Lima
2,672 km²
São Paulo
1,521 km²
Peru
Brazil
Area Comparison
Lima is 1.8x larger than São Paulo
Population Comparison
Lima has 1.2x fewer people than São Paulo
In terms of area, Lima is 1.8x the size of São Paulo. Lima spans 2,672 km² (1,032 mi²) while São Paulo covers 1,521 km² (587 mi²) — a difference of 1,151 km².
To put Lima's size in perspective, its area of 2,672 km² is roughly the same size as Luxembourg. Meanwhile, São Paulo at 1,521 km² is roughly the same size as London.
Lima's footprint is roughly about 374,000 American football fields, 45 times the area of Manhattan, or 25 times the area of Paris — pick whichever unit feels intuitive. São Paulo works out to about 213,000 American football fields, 26 times the area of Manhattan, or 14 times the area of Paris.
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.
São Paulo is the capital city of the state of the same name, as well as the most populous city in Brazil, South America, the Americas, and in both the Western and Southern Hemispheres. The city exerts international influence in commerce, finance, culture, gastronomy, arts, fashion, technology, entertainment and media, having been listed by UNESCO's Creative Cities Network as a "City of Film" and the title of "World Capital of Gastronomy", and by the Globalization and World Cities Research…
Nicknamed "Sampa", São Paulo has an area of 1,521 km² and is home to 12.3 million people. The city dates back to 1554. Visitors come for Avenida Paulista, Ibirapuera Park, São Paulo Museum of Art, and much more. Getting around is easy with the São Paulo Metro.
São Paulo is the most populous city in Brazil, the Americas, and both the Western and Southern Hemispheres.
Lima has a population density of 3,720 people per km² — a moderately dense city. São Paulo, with 8,107 people per km², is a densely populated city. São Paulo is noticeably denser, packing 2.2 times more people per square kilometer.
Lima has a desert climate climate while São Paulo experiences humid subtropical conditions.
Density Gap
São Paulo is 2.2x more densely populated
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).
São Paulo covers 1,521 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Mexico City (1,485 km²), Delhi (1,484 km²), Bangkok (1,569 km²), London (1,572 km²), or Bogotá (1,578 km²).
The straight-line distance from Lima to São Paulo is 3,453 km (2,146 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~4h 34m.
Want to explore more? Compare city sizes for any two cities worldwide, or share your location live with friends.