São Paulo
1,521 km²
Tokyo
2,194 km²
Brazil
Japan
Area Comparison
São Paulo is 1.4x smaller than Tokyo
Population Comparison
São Paulo has 1.1x fewer people than Tokyo
Yes — Tokyo is 1.4x larger than São Paulo by area. Tokyo spans 2,194 km² (847 mi²) while São Paulo covers 1,521 km² (587 mi²) — a difference of 673 km².
To put São Paulo's size in perspective, its area of 1,521 km² is roughly the same size as London. Meanwhile, Tokyo at 2,194 km² is about 1.1x smaller than Moscow.
Picture São Paulo another way: its area is large enough to fit about 213,000 American football fields, 26 times the area of Manhattan, or 14 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.
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.
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.
Often called "Eastern Capital", Tokyo has an area of 2,194 km² and is home to 14.0 million people. Its history stretches back to 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.
Looking beyond city limits, the Tokyo metropolitan area covers 13,572 km², which is 1.7x larger than greater São Paulo at 7,947 km². The Tokyo metro area is also more populous, with 37.4 million people compared to 22.0 million.
São Paulo has a population density of 8,107 people per km² — a densely populated city. Tokyo, with 6,363 people per km², is a densely populated city. Both cities have comparable density, though São Paulo is slightly more compact.
This comparison spans continents — São Paulo in South America versus Tokyo in Asia. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Both cities share a humid subtropical climate, though local geography creates distinct microclimates in each. When it's noon in Tokyo, it's midnight in São Paulo — a 12-hour time difference.
Time Difference
12 hours apart
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).
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 São Paulo to Tokyo is 18,537 km (11,518 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~22h 19m.
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