Melbourne vs Rio de Janeiro - City Size Comparison

Is Melbourne Bigger Than Rio de Janeiro?

In terms of area, Melbourne is 8.2x the size of Rio de Janeiro. Melbourne spans 9,993 km² (3,858 mi²) while Rio de Janeiro covers 1,221 km² (471 mi²) — a difference of 8,772 km². You could fit Rio de Janeiro inside Melbourne approximately 8 times.

About Melbourne

Australia's cultural capital and second-largest city. Known as "The Garden City", Melbourne covers 9,993 km² with a population of 5.1 million. The city was established in 1835. Melbourne is known for Street art laneways, Coffee culture, Melbourne Cup, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Melbourne Trams & Metro.

Melbourne has the world's largest tram network outside of Europe

About Rio de Janeiro

Brazil's iconic coastal city known for Carnival. Nicknamed "The Marvelous City", Rio de Janeiro has an area of 1,221 km² and is home to 6.8 million people. The city dates back to 1565. Visitors come for Christ the Redeemer, Copacabana Beach, Carnival, and much more. Getting around is easy with the MetrôRio.

Rio's Christ the Redeemer statue is struck by lightning an average of 6 times per year

Metropolitan Area Comparison

Looking beyond city limits, the Melbourne metropolitan area covers 9,993 km², which is 1.5x larger than greater Rio de Janeiro at 6,744 km². The Rio de Janeiro metro area is also more populous, with 13.5 million people compared to 5.1 million.

Population Density

Melbourne has a population density of 508 people per km² — a relatively spread-out city. Rio de Janeiro, with 5,528 people per km², is a densely populated city. Rio de Janeiro is dramatically more crowded, with 10.9x the population density.

Climate & Time Zone

Melbourne has a oceanic climate while Rio de Janeiro experiences tropical savanna conditions. When it's noon in Melbourne, it's midnight in Rio de Janeiro — a 13-hour time difference.