Mexico City
1,485 km²
San Francisco
121 km²
Mexico
USA
Area Comparison
Mexico City is 12.3x larger than San Francisco
Population Comparison
Mexico City has 10.6x more people than San Francisco
Mexico City is significantly larger, covering 12.3 times the area of San Francisco. Mexico City spans 1,485 km² (573 mi²) while San Francisco covers 121 km² (47 mi²) — a difference of 1,364 km². You could fit San Francisco inside Mexico City approximately 12 times.
To put Mexico City's size in perspective, its area of 1,485 km² is roughly the same size as London. Meanwhile, San Francisco at 121 km² is about 1.2x the size of Paris (city proper).
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. San Francisco works out to about 17,000 American football fields, 60 times the area of Monaco, or 35 times the area of Central Park.
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 Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the fourth-most populous city in California and the 17th-most populous in the United States, with a population of 826,079 in 2025. Among U.S. cities with a population of 300,000 or more, San Francisco is ranked first by per capita income, second by population density, and sixth by aggregate income as of 2023.
Often called "The City by the Bay", San Francisco has an area of 121 km² and is home to 0.9 million people. The city dates back to 1776. Visitors come for Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, Cable cars, and much more. Getting around is easy with the BART & Muni.
San Francisco ranks first by per capita income among all US cities with 300,000+ residents as of 2023.
Looking beyond city limits, the Mexico City metropolitan area covers 7,854 km², which is 1.1x larger than greater San Francisco at 6,984 km². The Mexico City metro area is also more populous, with 21.8 million people compared to 4.7 million.
Mexico City has a population density of 6,202 people per km² — a densely populated city. San Francisco, with 7,190 people per km², is a densely populated city. Both cities have comparable density, though San Francisco is slightly more compact.
Both cities are in North America, but they represent different national approaches to urban development. Mexico City (Mexico) and San Francisco (USA) offer a fascinating regional contrast.
Mexico City has a subtropical highland climate while San Francisco experiences Mediterranean conditions. When it's noon in Mexico City, it's 10:00 AM in San Francisco — a 2-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
San Francisco fits inside Mexico City ~12 times
History
Mexico City is ~451 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 Francisco covers 121 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Vancouver (115 km²), Paris (105 km²), Miami (143 km²), Barcelona (101 km²), or Lisbon (100 km²).
The straight-line distance from Mexico City to San Francisco is 3,038 km (1,887 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~4h 4m.
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