City Map Compare/Mexico City vs Santiago
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Mexico City

1,485 km²

Santiago

838 km²

Mexico City vs Santiago - City Size Comparison

Mexico City vs Santiago - City Size Comparison

Mexico City

Mexico

Area1,485 km²
Population9.21M
Density6,202 /km²
Elevation2,240 m
Metro Pop.21.8M
Founded1325
Climatesubtropical highland
Santiago

Chile

Area838 km²
Population6.26M
Density7,470 /km²
Elevation575 m
Founded1541

Area Comparison

Mexico City is 1.8x larger than Santiago

Population Comparison

Mexico City has 1.5x more people than Santiago

Is Mexico City Bigger Than Santiago?

Yes — Mexico City is 1.8x larger than Santiago by area. Mexico City spans 1,485 km² (573 mi²) while Santiago covers 838 km² (324 mi²) — a difference of 647 km².

To put Mexico City's size in perspective, its area of 1,485 km² is roughly the same size as London. Meanwhile, Santiago at 838 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. Santiago, by comparison, equals about 117,000 American football fields, 14 times the area of Manhattan, or 8 times the area of Paris.

About Mexico City

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.

About Santiago

Santiago, also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile and one of the largest cities in the Americas. Located in the Chilean Central Valley within the Santiago Basin, between the Andes to the east and the Chilean Coastal Range to the west, it anchors the Santiago Metropolitan Region and its conurbation of Greater Santiago, which comprises more than forty communes and concentrates over a third of the national population and around 45% of Chile's GDP.

Nicknamed "Santiago de Chile", Santiago has an area of 838 km² and is home to 6.3 million people. It was established in 1541. Visitors come for Cerro San Cristóbal, Gran Torre Santiago, Plaza de Armas, and much more.

Santiago sits in the Chilean Central Valley between the Andes and the Coastal Range, anchoring over a third of Chile's population.

Population Density

Mexico City has a population density of 6,202 people per km² — a densely populated city. Santiago, with 7,470 people per km², is a densely populated city. Both cities have comparable density, though Santiago is slightly more compact.

Key Differences at a Glance

History

Mexico City is ~216 years older

Cities Similar in Size to Mexico City

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).

Cities Similar in Size to Santiago

Santiago covers 838 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Kyoto (828 km²), Berlin (892 km²), New York (783 km²), Hamburg (755 km²), or Bangalore (741 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is larger, Mexico City or Santiago?
Mexico City is 1.8 times larger than Santiago by area. Mexico City covers 1,485 km² while Santiago spans 838 km², a difference of 647 km².
How many times does Santiago fit inside Mexico City?
Santiago (838 km²) fits inside Mexico City (1,485 km²) approximately 1 times. That means Mexico City is 1.8x the area of Santiago.
What is the population difference between Mexico City and Santiago?
Mexico City has approximately 9.2 million people, while Santiago has about 6.3 million. Mexico City has 3.0 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Mexico City or Santiago?
Santiago is more densely populated with 7,470 people per km², compared to 6,202 people per km².
Which city is older, Mexico City or Santiago?
Mexico City is older, founded around 1325, while Santiago was established around 1541 — a difference of about 216 years.
How does the map comparison work?
Our synchronized map comparison tool displays both cities at the same zoom level. When you zoom in or out on one map, the other automatically adjusts to maintain the same scale, allowing you to directly compare the relative sizes of both cities.
Can I compare other cities?
Yes! Use the city selectors at the top of the page to choose any two cities from our database of 50+ major cities worldwide, or enter custom coordinates for any location.

Distance Between Mexico City and Santiago

The straight-line distance from Mexico City to Santiago is 6,610 km (4,107 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~8h 17m.

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