São Paulo
1,521 km²
Seoul
605 km²
Brazil
South Korea
Area Comparison
São Paulo is 2.5x larger than Seoul
Population Comparison
São Paulo has 1.3x more people than Seoul
São Paulo is significantly larger, covering 2.5 times the area of Seoul. São Paulo spans 1,521 km² (587 mi²) while Seoul covers 605 km² (234 mi²) — a difference of 916 km². You could fit Seoul inside São Paulo approximately 2 times.
To put São Paulo's size in perspective, its area of 1,521 km² is roughly the same size as London. Meanwhile, Seoul at 605 km² is about 1.3x smaller than New York City.
In more relatable units, São Paulo's 1,521 km² is about 213,000 American football fields, 26 times the area of Manhattan, or 14 times the area of Paris. For Seoul, that's about 85,000 American football fields, 180 times the area of Central Park, or 10 times the area of Manhattan.
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…
Known as "Sampa", São Paulo covers 1,521 km² with a population of 12.3 million. The city was established in 1554. São Paulo is known for Avenida Paulista, Ibirapuera Park, São Paulo Museum of Art, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the São Paulo Metro.
São Paulo is the most populous city in Brazil, the Americas, and both the Western and Southern Hemispheres.
Seoul, officially Seoul Special Metropolitan City, is the capital and largest city of South Korea, and the largest city in the whole of Korea. The broader Seoul Metropolitan Area, encompassing Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon, emerged as the world's sixth largest metropolitan economy in 2022, behind New York, Tokyo, Los Angeles, Paris, and London, and hosts more than half of South Korea's population.
Seoul has an area of 605 km² and is home to 9.8 million people. It was founded around 18 BC. Visitors come for Gyeongbokgung Palace, Gangnam district, Myeongdong shopping, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Seoul Metro.
Seoul Metropolitan Area emerged as the world's sixth largest metropolitan economy in 2022, behind only NYC, Tokyo, LA, Paris, and London.
Looking beyond city limits, the Seoul metropolitan area covers 11,704 km², which is 1.5x larger than greater São Paulo at 7,947 km². The Seoul metro area is also more populous, with 25.5 million people compared to 22.0 million.
São Paulo has a population density of 8,107 people per km² — a densely populated city. Seoul, with 16,149 people per km², is an extremely dense urban environment. Seoul is noticeably denser, packing 2.0 times more people per square kilometer.
This comparison spans continents — São Paulo in South America versus Seoul in Asia. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
São Paulo has a humid subtropical climate while Seoul experiences humid continental conditions. Winters differ dramatically: São Paulo stays around 17°C while Seoul drops to -3°C. When it's noon in Seoul, it's midnight in São Paulo — a 12-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Seoul fits inside São Paulo ~2 times
Density Gap
Seoul is 2.0x more densely populated
Time Difference
12 hours apart
History
Seoul is ~1,572 years older
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).
Seoul covers 605 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Chicago (606 km²), Madrid (604 km²), Mumbai (603 km²), Toronto (630 km²), or Hyderabad (650 km²).
The straight-line distance from São Paulo to Seoul is 18,342 km (11,397 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~22h 5m.
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