City Map Compare/Lima vs San Diego
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5 km
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Lima

2,672 km²

San Diego

964 km²

Lima vs San Diego - City Size Comparison

Lima vs San Diego - City Size Comparison

Lima

Peru

Area2,672 km²
Population9.94M
Density3,720 /km²
Elevation154 m
Founded1535
Climatedesert climate
San Diego

United States

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

Area Comparison

Lima is 2.8x larger than San Diego

Population Comparison

Lima has 7.2x more people than San Diego

Is Lima Bigger Than San Diego?

Yes — Lima is 2.8x larger than San Diego by area. Lima spans 2,672 km² (1,032 mi²) while San Diego covers 964 km² (372 mi²) — a difference of 1,708 km². You could fit San Diego inside Lima approximately 2 times.

To put Lima's size in perspective, its area of 2,672 km² is roughly the same size as Luxembourg. Meanwhile, San Diego at 964 km² is roughly the same size as Berlin.

In more relatable units, Lima's 2,672 km² is about 374,000 American football fields, 45 times the area of Manhattan, or 25 times the area of Paris. San Diego works out to about 135,000 American football fields, 16 times the area of Manhattan, or 9 times the area of Paris.

About Lima

Lima is the capital and largest city of Peru, as well as a primate city. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín Rivers, in the desert zone of the central coastal part of the country, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The city is considered the political, cultural, financial and commercial center of Peru. Due to its geostrategic importance, the Globalization and World Cities Research Network has categorized it as a "beta" tier city.

Known as "City of Kings", Lima covers 2,672 km² with a population of 9.9 million. The city was established in 1535. Lima is known for Plaza Mayor de Lima, Miraflores district, Larco Museum, among other attractions.

Lima sprawls across the desert valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín Rivers along Peru's Pacific coast.

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.

Nicknamed "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

Lima has a population density of 3,720 people per km² — a moderately dense city. San Diego, with 1,442 people per km², is a relatively spread-out city. Lima is noticeably denser, packing 2.6 times more people per square kilometer.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

San Diego fits inside Lima ~2 times

Density Gap

Lima is 2.6x more densely populated

History

Lima is ~234 years older

Cities Similar in Size to Lima

Lima covers 2,672 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Moscow (2,511 km²), Cape Town (2,455 km²), Cairo (3,085 km²), Tokyo (2,194 km²), or Hanoi (3,359 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 Lima bigger than San Diego?
Lima is 2.8 times larger than San Diego by area. Lima covers 2,672 km² while San Diego spans 964 km², a difference of 1,708 km².
How many times does San Diego fit inside Lima?
San Diego (964 km²) fits inside Lima (2,672 km²) approximately 2 times. That means Lima is 2.8x the area of San Diego.
What is the population difference between Lima and San Diego?
Lima has approximately 9.9 million people, while San Diego has about 1.4 million. Lima has 8.5 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Lima or San Diego?
Lima is more densely populated with 3,720 people per km², compared to 1,442 people per km².
Which city is older, Lima or San Diego?
Lima is older, founded around 1535, while San Diego was established around 1769 — a difference of about 234 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 Lima and San Diego

The straight-line distance from Lima to San Diego is 6,552 km (4,071 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~8h 12m.

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