Melbourne
9,993 km²
Nairobi
696 km²
Australia
Kenya
Area Comparison
Melbourne is 14.4x larger than Nairobi
Population Comparison
Melbourne has 1.1x more people than Nairobi
Yes — Melbourne is 14.4x larger than Nairobi by area. Melbourne spans 9,993 km² (3,858 mi²) while Nairobi covers 696 km² (269 mi²) — a difference of 9,297 km². You could fit Nairobi inside Melbourne approximately 14 times.
To put Melbourne's size in perspective, its area of 9,993 km² is about 1.6x the size of Shanghai. Meanwhile, Nairobi at 696 km² is about 1.1x smaller than New York City.
In more relatable units, Melbourne's 9,993 km² is about 1,400,000 American football fields, 170 times the area of Manhattan, or 95 times the area of Paris. Nairobi works out to about 97,000 American football fields, 12 times the area of Manhattan, or 7 times the area of Paris.
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second most-populous city in Australia. The city's name generally refers to a 9,993-square-kilometre (3,858 sq mi) area, comprising an urban agglomeration of 31 local government areas. The name is also used to specifically refer to the local government area named City of Melbourne, whose area is centred on the Melbourne central business district and some immediate surrounds.
Melbourne covers 9,993 km² with a population of 5.1 million. The city was established in 1835. Melbourne is known for Federation Square, Flinders Street Station, Melbourne Cricket Ground, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Melbourne Trams & Metro.
Melbourne's metropolitan area spans 9,993 square kilometers across 31 local government areas, making it Australia's second-most-populous city.
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya, located in the south-central part of the country. As of 2024, it has a population of 4.8 million and a metropolitan population of 5.7 million, making it the 11th most populous city in Africa. Nicknamed the "Green City under the Sun", Nairobi is uniquely notable for being the only capital city in the world that hosts a national park within its boundaries. Its name originates from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, meaning "place of cool waters".
Also known as "Green City under the Sun", Nairobi has an area of 696 km² and is home to 4.7 million people. Its history stretches back to 1899. Visitors come for Nairobi National Park, Giraffe Centre, Karen Blixen Museum, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Nairobi Commuter Rail.
Nairobi is the only capital city in the world that hosts a national park within its boundaries.
Looking beyond city limits, the Melbourne metropolitan area covers 9,993 km², which is 14.4x larger than greater Nairobi at 696 km². The Melbourne metro area is also more populous, with 5.1 million people compared to 4.7 million.
Melbourne has a population density of 508 people per km² — a relatively spread-out city. Nairobi, with 6,796 people per km², is a densely populated city. Nairobi is dramatically more crowded, with 13.4x the population density.
This comparison spans continents — Melbourne in Oceania versus Nairobi in Africa. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Melbourne has a oceanic climate while Nairobi experiences subtropical highland conditions. When it's noon in Melbourne, it's 5:00 AM in Nairobi — a 7-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Nairobi fits inside Melbourne ~14 times
Density Gap
Nairobi is 13.4x more densely populated
Time Difference
7 hours apart
Melbourne covers 9,993 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Xi'an (10,097 km²), Wuhan (8,569 km²), Sydney (12,368 km²), Guangzhou (7,434 km²), or Chengdu (14,378 km²).
Nairobi covers 696 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Tehran (730 km²), Jakarta (662 km²), Singapore (733 km²), Bangalore (741 km²), or Hyderabad (650 km²).
The straight-line distance from Melbourne to Nairobi is 11,500 km (7,146 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~14h 2m.
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