covers 964 km² while Kyoto spans 828 km², a difference of 136 km².
How many times does Kyoto fit inside San Diego?
Kyoto (828 km²) fits inside San Diego (964 km²) approximately 1 times. That means San Diego is 1.2x the area of Kyoto.
What is the population difference between Kyoto and San Diego?
Kyoto has approximately 1.5 million people, while San Diego has about 1.4 million. Kyoto has 0.1 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Kyoto or San Diego?
Kyoto is more densely populated with 1,763 people per km², compared to 1,442 people per km².
Which city is older, Kyoto or San Diego?
Kyoto is older, founded around 794, while San Diego was established around 1769 — a difference of about 975 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 Kyoto and San Diego

The straight-line distance from Kyoto to San Diego is 9,319 km (5,791 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~11h 28m.

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