City Map Compare/São Paulo vs Vancouver
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São Paulo

1,521 km²

Vancouver

115 km²

São Paulo vs Vancouver - City Size Comparison

São Paulo vs Vancouver - City Size Comparison

São Paulo

Brazil

Area1,521 km²
Population12.33M
Density8,107 /km²
Elevation760 m
Metro Pop.22.0M
Founded1554
Climatehumid subtropical
Vancouver

Canada

Area115 km²
Population0.66M
Density5,739 /km²
Elevation2 m
Founded1886
ClimateMarine west coast climate

Area Comparison

São Paulo is 13.2x larger than Vancouver

Population Comparison

São Paulo has 18.7x more people than Vancouver

Is São Paulo Bigger Than Vancouver?

In terms of area, São Paulo is 13.2x the size of Vancouver. São Paulo spans 1,521 km² (587 mi²) while Vancouver covers 115 km² (44 mi²) — a difference of 1,406 km². You could fit Vancouver inside São Paulo approximately 13 times.

To put São Paulo's size in perspective, its area of 1,521 km² is roughly the same size as London. Meanwhile, Vancouver at 115 km² is roughly the same size as San Francisco.

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. For Vancouver, that's about 16,000 American football fields, 57 times the area of Monaco, or 34 times the area of Central Park.

About São Paulo

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.

About Vancouver

Vancouver is a major city in Western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the city, up from 631,486 in 2016. The Metro Vancouver area had a population of 2.6 million in 2021, making it the third-largest metropolitan area in Canada. Greater Vancouver, along with the Fraser Valley, comprises the Lower Mainland with a regional population of over 3 million.

Often called "Hollywood North", Vancouver has an area of 115 km² and is home to 0.7 million people. It was established in 1886. Visitors come for Stanley Park, Granville Island, Capilano Suspension Bridge, and much more.

Vancouver grew from 631,486 residents in 2016 to 662,248 by the 2021 census, leading all of British Columbia.

Population Density

São Paulo has a population density of 8,107 people per km² — a densely populated city. Vancouver, with 5,739 people per km², is a densely populated city. Both cities have comparable density, though São Paulo is slightly more compact.

Climate & Time Zone

São Paulo has a humid subtropical climate while Vancouver experiences Marine west coast climate conditions.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Vancouver fits inside São Paulo ~13 times

Density Gap

São Paulo is 1.4x more densely populated

History

São Paulo is ~332 years older

Cities Similar in Size to São Paulo

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).

Cities Similar in Size to Vancouver

Vancouver covers 115 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include San Francisco (121 km²), Paris (105 km²), Barcelona (101 km²), Lisbon (100 km²), or Miami (143 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is São Paulo bigger than Vancouver?
São Paulo is 13.2 times larger than Vancouver by area. São Paulo covers 1,521 km² while Vancouver spans 115 km², a difference of 1,406 km².
How many times does Vancouver fit inside São Paulo?
Vancouver (115 km²) fits inside São Paulo (1,521 km²) approximately 13 times. That means São Paulo is 13.2x the area of Vancouver.
What is the population difference between São Paulo and Vancouver?
São Paulo has approximately 12.3 million people, while Vancouver has about 0.7 million. São Paulo has 11.7 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, São Paulo or Vancouver?
São Paulo is more densely populated with 8,107 people per km², compared to 5,739 people per km².
Which city is older, São Paulo or Vancouver?
São Paulo is older, founded around 1554, while Vancouver was established around 1886 — a difference of about 332 years.
How does the map comparison work?
Our synchronized map comparison tool displays both cities at the same zoom level. When you zoom in or out on one map, the other automatically adjusts to maintain the same scale, allowing you to directly compare the relative sizes of both cities.
Can I compare other cities?
Yes! Use the city selectors at the top of the page to choose any two cities from our database of 50+ major cities worldwide, or enter custom coordinates for any location.

Distance Between São Paulo and Vancouver

The straight-line distance from São Paulo to Vancouver is 11,050 km (6,866 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~13h 30m.

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