City Map Compare/Montreal vs Vancouver
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Montreal

498 km²

Vancouver

115 km²

Montreal vs Vancouver - City Size Comparison

Montreal vs Vancouver - City Size Comparison

Montreal

Canada

Area498 km²
Population1.76M
Density3,534 /km²
Elevation31 m
Founded1642
Vancouver

Canada

Area115 km²
Population0.66M
Density5,739 /km²
Elevation2 m
Founded1886
ClimateMarine west coast climate

Area Comparison

Montreal is 4.3x larger than Vancouver

Population Comparison

Montreal has 2.7x more people than Vancouver

Is Montreal Bigger Than Vancouver?

In terms of area, Montreal is 4.3x the size of Vancouver. Montreal spans 498 km² (192 mi²) while Vancouver covers 115 km² (44 mi²) — a difference of 383 km². You could fit Vancouver inside Montreal approximately 4 times.

To put Montreal's size in perspective, its area of 498 km² is about 1.2x smaller than Seoul. Meanwhile, Vancouver at 115 km² is roughly the same size as San Francisco.

In more relatable units, Montreal's 498 km² is about 70,000 American football fields, 150 times the area of Central Park, or 8 times the area of Manhattan. Vancouver works out to about 16,000 American football fields, 57 times the area of Monaco, or 34 times the area of Central Park.

About Montreal

Montreal is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest in Canada, and the eighth-largest in North America. Founded in 1642 as Ville-Marie, or "City of Mary", it now takes its name from Mount Royal, the triple-peaked mountain around which the early settlement was built. The city is centred on the Island of Montreal and a few, much smaller, peripheral islands, the largest of which is Île Bizard.

Known as "MTL", Montreal covers 498 km² with a population of 1.8 million. The city was established in 1642. Montreal is known for Mount Royal, Notre-Dame Basilica, Old Montreal, among other attractions.

Montreal was founded in 1642 as Ville-Marie, meaning 'City of Mary', before adopting its current name from Mount Royal.

About Vancouver

Vancouver is a major city in Western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the city, up from 631,486 in 2016. The Metro Vancouver area had a population of 2.6 million in 2021, making it the third-largest metropolitan area in Canada. Greater Vancouver, along with the Fraser Valley, comprises the Lower Mainland with a regional population of over 3 million.

Often called "Hollywood North", Vancouver has an area of 115 km² and is home to 0.7 million people. The city dates back to 1886. Visitors come for Stanley Park, Granville Island, Capilano Suspension Bridge, and much more.

Vancouver grew from 631,486 residents in 2016 to 662,248 by the 2021 census, leading all of British Columbia.

Population Density

Montreal has a population density of 3,534 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Vancouver, with 5,739 people per km², is a densely populated city. Vancouver is noticeably denser, packing 1.6 times more people per square kilometer.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Vancouver fits inside Montreal ~4 times

Density Gap

Vancouver is 1.6x more densely populated

History

Montreal is ~244 years older

Cities Similar in Size to Montreal

Montreal covers 498 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Prague (496 km²), Warsaw (517 km²), Budapest (525 km²), Oslo (454 km²), or Auckland (559 km²).

Cities Similar in Size to Vancouver

Vancouver covers 115 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include San Francisco (121 km²), Paris (105 km²), Barcelona (101 km²), Lisbon (100 km²), or Miami (143 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is larger, Montreal or Vancouver?
Montreal is 4.3 times larger than Vancouver by area. Montreal covers 498 km² while Vancouver spans 115 km², a difference of 383 km².
How many times does Vancouver fit inside Montreal?
Vancouver (115 km²) fits inside Montreal (498 km²) approximately 4 times. That means Montreal is 4.3x the area of Vancouver.
What is the population difference between Montreal and Vancouver?
Montreal has approximately 1.8 million people, while Vancouver has about 0.7 million. Montreal has 1.1 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Montreal or Vancouver?
Vancouver is more densely populated with 5,739 people per km², compared to 3,534 people per km².
Which city is older, Montreal or Vancouver?
Montreal is older, founded around 1642, while Vancouver was established around 1886 — a difference of about 244 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 Montreal and Vancouver

The straight-line distance from Montreal to Vancouver is 3,687 km (2,291 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~4h 50m.

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