Madrid
604 km²
San Diego
964 km²
Spain
United States
Area Comparison
Madrid is 1.6x smaller than San Diego
Population Comparison
Madrid has 2.4x more people than San Diego
Yes — San Diego is 1.6x larger than Madrid by area. San Diego spans 964 km² (372 mi²) while Madrid covers 604 km² (233 mi²) — a difference of 360 km².
To put Madrid's size in perspective, its area of 604 km² is roughly the same size as Seoul. Meanwhile, San Diego at 964 km² is roughly the same size as Berlin.
In more relatable units, Madrid's 604 km² is about 85,000 American football fields, 180 times the area of Central Park, or 10 times the area of Manhattan. San Diego, by comparison, equals about 135,000 American football fields, 16 times the area of Manhattan, or 9 times the area of Paris.
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).
Known as "La Villa y Corte", Madrid covers 604 km² with a population of 3.3 million. The city was established in 852. Madrid is known for Royal Palace of Madrid, Prado Museum, Plaza Mayor, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is 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
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.
Often called "America's Finest City", San Diego has an area of 964 km² and is home to 1.4 million people. The city dates back to 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.
Madrid has a population density of 5,513 people per km² — a densely populated city. San Diego, with 1,442 people per km², is a relatively spread-out city. Madrid is dramatically more crowded, with 3.8x the population density.
Density Gap
Madrid is 3.8x more densely populated
History
Madrid is ~917 years older
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).
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).
The straight-line distance from Madrid to San Diego is 9,399 km (5,840 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~11h 33m.
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