Rome
1,285 km²
San Francisco
121 km²
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).
In more relatable units, Rome's 1,285 km² is about 180,000 American football fields, 22 times the area of Manhattan, or 12 times the area of Paris. San Francisco, by comparison, equals about 17,000 American football fields, 60 times the area of Monaco, or 35 times the area of Central Park.
Rome is the capital city and most populated comune (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special comune named Roma Capitale with a population of 2.7 million in an area of 1,287.36 km2 (497.1 mi2), Rome is the third most populous city in the European Union by population within city limits. The Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, with a population of 4.2 million, is the most populous metropolitan city in Italy.
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's special comune Roma Capitale spans 1,287 km2, making it the third most populous city in the EU within city limits
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.
Nicknamed "The City by the Bay", 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 ranks first by per capita income among all US cities with 300,000+ residents as of 2023.
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
Rome covers 1,285 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Los Angeles (1,302 km²), Phoenix (1,341 km²), Rio de Janeiro (1,221 km²), San Antonio (1,209 km²), or Lagos (1,172 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 Rome to San Francisco is 10,047 km (6,243 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~12h 19m.
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