City Map Compare/Phoenix vs São Paulo
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Phoenix

1,341 km²

São Paulo

1,521 km²

Phoenix vs São Paulo - City Size Comparison

Phoenix vs São Paulo - City Size Comparison

Phoenix

United States

Area1,341 km²
Population1.61M
Density1,201 /km²
Elevation331 m
Founded1868
São Paulo

Brazil

Area1,521 km²
Population12.33M
Density8,107 /km²
Elevation760 m
Metro Pop.22.0M
Founded1554
Climatehumid subtropical

Area Comparison

Phoenix is 1.1x smaller than São Paulo

Population Comparison

Phoenix has 7.7x fewer people than São Paulo

Is Phoenix Bigger Than São Paulo?

São Paulo is significantly larger, covering 1.1 times the area of Phoenix. São Paulo spans 1,521 km² (587 mi²) while Phoenix covers 1,341 km² (518 mi²) — a difference of 180 km².

To put Phoenix's size in perspective, its area of 1,341 km² is about 1.2x smaller than London. Meanwhile, São Paulo at 1,521 km² is roughly the same size as London.

Phoenix's footprint is roughly about 188,000 American football fields, 23 times the area of Manhattan, or 13 times the area of Paris — pick whichever unit feels intuitive. For São Paulo, that's about 213,000 American football fields, 26 times the area of Manhattan, or 14 times the area of Paris.

About Phoenix

Phoenix is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Arizona. With over 1.6 million residents at the 2020 census, Phoenix is the fifth-most populous city in the United States and the most populous state capital. The Phoenix metropolitan area, with an estimated 5.19 million residents, is the tenth-most populous metropolitan area in the U.S. and the most populous in the Mountain states and Southwest.

Known as "Valley of the Sun", Phoenix covers 1,341 km² with a population of 1.6 million. The city was established in 1868. Phoenix is known for Camelback Mountain, Desert Botanical Garden, Heard Museum, among other attractions.

Phoenix is the most populous U.S. state capital and the fifth-largest city in the country with 1.6 million residents.

About São Paulo

São Paulo is the capital city of the state of the same name, as well as the most populous city in Brazil, South America, the Americas, and in both the Western and Southern Hemispheres. The city exerts international influence in commerce, finance, culture, gastronomy, arts, fashion, technology, entertainment and media, having been listed by UNESCO's Creative Cities Network as a "City of Film" and the title of "World Capital of Gastronomy", and by the Globalization and World Cities Research…

Often called "Sampa", São Paulo has an area of 1,521 km² and is home to 12.3 million people. The city dates back to 1554. Visitors come for Avenida Paulista, Ibirapuera Park, São Paulo Museum of Art, and much more. Getting around is easy with the São Paulo Metro.

São Paulo is the most populous city in Brazil, the Americas, and both the Western and Southern Hemispheres.

Population Density

Phoenix has a population density of 1,201 people per km² — a relatively spread-out city. São Paulo, with 8,107 people per km², is a densely populated city. São Paulo is dramatically more crowded, with 6.8x the population density.

Key Differences at a Glance

Density Gap

São Paulo is 6.8x more densely populated

History

São Paulo is ~314 years older

Cities Similar in Size to Phoenix

Phoenix covers 1,341 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Los Angeles (1,302 km²), Rome (1,285 km²), Rio de Janeiro (1,221 km²), Delhi (1,484 km²), or Mexico City (1,485 km²).

Cities Similar in Size to São Paulo

São Paulo covers 1,521 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Mexico City (1,485 km²), Delhi (1,484 km²), Bangkok (1,569 km²), London (1,572 km²), or Bogotá (1,578 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is larger, Phoenix or São Paulo?
São Paulo is 1.1 times larger than Phoenix by area. São Paulo covers 1,521 km² while Phoenix spans 1,341 km², a difference of 180 km².
How many times does Phoenix fit inside São Paulo?
Phoenix (1,341 km²) fits inside São Paulo (1,521 km²) approximately 1 times. That means São Paulo is 1.1x the area of Phoenix.
What is the population difference between Phoenix and São Paulo?
São Paulo has approximately 12.3 million people, while Phoenix has about 1.6 million. São Paulo has 10.7 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Phoenix or São Paulo?
São Paulo is more densely populated with 8,107 people per km², compared to 1,201 people per km².
Which city is older, Phoenix or São Paulo?
São Paulo is older, founded around 1554, while Phoenix was established around 1868 — a difference of about 314 years.
How does the map comparison work?
Our synchronized map comparison tool displays both cities at the same zoom level. When you zoom in or out on one map, the other automatically adjusts to maintain the same scale, allowing you to directly compare the relative sizes of both cities.
Can I compare other cities?
Yes! Use the city selectors at the top of the page to choose any two cities from our database of 50+ major cities worldwide, or enter custom coordinates for any location.

Distance Between Phoenix and São Paulo

The straight-line distance from Phoenix to São Paulo is 9,384 km (5,831 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~11h 32m.

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