Nairobi vs São Paulo - City Size Comparison

Is Nairobi Bigger Than São Paulo?

São Paulo is significantly larger, covering 2.2 times the area of Nairobi. São Paulo spans 1,521 km² (587 mi²) while Nairobi covers 696 km² (269 mi²) — a difference of 825 km². You could fit Nairobi inside São Paulo approximately 2 times.

About Nairobi

Kenya's capital and East Africa's largest city. Known as "The Green City in the Sun", Nairobi covers 696 km² with a population of 4.7 million. The city was established in 1899. Nairobi is known for Nairobi National Park, Safari tourism, Karen Blixen Museum, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Nairobi Commuter Rail.

Nairobi is the only capital city in the world with a national park within its borders — you can see lions with skyscrapers in the background

About São Paulo

Brazil's largest city and financial center. Nicknamed "Sampa", São Paulo has an area of 1,521 km² and is home to 12.3 million people. Its history stretches back to 1554. Visitors come for Paulista Avenue, Ibirapuera Park, São Paulo Museum of Art, and much more. Getting around is easy with the São Paulo Metro.

São Paulo has the largest Japanese community outside Japan

Metropolitan Area Comparison

Looking beyond city limits, the São Paulo metropolitan area covers 7,947 km², which is 11.4x larger than greater Nairobi at 696 km². The São Paulo metro area is also more populous, with 22.0 million people compared to 4.7 million.

Population Density

Nairobi has a population density of 6,796 people per km² — a densely populated city. São Paulo, with 8,107 people per km², is a densely populated city. Both cities have comparable density, though São Paulo is slightly more compact.

Climate & Time Zone

Nairobi has a subtropical highland climate while São Paulo experiences humid subtropical conditions. When it's noon in Nairobi, it's 6:00 AM in São Paulo — a 6-hour time difference.