The true size of Moscow vs New York City

Moscow is roughly 3.20× the area of New York City — a difference of about 1,727.2 km² (667 sq mi).

Russia
Moscow
2,511 km² (970 sq mi)
~12.6M people

Moscow covers 2,511 km² (970 sq mi), making it one of the largest capital cities in Europe by area.

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 Moscow 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.

Compare Moscow and New York City on the map →

Quick facts

  • Moscow: 2,511 km² · 970 sq mi
  • New York City: 783.8 km² · 303 sq mi
  • Ratio: Moscow is 3.20× New York City
  • Absolute difference: 1,727.2 km²

Related area comparisons