Los Angeles
1,302 km²
Madrid
604 km²
USA
Spain
Area Comparison
Los Angeles is 2.2x larger than Madrid
Population Comparison
Los Angeles has 1.2x more people than Madrid
Los Angeles is significantly larger, covering 2.2 times the area of Madrid. Los Angeles spans 1,302 km² (503 mi²) while Madrid covers 604 km² (233 mi²) — a difference of 698 km². You could fit Madrid inside Los Angeles approximately 2 times.
To put Los Angeles's size in perspective, its area of 1,302 km² is about 1.2x smaller than London. Meanwhile, Madrid at 604 km² is roughly the same size as Seoul.
Picture Los Angeles another way: its area is large enough to fit about 182,000 American football fields, 22 times the area of Manhattan, or 12 times the area of Paris. Madrid, by comparison, equals about 85,000 American football fields, 180 times the area of Central Park, or 10 times the area of Manhattan.
Los Angeles (LA) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Southern California. With an estimated 3.88 million residents within the city limits as of 2024, it is the second-most populous city in the United States, behind New York City, and the largest city in the Western United States. The city has an ethnically and culturally diverse population, and is the principal city of a metropolitan area of 12.9 million people (2024).
Known as "The City of Angels", Los Angeles covers 1,302 km² with a population of 4.0 million. The city was established in 1781. Los Angeles is known for Hollywood Sign, Santa Monica Pier, Beverly Hills, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the LA Metro.
Los Angeles is the second-most populous city in the United States, home to 3.88 million residents within city limits as of 2024.
Madrid is the capital and most populous city of Spain. It had a population of over 3.4 million in the city proper in 2025, and a metropolitan area population of approximately 6.8 million. Madrid is the second-largest city in the European Union (EU), after Berlin, and its metropolitan area is the second-largest in the EU, after Paris. The municipality covers an area of 605.77 square kilometres (233.89 sq mi).
Also known as "La Villa y Corte", Madrid has an area of 604 km² and is home to 3.3 million people. Its history stretches back to 852. Visitors come for Royal Palace of Madrid, Prado Museum, Plaza Mayor, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Madrid Metro.
Madrid is the second-largest city in the European Union after Berlin, with over 3.4 million residents in the city proper
Looking beyond city limits, the Los Angeles metropolitan area covers 12,562 km², which is 1.6x larger than greater Madrid at 8,028 km². The Los Angeles metro area is also more populous, with 13.2 million people compared to 6.8 million.
Los Angeles has a population density of 3,049 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Madrid, with 5,513 people per km², is a densely populated city. Madrid is noticeably denser, packing 1.8 times more people per square kilometer.
This comparison spans continents — Los Angeles in North America versus Madrid in Europe. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Los Angeles has a Mediterranean climate while Madrid experiences hot-summer Mediterranean conditions. When it's noon in Madrid, it's 3:00 AM in Los Angeles — a 9-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Madrid fits inside Los Angeles ~2 times
Density Gap
Madrid is 1.8x more densely populated
Time Difference
9 hours apart
History
Madrid is ~929 years older
Los Angeles covers 1,302 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Rome (1,285 km²), Phoenix (1,341 km²), Rio de Janeiro (1,221 km²), San Antonio (1,209 km²), or Lagos (1,172 km²).
Madrid covers 604 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Seoul (605 km²), Mumbai (603 km²), Chicago (606 km²), Toronto (630 km²), or Hyderabad (650 km²).
The straight-line distance from Los Angeles to Madrid is 9,363 km (5,818 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~11h 31m.
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