San Diego
964 km²
Tokyo
2,194 km²
United States
Japan
Area Comparison
San Diego is 2.3x smaller than Tokyo
Population Comparison
San Diego has 10.0x fewer people than Tokyo
In terms of area, Tokyo is 2.3x the size of San Diego. Tokyo spans 2,194 km² (847 mi²) while San Diego covers 964 km² (372 mi²) — a difference of 1,230 km². You could fit San Diego inside Tokyo approximately 2 times.
To put San Diego's size in perspective, its area of 964 km² is roughly the same size as Berlin. Meanwhile, Tokyo at 2,194 km² is about 1.1x smaller than Moscow.
In more relatable units, San Diego's 964 km² is about 135,000 American football fields, 16 times the area of Manhattan, or 9 times the area of Paris. Tokyo works out to about 307,000 American football fields, 37 times the area of Manhattan, or 21 times the area of Paris.
San Diego is a city on the Pacific coast of Southern California, adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. It is the eighth-most populous city in the U.S. and second-most populous city in California with a population of over 1.4 million, while the San Diego metropolitan area with over 3.3 million residents is the 18th-largest metropolitan area in the country. San Diego is the county seat of San Diego County.
Known as "America's Finest City", San Diego covers 964 km² with a population of 1.4 million. The city was established in 1769. San Diego is known for San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park, Coronado Beach, among other attractions.
San Diego sits directly on the Mexico-United States border, making it California's southwesternmost major city.
Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital and most populous city of Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is one of the most populous urban areas in the world. The Greater Tokyo Area, which includes Tokyo and parts of six neighboring prefectures, is the most populous metropolitan area in the world, with 41 million residents as of 2024.
Also known as "Eastern Capital", Tokyo has an area of 2,194 km² and is home to 14.0 million people. It was established in 1457. Visitors come for Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo Tower, Imperial Palace, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Tokyo Metro & JR East.
Greater Tokyo holds 41 million residents as of 2024, making it the most populous metropolitan area on Earth.
San Diego has a population density of 1,442 people per km² — a relatively spread-out city. Tokyo, with 6,363 people per km², is a densely populated city. Tokyo is dramatically more crowded, with 4.4x the population density.
Size Ratio
San Diego fits inside Tokyo ~2 times
Density Gap
Tokyo is 4.4x more densely populated
History
Tokyo is ~312 years older
San Diego covers 964 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Abu Dhabi (972 km²), Dallas (997 km²), Berlin (892 km²), Santiago (838 km²), or Hong Kong (1,114 km²).
Tokyo covers 2,194 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Ho Chi Minh City (2,061 km²), Shenzhen (1,997 km²), Cape Town (2,455 km²), Moscow (2,511 km²), or Lima (2,672 km²).
The straight-line distance from San Diego to Tokyo is 8,988 km (5,585 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~11h 4m.
Want to explore more? Compare city sizes for any two cities worldwide, or share your location live with friends.