Mumbai
603 km²
Shanghai
6,341 km²
India
China
Area Comparison
Mumbai is 10.5x smaller than Shanghai
Population Comparison
Mumbai has 2.0x fewer people than Shanghai
In terms of area, Shanghai is 10.5x the size of Mumbai. Shanghai spans 6,341 km² (2,448 mi²) while Mumbai covers 603 km² (233 mi²) — a difference of 5,738 km². You could fit Mumbai inside Shanghai approximately 10 times.
To put Mumbai's size in perspective, its area of 603 km² is roughly the same size as Seoul. Meanwhile, Shanghai at 6,341 km² is about 1.5x the size of Los Angeles metro.
In more relatable units, Mumbai's 603 km² is about 84,000 American football fields, 180 times the area of Central Park, or 10 times the area of Manhattan. Shanghai works out to about 888,000 American football fields, 110 times the area of Manhattan, or 60 times the area of Paris.
Mumbai, also known as Bombay, is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial capital and the most populous city proper of India, with an estimated population of 12.5 million (1.25 crore). Mumbai is the centre of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, which is among the most populous metropolitan areas in the world with a population of over 23 million. Mumbai lies on the Konkan coast on the west coast of India and has a deep natural harbour.
Known as "Bombay", Mumbai covers 603 km² with a population of 12.4 million. The city was established in 1507. Mumbai is known for Gateway of India, Marine Drive, Bollywood, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Mumbai Suburban Railway.
Mumbai is the most populous city proper in India and serves as the country's financial capital with around 12.5 million residents.
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.
Also known as "Pearl of the Orient", Shanghai has an area of 6,341 km² and is home to 24.9 million people. It was established in 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 Mumbai metropolitan area covers 6,355 km², which is 1.0x larger than greater Shanghai at 6,341 km². The Shanghai metro area is also more populous, with 28.5 million people compared to 20.7 million.
Mumbai has a population density of 20,630 people per km² — one of the most densely packed urban areas on Earth. Shanghai, with 3,922 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Mumbai is dramatically more crowded, with 5.3x the population density.
Both cities are in Asia, but they represent different national approaches to urban development. Mumbai (India) and Shanghai (China) offer a fascinating regional contrast.
Mumbai has a tropical wet and dry climate while Shanghai experiences humid subtropical conditions. Winters differ dramatically: Mumbai stays around 25°C while Shanghai drops to 5°C. When it's noon in Shanghai, it's 9.5:00 AM in Mumbai — a 2.5-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Mumbai fits inside Shanghai ~10 times
Density Gap
Mumbai is 5.3x more densely populated
History
Shanghai is ~216 years older
Mumbai covers 603 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Madrid (604 km²), Seoul (605 km²), Chicago (606 km²), Toronto (630 km²), or Hyderabad (650 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 Mumbai to Shanghai is 5,032 km (3,127 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~6h 25m. See full distance details, including timezone difference and city facts.
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