Lisbon
100 km²
San Francisco
121 km²
Portugal
USA
Area Comparison
Lisbon is 1.2x smaller than San Francisco
Population Comparison
Lisbon has 1.6x fewer people than San Francisco
In terms of area, San Francisco is 1.2x the size of Lisbon. San Francisco spans 121 km² (47 mi²) while Lisbon covers 100 km² (39 mi²) — a difference of 21 km².
To put Lisbon's size in perspective, its area of 100 km² is roughly the same size as Paris (city proper). Meanwhile, San Francisco at 121 km² is about 1.2x the size of Paris (city proper).
In more relatable units, Lisbon's 100 km² is about 14,000 American football fields, 50 times the area of Monaco, or 29 times the area of Central Park. For San Francisco, that's about 17,000 American football fields, 60 times the area of Monaco, or 35 times the area of Central Park.
Lisbon is the capital and most populous city of Portugal, with an estimated population of 575,739 as of 2024, within its administrative limits and 3,028,000 within the metropolis, as of 2025. Lisbon is mainland Europe's westernmost capital city, and the only one along the Atlantic coast, the others being on islands. The city lies in the western portion of the Iberian Peninsula, on the northern shore of the River Tagus.
Known as "City of Seven Hills", Lisbon covers 100 km² with a population of 0.6 million. The city was founded around 1200 BC. Lisbon is known for Belém Tower, Jerónimos Monastery, Tram 28, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Lisbon Metro.
Lisbon is mainland Europe's westernmost capital city and the only European capital along the Atlantic coast.
San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the fourth-most populous city in California and the 17th-most populous in the United States, with a population of 826,079 in 2025. Among U.S. cities with a population of 300,000 or more, San Francisco is ranked first by per capita income, second by population density, and sixth by aggregate income as of 2023.
Often called "The City by the Bay", San Francisco has an area of 121 km² and is home to 0.9 million people. The city dates back to 1776. Visitors come for Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, Cable cars, and much more. Getting around is easy with the BART & Muni.
San Francisco ranks first by per capita income among all US cities with 300,000+ residents as of 2023.
Looking beyond city limits, the San Francisco metropolitan area covers 6,984 km², which is 2.3x larger than greater Lisbon at 3,015 km². The San Francisco metro area is also more populous, with 4.7 million people compared to 2.9 million.
Lisbon has a population density of 5,500 people per km² — a densely populated city. San Francisco, with 7,190 people per km², is a densely populated city. Both cities have comparable density, though San Francisco is slightly more compact.
This comparison spans continents — Lisbon in Europe versus San Francisco in North America. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Both cities share a Mediterranean climate, though local geography creates distinct microclimates in each. When it's noon in Lisbon, it's 4:00 AM in San Francisco — a 8-hour time difference.
Density Gap
San Francisco is 1.3x more densely populated
Time Difference
8 hours apart
History
Lisbon is ~2,976 years older
Lisbon covers 100 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Barcelona (101 km²), Paris (105 km²), Copenhagen (91 km²), Zurich (88 km²), or Vancouver (115 km²).
San Francisco covers 121 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Vancouver (115 km²), Paris (105 km²), Miami (143 km²), Barcelona (101 km²), or Lisbon (100 km²).
The straight-line distance from Lisbon to San Francisco is 9,116 km (5,665 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~11h 13m.
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