City Map Compare/Madrid vs Santiago
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Madrid

604 km²

Santiago

838 km²

Madrid vs Santiago - City Size Comparison

Madrid vs Santiago - City Size Comparison

Madrid

Spain

Area604 km²
Population3.33M
Density5,513 /km²
Elevation650 m
Metro Pop.6.8M
Founded852
Climatehot-summer Mediterranean
Santiago

Chile

Area838 km²
Population6.26M
Density7,470 /km²
Elevation575 m
Founded1541

Area Comparison

Madrid is 1.4x smaller than Santiago

Population Comparison

Madrid has 1.9x fewer people than Santiago

Is Madrid Bigger Than Santiago?

In terms of area, Santiago is 1.4x the size of Madrid. Santiago spans 838 km² (324 mi²) while Madrid covers 604 km² (233 mi²) — a difference of 234 km².

To put Madrid's size in perspective, its area of 604 km² is roughly the same size as Seoul. Meanwhile, Santiago at 838 km² is roughly the same size as Berlin.

Picture Madrid another way: its area is large enough to fit about 85,000 American football fields, 180 times the area of Central Park, or 10 times the area of Manhattan. Santiago works out to about 117,000 American football fields, 14 times the area of Manhattan, or 8 times the area of Paris.

About Madrid

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

About Santiago

Santiago, also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile and one of the largest cities in the Americas. Located in the Chilean Central Valley within the Santiago Basin, between the Andes to the east and the Chilean Coastal Range to the west, it anchors the Santiago Metropolitan Region and its conurbation of Greater Santiago, which comprises more than forty communes and concentrates over a third of the national population and around 45% of Chile's GDP.

Also known as "Santiago de Chile", Santiago has an area of 838 km² and is home to 6.3 million people. It was established in 1541. Visitors come for Cerro San Cristóbal, Gran Torre Santiago, Plaza de Armas, and much more.

Santiago sits in the Chilean Central Valley between the Andes and the Coastal Range, anchoring over a third of Chile's population.

Population Density

Madrid has a population density of 5,513 people per km² — a densely populated city. Santiago, with 7,470 people per km², is a densely populated city. Both cities have comparable density, though Santiago is slightly more compact.

Key Differences at a Glance

Density Gap

Santiago is 1.4x more densely populated

History

Madrid is ~689 years older

Cities Similar in Size to Madrid

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).

Cities Similar in Size to Santiago

Santiago covers 838 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Kyoto (828 km²), Berlin (892 km²), New York (783 km²), Hamburg (755 km²), or Bangalore (741 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Madrid actually bigger than Santiago?
Santiago is 1.4 times larger than Madrid by area. Santiago covers 838 km² while Madrid spans 604 km², a difference of 234 km².
How many times does Madrid fit inside Santiago?
Madrid (604 km²) fits inside Santiago (838 km²) approximately 1 times. That means Santiago is 1.4x the area of Madrid.
What is the population difference between Madrid and Santiago?
Santiago has approximately 6.3 million people, while Madrid has about 3.3 million. Santiago has 2.9 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Madrid or Santiago?
Santiago is more densely populated with 7,470 people per km², compared to 5,513 people per km².
Which city is older, Madrid or Santiago?
Madrid is older, founded around 852, while Santiago was established around 1541 — a difference of about 689 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 Madrid and Santiago

The straight-line distance from Madrid to Santiago is 10,700 km (6,649 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~13h 5m.

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