Mexico City
1,485 km²
San Diego
964 km²
Mexico
United States
Area Comparison
Mexico City is 1.5x larger than San Diego
Population Comparison
Mexico City has 6.6x more people than San Diego
In terms of area, Mexico City is 1.5x the size of San Diego. Mexico City spans 1,485 km² (573 mi²) while San Diego covers 964 km² (372 mi²) — a difference of 521 km².
To put Mexico City's size in perspective, its area of 1,485 km² is roughly the same size as London. Meanwhile, San Diego at 964 km² is roughly the same size as Berlin.
Picture Mexico City another way: its area is large enough to fit about 208,000 American football fields, 25 times the area of Manhattan, or 14 times the area of Paris. For San Diego, that's about 135,000 American football fields, 16 times the area of Manhattan, or 9 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.
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. Its history stretches 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.
Mexico City has a population density of 6,202 people per km² — a densely populated city. San Diego, with 1,442 people per km², is a relatively spread-out city. Mexico City is dramatically more crowded, with 4.3x the population density.
Density Gap
Mexico City is 4.3x more densely populated
History
Mexico City is ~444 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).
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 Mexico City to San Diego is 2,322 km (1,443 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~3h 14m.
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