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Italy
USA
Area Comparison
Rome is 10.6x larger than San Francisco
Population Comparison
Rome has 3.3x more people than San Francisco
In terms of area, Rome is 10.6x the size of San Francisco. Rome spans 1,285 km² (496 mi²) while San Francisco covers 121 km² (47 mi²) — a difference of 1,164 km². You could fit San Francisco inside Rome approximately 10 times.
To put Rome's size in perspective, its area of 1,285 km² is about 1.2x smaller than London. Meanwhile, San Francisco at 121 km² is about 1.2x the size of Paris (city proper).
Italy's capital and a city of ancient history. Known as "The Eternal City", Rome covers 1,285 km² with a population of 2.9 million. The city was founded around 753 BC. Rome is known for Colosseum, Vatican City, Trevi Fountain, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Rome Metro.
Rome contains an entire independent country within its borders — Vatican City, the world's smallest state
A cultural and financial center in Northern California. Nicknamed "SF", San Francisco has an area of 121 km² and is home to 0.9 million people. Its history stretches 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's 121 km² makes it one of the smallest major US cities by area
Looking beyond city limits, the San Francisco metropolitan area covers 6,984 km², which is 1.3x larger than greater Rome at 5,352 km². The San Francisco metro area is also more populous, with 4.7 million people compared to 4.3 million.
Rome has a population density of 2,233 people per km² — a moderately dense city. San Francisco, with 7,190 people per km², is a densely populated city. San Francisco is dramatically more crowded, with 3.2x the population density.
This comparison spans continents — Rome in Europe versus San Francisco in North America. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Both cities share a Mediterranean climate, though local geography creates distinct microclimates in each. When it's noon in Rome, it's 3:00 AM in San Francisco — a 9-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
San Francisco fits inside Rome ~10 times
Density Gap
San Francisco is 3.2x more densely populated
Time Difference
9 hours apart
History
Rome is ~2,529 years older
The straight-line distance from Rome to San Francisco is 10,047 km (6,243 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~12h 19m. See full distance details, including timezone difference and city facts.
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