Moscow
2,511 km²
Nairobi
696 km²
Russia
Kenya
Area Comparison
Moscow is 3.6x larger than Nairobi
Population Comparison
Moscow has 2.7x more people than Nairobi
In terms of area, Moscow is 3.6x the size of Nairobi. Moscow spans 2,511 km² (970 mi²) while Nairobi covers 696 km² (269 mi²) — a difference of 1,815 km². You could fit Nairobi inside Moscow approximately 3 times.
To put Moscow's size in perspective, its area of 2,511 km² is roughly the same size as Luxembourg. Meanwhile, Nairobi at 696 km² is about 1.1x smaller than New York City.
Moscow's footprint is roughly about 352,000 American football fields, 42 times the area of Manhattan, or 24 times the area of Paris — pick whichever unit feels intuitive. Nairobi works out to about 97,000 American football fields, 12 times the area of Manhattan, or 7 times the area of Paris.
Moscow is the capital and largest city of Russia, standing on the Moskva River in Central Russia. It has a population estimated at over 13 million residents within the city limits, over 19.1 million residents in the urban area, and over 21.5 million residents in its metropolitan area. The city covers an area of 2,511 square kilometers (970 mi2), while the urban area covers 5,891 square kilometers (2,275 mi2), and the metropolitan area covers over 26,000 square kilometers (10,000 mi2).
Known as "Third Rome", Moscow covers 2,511 km² with a population of 12.5 million. The city was established in 1147. Moscow is known for Red Square, Kremlin, Saint Basil's Cathedral, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Moscow Metro.
Moscow's metropolitan area covers over 26,000 square kilometers, making it one of the largest metropolitan footprints in Europe.
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya, located in the south-central part of the country. As of 2024, it has a population of 4.8 million and a metropolitan population of 5.7 million, making it the 11th most populous city in Africa. Nicknamed the "Green City under the Sun", Nairobi is uniquely notable for being the only capital city in the world that hosts a national park within its boundaries. Its name originates from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, meaning "place of cool waters".
Nicknamed "Green City under the Sun", Nairobi has an area of 696 km² and is home to 4.7 million people. The city dates back to 1899. Visitors come for Nairobi National Park, Giraffe Centre, Karen Blixen Museum, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Nairobi Commuter Rail.
Nairobi is the only capital city in the world that hosts a national park within its boundaries.
Looking beyond city limits, the Moscow metropolitan area covers 5,891 km², which is 8.5x larger than greater Nairobi at 696 km². The Moscow metro area is also more populous, with 17.1 million people compared to 4.7 million.
Moscow has a population density of 4,994 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Nairobi, with 6,796 people per km², is a densely populated city. Both cities have comparable density, though Nairobi is slightly more compact.
This comparison spans continents — Moscow in Europe versus Nairobi in Africa. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Moscow has a humid continental climate while Nairobi experiences subtropical highland conditions. Winters differ dramatically: Nairobi stays around 17°C while Moscow drops to -8°C.
Size Ratio
Nairobi fits inside Moscow ~3 times
Density Gap
Nairobi is 1.4x more densely populated
History
Moscow is ~752 years older
Moscow covers 2,511 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Cape Town (2,455 km²), Lima (2,672 km²), Tokyo (2,194 km²), Ho Chi Minh City (2,061 km²), or Cairo (3,085 km²).
Nairobi covers 696 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Tehran (730 km²), Jakarta (662 km²), Singapore (733 km²), Bangalore (741 km²), or Hyderabad (650 km²).
The straight-line distance from Moscow to Nairobi is 6,344 km (3,942 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~7h 58m.
Want to explore more? Compare city sizes for any two cities worldwide, or share your location live with friends.