City Map Compare/Riyadh vs São Paulo
vs
5 km
|

Riyadh

1,798 km²

São Paulo

1,521 km²

Riyadh vs São Paulo - City Size Comparison

Riyadh vs São Paulo - City Size Comparison

Riyadh

Saudi Arabia

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

Brazil

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

Area Comparison

Riyadh is 1.2x larger than São Paulo

Population Comparison

Riyadh has 1.8x fewer people than São Paulo

Is Riyadh Bigger Than São Paulo?

In terms of area, Riyadh is 1.2x the size of São Paulo. Riyadh spans 1,798 km² (694 mi²) while São Paulo covers 1,521 km² (587 mi²) — a difference of 277 km².

To put Riyadh's size in perspective, its area of 1,798 km² is about 1.1x the size of London. Meanwhile, São Paulo at 1,521 km² is roughly the same size as London.

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. 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 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 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…

Also known as "Sampa", São Paulo has an area of 1,521 km² and is home to 12.3 million people. It was established in 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

Riyadh has a population density of 3,899 people per km² — a moderately dense city. São Paulo, with 8,107 people per km², is a densely populated city. São Paulo is noticeably denser, packing 2.1 times more people per square kilometer.

Key Differences at a Glance

Density Gap

São Paulo is 2.1x more densely populated

History

São Paulo is ~192 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 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

Is Riyadh actually bigger than São Paulo?
Riyadh is 1.2 times larger than São Paulo by area. Riyadh covers 1,798 km² while São Paulo spans 1,521 km², a difference of 277 km².
How many times does São Paulo fit inside Riyadh?
São Paulo (1,521 km²) fits inside Riyadh (1,798 km²) approximately 1 times. That means Riyadh is 1.2x the area of São Paulo.
What is the population difference between Riyadh and São Paulo?
São Paulo has approximately 12.3 million people, while Riyadh has about 7.0 million. São Paulo has 5.3 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Riyadh or São Paulo?
São Paulo is more densely populated with 8,107 people per km², compared to 3,899 people per km².
Which city is older, Riyadh or São Paulo?
São Paulo is older, founded around 1554, while Riyadh was established around 1746 — a difference of about 192 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 São Paulo

The straight-line distance from Riyadh to São Paulo is 11,390 km (7,077 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~13h 54m.

Want to explore more? Compare city sizes for any two cities worldwide, or share your location live with friends.