How to Use Compare City Sizes

Welcome to Compare City Sizes! This step-by-step guide will help you get the most out of our interactive city comparison tool. Whether you're a first-time user or want to learn advanced features, you'll find everything you need here.

Quick Start Guide

Ready to jump in? Here's the fastest way to start comparing cities:

  1. Search for a city using the search box
  2. Click on the city to add it to the map
  3. Search for another city to compare
  4. Drag cities around to see them side by side

Step-by-Step Instructions

1Searching for Cities

Start by searching for the cities you want to compare:

  • Type the city name in the search box (e.g., "New York", "Tokyo", "London")
  • You can include the country name for more specific results (e.g., "Paris, France")
  • The search will show matching cities as you type
  • Click on the city you want to add to the map
Tip: For better results, try searching with the full city name and country. For example, "New York, USA" instead of just "New York".

2Adding Cities to the Map

Once you've selected a city:

  • The city will appear on the map with its real geographic boundaries
  • The city area will be displayed in the sidebar with its size in square kilometers
  • Each city gets a unique color for easy identification
  • The map will automatically zoom to show the city
Tip: The first city you add will be placed at its actual location. Additional cities will be positioned at the same location as the first city for easy comparison. Only when you reset all cities will the next city be placed at its actual location again.

3Moving Cities Around

To compare cities side by side:

  • Hover over a city area - you'll see the cursor change to a grab hand
  • Click and drag the city to move it around the map
  • Position cities next to each other for easy size comparison
Tip: You can drag cities anywhere on the map. Try placing them next to each other to see the size difference clearly!

4Viewing City Details

Get detailed information about each city:

  • Click on any city card in the sidebar to view detailed information
  • See the city's exact area, country, and current position
  • Use the "Show on Map" feature to zoom to a specific city
  • Remove cities you don't want using the × button

5Managing Multiple Cities

When you have multiple cities:

  • Add as many cities as you want for comparison
  • The map automatically adjusts to show all cities
  • Use the "Reset All Cities" button to start over
  • Remove individual cities using the × button on each city card

Advanced Features

🗺️ Close to Real Boundaries

We use official administrative boundaries from OpenStreetMap, not just city centers or metropolitan areas, giving you the geographic size based on administrative limits.

🌍 Global Coverage

Search and compare cities from every continent and country. Our database includes major cities worldwide with their official boundaries.

⚡ Interactive Map

The map responds to your actions in real-time, automatically zooming and adjusting to show the best view of your selected cities.

Pro Tips for Better Comparisons

Compare Similar Cities: Try comparing cities that you think are similar in size - you might be surprised by the results!
Use Different Continents: Compare cities from different continents to see how urban development varies globally.
Check Population vs Area: Notice how some cities with large populations might have small geographic areas (high density) while others with small populations might cover vast areas (low density).
Educational Use: This tool is perfect for geography classes, urban planning studies, and understanding global urbanization patterns.

Troubleshooting

City Not Found?

  • Try searching with the full city name and country
  • Check your spelling - some cities have multiple spellings
  • Try alternative names (e.g., "Mumbai" instead of "Bombay")
  • Some very small cities might not be in our database

Map Not Loading?

  • Check your internet connection
  • Try refreshing the page
  • Make sure JavaScript is enabled in your browser
  • Try using a different browser

Can't Move Cities?

  • Make sure you're clicking on the colored city area, not the map background
  • Try clicking and dragging more slowly
  • Check that you're not in a different map mode

Ready to Start?

You're now ready to explore the world's cities like never before. Launch the interactive map and start comparing!

Launch the interactive map

Found a Problem?

If you encounter any issues or have suggestions for improvements, we'd love to hear from you! If you want, you can write to us directly at support@comparecitysizes.com.

Report an Issue · Suggest a Feature