The true size of Mexico City vs New York City
Mexico City is roughly 1.89× the area of New York City — a difference of about 701.2 km² (271 sq mi).
Mexico
Mexico City
1,485 km² (573 sq mi)
~9.2M people
Mexico City occupies 1,485 km² (573 sq mi) in a high-altitude valley in central Mexico.
USA
New York City
783.8 km² (303 sq mi)
~8.3M people
New York City covers 783.8 km² (302.6 sq mi) across five boroughs on the US Atlantic coast.
Why raw area is misleading on a world map
Standard web maps use the Mercator projection, which stretches shapes further from the equator. That's why Mexico City and New York City can look similar on a map even when one is many times larger. To really feel the difference, you have to overlay one city's outline directly on top of the other at true scale.
Quick facts
- Mexico City: 1,485 km² · 573 sq mi
- New York City: 783.8 km² · 303 sq mi
- Ratio: Mexico City is 1.89× New York City
- Absolute difference: 701.2 km²