Mexico City
1,485 km²
Rio de Janeiro
1,221 km²
Mexico
Brazil
Area Comparison
Mexico City is 1.2x larger than Rio de Janeiro
Population Comparison
Mexico City has 1.4x more people than Rio de Janeiro
Yes — Mexico City is 1.2x larger than Rio de Janeiro by area. Mexico City spans 1,485 km² (573 mi²) while Rio de Janeiro covers 1,221 km² (471 mi²) — a difference of 264 km².
To put Mexico City's size in perspective, its area of 1,485 km² is roughly the same size as London. Meanwhile, Rio de Janeiro at 1,221 km² is about 1.3x smaller than London.
In more relatable units, Mexico City's 1,485 km² is about 208,000 American football fields, 25 times the area of Manhattan, or 14 times the area of Paris. For Rio de Janeiro, that's about 171,000 American football fields, 21 times the area of Manhattan, or 12 times the area of Paris.
Mexico City is the capital and most populous city of Mexico, as well as the most populous city in North America. It is one of the most important cultural and financial centers in the world, and is classified as an Alpha world city according to the Globalization and World Cities Research Network (GaWC) 2024 ranking. Mexico City is located in the Valley of Mexico within the high Mexican central plateau, at an altitude of 2,240 meters.
Known as "CDMX", Mexico City covers 1,485 km² with a population of 9.2 million. The city was established in 1325. Mexico City is known for Zocalo square, Chapultepec Park, Frida Kahlo Museum, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Mexico City Metro.
Mexico City sits at an altitude of 2,240 meters in the Valley of Mexico on the high Mexican central plateau.
Rio de Janeiro, also known simply as Rio, is the capital of the state of Rio de Janeiro. It is the second-most-populous city in Brazil after São Paulo and the sixth-most-populous city in the Americas.
Often called "Cidade Maravilhosa", Rio de Janeiro has an area of 1,221 km² and is home to 6.8 million people. Its history stretches back to 1565. Visitors come for Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain, Copacabana beach, and much more. Getting around is easy with the MetrôRio.
Rio de Janeiro is the second-most-populous city in Brazil after São Paulo and the sixth-most-populous in the Americas.
Looking beyond city limits, the Mexico City metropolitan area covers 7,854 km², which is 1.2x larger than greater Rio de Janeiro at 6,744 km². The Mexico City metro area is also more populous, with 21.8 million people compared to 13.5 million.
Mexico City has a population density of 6,202 people per km² — a densely populated city. Rio de Janeiro, with 5,528 people per km², is a densely populated city. Both cities have comparable density, though Mexico City is slightly more compact.
This comparison spans continents — Mexico City in North America versus Rio de Janeiro in South America. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Mexico City has a subtropical highland climate while Rio de Janeiro experiences tropical savanna conditions. Summers are notably different: Rio de Janeiro averages 27°C compared to 18°C in Mexico City. When it's noon in Rio de Janeiro, it's 9:00 AM in Mexico City — a 3-hour time difference.
Time Difference
3 hours apart
History
Mexico City is ~240 years older
Mexico City covers 1,485 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Delhi (1,484 km²), São Paulo (1,521 km²), Bangkok (1,569 km²), London (1,572 km²), or Bogotá (1,578 km²).
Rio de Janeiro covers 1,221 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include San Antonio (1,209 km²), Lagos (1,172 km²), Rome (1,285 km²), Los Angeles (1,302 km²), or Hong Kong (1,114 km²).
The straight-line distance from Mexico City to Rio de Janeiro is 7,683 km (4,774 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~9h 32m.
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