City Map Compare/Riyadh vs Santiago
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Riyadh

1,798 km²

Santiago

838 km²

Riyadh vs Santiago - City Size Comparison

Riyadh vs Santiago - City Size Comparison

Riyadh

Saudi Arabia

Area1,798 km²
Population7.01M
Density3,899 /km²
Elevation612 m
Founded1746
Santiago

Chile

Area838 km²
Population6.26M
Density7,470 /km²
Elevation575 m
Founded1541

Area Comparison

Riyadh is 2.1x larger than Santiago

Population Comparison

Riyadh has 1.1x more people than Santiago

Is Riyadh Bigger Than Santiago?

Riyadh is significantly larger, covering 2.1 times the area of Santiago. Riyadh spans 1,798 km² (694 mi²) while Santiago covers 838 km² (324 mi²) — a difference of 960 km². You could fit Santiago inside Riyadh approximately 2 times.

To put Riyadh's size in perspective, its area of 1,798 km² is about 1.1x the size of London. Meanwhile, Santiago at 838 km² is roughly the same size as Berlin.

Riyadh's footprint is roughly about 252,000 American football fields, 30 times the area of Manhattan, or 17 times the area of Paris — pick whichever unit feels intuitive. Santiago, by comparison, equals about 117,000 American football fields, 14 times the area of Manhattan, or 8 times the area of Paris.

About Riyadh

Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of the Riyadh Province and the centre of the Riyadh Governorate. Located on the eastern bank of Wadi Hanifa, the current form of the metropolis largely emerged in the 1950s as an expansion of the 18th-century walled town, following the dismantling of its defensive fortifications.

Riyadh covers 1,798 km² with a population of 7.0 million. The city was established in 1746. Riyadh is known for Kingdom Centre Tower, Masmak Fortress, Al Faisaliah Tower, among other attractions.

Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia, sitting on the eastern bank of Wadi Hanifa.

About Santiago

Santiago, also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile and one of the largest cities in the Americas. Located in the Chilean Central Valley within the Santiago Basin, between the Andes to the east and the Chilean Coastal Range to the west, it anchors the Santiago Metropolitan Region and its conurbation of Greater Santiago, which comprises more than forty communes and concentrates over a third of the national population and around 45% of Chile's GDP.

Nicknamed "Santiago de Chile", Santiago has an area of 838 km² and is home to 6.3 million people. The city dates back to 1541. Visitors come for Cerro San Cristóbal, Gran Torre Santiago, Plaza de Armas, and much more.

Santiago sits in the Chilean Central Valley between the Andes and the Coastal Range, anchoring over a third of Chile's population.

Population Density

Riyadh has a population density of 3,899 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Santiago, with 7,470 people per km², is a densely populated city. Santiago is noticeably denser, packing 1.9 times more people per square kilometer.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Santiago fits inside Riyadh ~2 times

Density Gap

Santiago is 1.9x more densely populated

History

Santiago is ~205 years older

Cities Similar in Size to Riyadh

Riyadh covers 1,798 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Houston (1,725 km²), Johannesburg (1,644 km²), Shenzhen (1,997 km²), Bogotá (1,578 km²), or London (1,572 km²).

Cities Similar in Size to Santiago

Santiago covers 838 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Kyoto (828 km²), Berlin (892 km²), New York (783 km²), Hamburg (755 km²), or Bangalore (741 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is larger, Riyadh or Santiago?
Riyadh is 2.1 times larger than Santiago by area. Riyadh covers 1,798 km² while Santiago spans 838 km², a difference of 960 km².
How many times does Santiago fit inside Riyadh?
Santiago (838 km²) fits inside Riyadh (1,798 km²) approximately 2 times. That means Riyadh is 2.1x the area of Santiago.
What is the population difference between Riyadh and Santiago?
Riyadh has approximately 7.0 million people, while Santiago has about 6.3 million. Riyadh has 0.8 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Riyadh or Santiago?
Santiago is more densely populated with 7,470 people per km², compared to 3,899 people per km².
Which city is older, Riyadh or Santiago?
Santiago is older, founded around 1541, while Riyadh was established around 1746 — a difference of about 205 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 Riyadh and Santiago

The straight-line distance from Riyadh to Santiago is 13,937 km (8,660 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~16h 54m.

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