Moscow
2,511 km²
Shanghai
6,341 km²
Russia
China
Area Comparison
Moscow is 2.5x smaller than Shanghai
Population Comparison
Moscow has 2.0x fewer people than Shanghai
Shanghai is significantly larger, covering 2.5 times the area of Moscow. Shanghai spans 6,341 km² (2,448 mi²) while Moscow covers 2,511 km² (970 mi²) — a difference of 3,830 km². You could fit Moscow inside Shanghai approximately 2 times.
To put Moscow's size in perspective, its area of 2,511 km² is roughly the same size as Luxembourg. Meanwhile, Shanghai at 6,341 km² is about 1.5x the size of Los Angeles metro.
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. Shanghai, by comparison, equals about 888,000 American football fields, 110 times the area of Manhattan, or 60 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.
Shanghai is a direct-administered municipality and the most populous urban area in China. It has a population of 29,558,908 in the urban area as of 2025. The city is located on the Chinese shoreline on the southern estuary of the Yangtze River, with the Huangpu River bisecting the city. Shanghai is a global center for finance, business and economics, research, science and technology, manufacturing, transportation, tourism, and culture. The Port of Shanghai is the world's busiest container port.
Often called "Pearl of the Orient", Shanghai has an area of 6,341 km² and is home to 24.9 million people. Its history stretches back to 1291. Visitors come for The Bund, Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai Tower, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Shanghai Metro.
Shanghai's urban population reached 29.5 million in 2025, making it the most populous urban area in all of China.
Looking beyond city limits, the Shanghai metropolitan area covers 6,341 km², which is 1.1x larger than greater Moscow at 5,891 km². The Shanghai metro area is also more populous, with 28.5 million people compared to 17.1 million.
Moscow has a population density of 4,994 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Shanghai, with 3,922 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Both cities have comparable density, though Moscow is slightly more compact.
This comparison spans continents — Moscow in Europe versus Shanghai in Asia. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Moscow has a humid continental climate while Shanghai experiences humid subtropical conditions. Summers are notably different: Shanghai averages 28°C compared to 19°C in Moscow. When it's noon in Shanghai, it's 7:00 AM in Moscow — a 5-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Moscow fits inside Shanghai ~2 times
Time Difference
5 hours apart
History
Moscow is ~144 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).
Shanghai covers 6,341 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Perth (6,417 km²), Istanbul (5,461 km²), Guangzhou (7,434 km²), Wuhan (8,569 km²), or Dubai (4,114 km²).
The straight-line distance from Moscow to Shanghai is 6,817 km (4,236 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~8h 31m.
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