City Map Compare/Los Angeles vs Phoenix
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Los Angeles

1,302 km²

Phoenix

1,341 km²

Los Angeles vs Phoenix - City Size Comparison

Los Angeles vs Phoenix - City Size Comparison

Los Angeles

USA

Area1,302 km²
Population3.97M
Density3,049 /km²
Elevation71 m
Metro Pop.13.2M
Founded1781
ClimateMediterranean
Phoenix

United States

Area1,341 km²
Population1.61M
Density1,201 /km²
Elevation331 m
Founded1868

Area Comparison

Los Angeles is 1.0x smaller than Phoenix

Population Comparison

Los Angeles has 2.5x more people than Phoenix

Is Los Angeles Bigger Than Phoenix?

Phoenix is significantly larger, covering 1.0 times the area of Los Angeles. Phoenix spans 1,341 km² (518 mi²) while Los Angeles covers 1,302 km² (503 mi²) — a difference of 39 km².

To put Los Angeles's size in perspective, its area of 1,302 km² is about 1.2x smaller than London. Meanwhile, Phoenix at 1,341 km² is about 1.2x smaller than London.

Los Angeles's footprint is roughly about 182,000 American football fields, 22 times the area of Manhattan, or 12 times the area of Paris — pick whichever unit feels intuitive. Phoenix, by comparison, equals about 188,000 American football fields, 23 times the area of Manhattan, or 13 times the area of Paris.

About Los Angeles

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.

About Phoenix

Phoenix is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Arizona. With over 1.6 million residents at the 2020 census, Phoenix is the fifth-most populous city in the United States and the most populous state capital. The Phoenix metropolitan area, with an estimated 5.19 million residents, is the tenth-most populous metropolitan area in the U.S. and the most populous in the Mountain states and Southwest.

Also known as "Valley of the Sun", Phoenix has an area of 1,341 km² and is home to 1.6 million people. The city dates back to 1868. Visitors come for Camelback Mountain, Desert Botanical Garden, Heard Museum, and much more.

Phoenix is the most populous U.S. state capital and the fifth-largest city in the country with 1.6 million residents.

Population Density

Los Angeles has a population density of 3,049 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Phoenix, with 1,201 people per km², is a relatively spread-out city. Los Angeles is noticeably denser, packing 2.5 times more people per square kilometer.

Key Differences at a Glance

Density Gap

Los Angeles is 2.5x more densely populated

Cities Similar in Size to Los Angeles

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).

Cities Similar in Size to Phoenix

Phoenix covers 1,341 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Los Angeles (1,302 km²), Rome (1,285 km²), Rio de Janeiro (1,221 km²), Delhi (1,484 km²), or Mexico City (1,485 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Los Angeles actually bigger than Phoenix?
Phoenix is 1.0 times larger than Los Angeles by area. Phoenix covers 1,341 km² while Los Angeles spans 1,302 km², a difference of 39 km².
How many times does Los Angeles fit inside Phoenix?
Los Angeles (1,302 km²) fits inside Phoenix (1,341 km²) approximately 1 times. That means Phoenix is 1.0x the area of Los Angeles.
What is the population difference between Los Angeles and Phoenix?
Los Angeles has approximately 4.0 million people, while Phoenix has about 1.6 million. Los Angeles has 2.4 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Los Angeles or Phoenix?
Los Angeles is more densely populated with 3,049 people per km², compared to 1,201 people per km².
Which city is older, Los Angeles or Phoenix?
Los Angeles is older, founded around 1781, while Phoenix was established around 1868 — a difference of about 87 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 Los Angeles and Phoenix

The straight-line distance from Los Angeles to Phoenix is 574 km (357 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~1h 11m.

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