Paris
105 km²
San Francisco
121 km²
France
USA
Area Comparison
Paris is 1.2x smaller than San Francisco
Population Comparison
Paris has 2.5x more people than San Francisco
San Francisco is significantly larger, covering 1.2 times the area of Paris. San Francisco spans 121 km² (47 mi²) while Paris covers 105 km² (41 mi²) — a difference of 16 km².
To put Paris's size in perspective, its area of 105 km² is about 1.2x smaller than San Francisco. Meanwhile, San Francisco at 121 km² is about 1.2x the size of Paris (city proper).
In more relatable units, Paris's 105 km² is about 15,000 American football fields, 52 times the area of Monaco, or 31 times the area of Central Park. For San Francisco, that's about 17,000 American football fields, 60 times the area of Monaco, or 35 times the area of Central Park.
Paris is the capital and largest city of France, with an estimated city population of 2.04 million in an area of 105.4 km2 (40.7 sq mi), and a metropolitan population of 13.2 million as of January 2026. Located on the river Seine in the centre of the Île-de-France region, it is the largest metropolitan area and fourth-most populous city in the European Union (EU).
Known as "City of Light", Paris covers 105 km² with a population of 2.2 million. The city was founded around 250 BC. Paris is known for Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Notre-Dame Cathedral, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Paris Métro.
Paris packs 2.04 million people into just 105 km2, giving it one of the highest urban densities in Europe.
San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the fourth-most populous city in California and the 17th-most populous in the United States, with a population of 826,079 in 2025. Among U.S. cities with a population of 300,000 or more, San Francisco is ranked first by per capita income, second by population density, and sixth by aggregate income as of 2023.
Often called "The City by the Bay", San Francisco has an area of 121 km² and is home to 0.9 million people. The city dates back to 1776. Visitors come for Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, Cable cars, and much more. Getting around is easy with the BART & Muni.
San Francisco ranks first by per capita income among all US cities with 300,000+ residents as of 2023.
Looking beyond city limits, the Paris metropolitan area covers 17,174 km², which is 2.5x larger than greater San Francisco at 6,984 km². The Paris metro area is also more populous, with 12.3 million people compared to 4.7 million.
Paris has a population density of 20,571 people per km² — one of the most densely packed urban areas on Earth. San Francisco, with 7,190 people per km², is a densely populated city. Paris is noticeably denser, packing 2.9 times more people per square kilometer.
This comparison spans continents — Paris in Europe versus San Francisco in North America. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Paris has a oceanic climate while San Francisco experiences Mediterranean conditions. When it's noon in Paris, it's 3:00 AM in San Francisco — a 9-hour time difference.
Density Gap
Paris is 2.9x more densely populated
Time Difference
9 hours apart
History
Paris is ~2,026 years older
Paris covers 105 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Barcelona (101 km²), Lisbon (100 km²), Vancouver (115 km²), San Francisco (121 km²), or Copenhagen (91 km²).
San Francisco covers 121 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Vancouver (115 km²), Paris (105 km²), Miami (143 km²), Barcelona (101 km²), or Lisbon (100 km²).
The straight-line distance from Paris to San Francisco is 8,953 km (5,563 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~11h 2m.
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