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USA
China
Area Comparison
New York is 8.1x smaller than Shanghai
Population Comparison
New York has 3.0x fewer people than Shanghai
Shanghai is significantly larger, covering 8.1 times the area of New York. Shanghai spans 6,341 km² (2,448 mi²) while New York covers 783 km² (302 mi²) — a difference of 5,558 km². You could fit New York inside Shanghai approximately 8 times.
To put New York's size in perspective, its area of 783 km² is about 1.1x smaller than Berlin. Meanwhile, Shanghai at 6,341 km² is about 1.5x the size of Los Angeles metro.
The largest city in the United States and a global metropolis. Known as "The Big Apple", New York covers 783 km² with a population of 8.3 million. The city was established in 1624. New York is known for Statue of Liberty, Central Park, Times Square, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the NYC Subway.
More than 800 languages are spoken in New York City, making it the most linguistically diverse city on Earth
China's largest city and a global financial hub. Nicknamed "The 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 waterfront, Pudong skyline, Yuyuan Garden, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Shanghai Metro.
Shanghai's Maglev train reaches 431 km/h, the fastest commercial train in the world
Looking beyond city limits, the New York metropolitan area covers 17,405 km², which is 2.7x larger than greater Shanghai at 6,341 km². The Shanghai metro area is also more populous, with 28.5 million people compared to 20.1 million.
New York has a population density of 10,651 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. Shanghai, with 3,922 people per km², is a moderately dense city. New York is noticeably denser, packing 2.7 times more people per square kilometer.
This comparison spans continents — New York in North America versus Shanghai in Asia. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Both cities share a humid subtropical climate, though local geography creates distinct microclimates in each. When it's noon in Shanghai, it's midnight in New York — a 13-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
New York fits inside Shanghai ~8 times
Density Gap
New York is 2.7x more densely populated
Time Difference
13 hours apart
History
Shanghai is ~333 years older
The straight-line distance from New York to Shanghai is 11,858 km (7,368 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~14h 27m. See full distance details, including timezone difference and city facts.
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