City Map Compare/Mexico City vs Tehran
vs
5 km
|

Mexico City

1,485 km²

Tehran

730 km²

Mexico City vs Tehran - City Size Comparison

Mexico City vs Tehran - City Size Comparison

Mexico City

Mexico

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

Iran

Area730 km²
Population9.13M
Density12,507 /km²
Elevation1,189 m
Metro Pop.16.0M
Founded1524
Climatehot-summer Mediterranean

Area Comparison

Mexico City is 2.0x larger than Tehran

Population Comparison

Mexico City has 1.0x more people than Tehran

Is Mexico City Bigger Than Tehran?

Yes — Mexico City is 2.0x larger than Tehran by area. Mexico City spans 1,485 km² (573 mi²) while Tehran covers 730 km² (282 mi²) — a difference of 755 km². You could fit Tehran inside Mexico City approximately 2 times.

To put Mexico City's size in perspective, its area of 1,485 km² is roughly the same size as London. Meanwhile, Tehran at 730 km² is roughly the same size as New York City.

Mexico City's footprint is roughly about 208,000 American football fields, 25 times the area of Manhattan, or 14 times the area of Paris — pick whichever unit feels intuitive. For Tehran, that's about 102,000 American football fields, 12 times the area of Manhattan, or 7 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 Tehran

Tehran is the capital and largest city of Iran. It is also the capital of Tehran province and the administrative center for Tehran County and its Central District. With a population of around 9 million in the city, and 16.8 million in the metropolitan area, Tehran is the most populous city in Iran and West Asia, the second-largest metropolitan area in the Middle East after Cairo, and the 24th-most-populous metropolitan area in the world.

Tehran has an area of 730 km² and is home to 9.1 million people. It was established in 1524. Visitors come for Azadi Tower, Milad Tower, Golestan Palace, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Tehran Metro.

Tehran's metropolitan area holds 16.8 million people, making it the second-largest metropolitan area in the Middle East after Cairo.

Metropolitan Area Comparison

Looking beyond city limits, the Mexico City metropolitan area covers 7,854 km², which is 3.5x larger than greater Tehran at 2,235 km². The Mexico City metro area is also more populous, with 21.8 million people compared to 16.0 million.

Population Density

Mexico City has a population density of 6,202 people per km² — a densely populated city. Tehran, with 12,507 people per km², is an extremely dense urban environment. Tehran is noticeably denser, packing 2.0 times more people per square kilometer.

This comparison spans continents — Mexico City in North America versus Tehran in Asia. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.

Climate & Time Zone

Mexico City has a subtropical highland climate while Tehran experiences hot-summer Mediterranean conditions. Summers are notably different: Tehran averages 30°C compared to 18°C in Mexico City. When it's noon in Tehran, it's 2.5:00 AM in Mexico City — a 9.5-hour time difference.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Tehran fits inside Mexico City ~2 times

Density Gap

Tehran is 2.0x more densely populated

Time Difference

9.5 hours apart

History

Mexico City is ~199 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 Tehran

Tehran covers 730 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Singapore (733 km²), Bangalore (741 km²), Hamburg (755 km²), Nairobi (696 km²), or New York (783 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Mexico City actually bigger than Tehran?
Mexico City is 2.0 times larger than Tehran by area. Mexico City covers 1,485 km² while Tehran spans 730 km², a difference of 755 km².
How many times does Tehran fit inside Mexico City?
Tehran (730 km²) fits inside Mexico City (1,485 km²) approximately 2 times. That means Mexico City is 2.0x the area of Tehran.
What is the population difference between Mexico City and Tehran?
Mexico City has approximately 9.2 million people, while Tehran has about 9.1 million. Mexico City has 0.1 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Mexico City or Tehran?
Tehran is more densely populated with 12,507 people per km², compared to 6,202 people per km².
What is the time difference between Mexico City and Tehran?
Mexico City is in the UTC-6 timezone while Tehran is UTC+3.5. There is a 9.5-hour time difference between the two cities.
Which city is older, Mexico City or Tehran?
Mexico City is older, founded around 1325, while Tehran was established around 1524 — a difference of about 199 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 Tehran

The straight-line distance from Mexico City to Tehran is 13,144 km (8,167 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~15h 58m.

Want to explore more? Compare city sizes for any two cities worldwide, or share your location live with friends.