How Big is Singapore? Comparison to NYC, London & Bangkok

Are you curious about the size of the island city-state of Singapore and how it compares to other major cities worldwide?

This article will provide you with an overview of its size, highlighting its similarities and differences with other urban centers around the world.

City Comparison

CityPopulationSize
Singapore6+ million735.7 km²
Kuala Lumpur8+ million243 km²
New York8.4+ million783.8 km²
London8.9 million1,572 km²
Tokyo37+ million2,194 km²
Jakarta10+ million661.5 km²
Bangkok10+ million1,569 km²
Hong Kong7.4+ million1,106 km²
Seoul9.7+ million605.2 km²
Population and city coverage comparison (data collected from https://en.wikipedia.org/)

How Big Is Singapore Compared to Other Cities

The search results indicate that:

Size: Singapore’s land area of approximately 736 km² is roughly the same size as New York City (around 783.8 km², about half the size of Greater London (1,572 km²), and smaller than cities like Tokyo, Bangkok, and Hong Kong. It is larger than Kuala Lumpur and Seoul.

💡 Budget Tip: Since land is scarce, hotel rooms can be small and pricey. Check our list of Top Rated Budget Hotels in Singapore to find better value.

Population: With 6 million+ people, Singapore has a lower population than New York, London, Jakarta, Bangkok, Seoul, and significantly lower than Tokyo (37 million+).

Density: Due to its small area and high population, Singapore has a very high population density, comparable to other dense cities like New York and Tokyo.

Singapore and Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, is just 350 km from Singapore, with a direct flight taking around 1 hour or a drive taking 4-5 hours.

How are Singapore and Kuala Lumpur similar?

  • Both are major financial hubs in Southeast Asia.
  • Both cities have a tropical climate.
  • Both are highly multicultural and diverse.

How are Singapore and Kuala Lumpur different?

  • Singapore is smaller in land area but more densely populated.
  • Kuala Lumpur has more historical buildings, while Singapore is known for its ultra-modern architecture.
  • English is more widely spoken in Singapore compared to Kuala Lumpur.

Singapore and Tokyo

Tokyo, Japan’s sprawling capital, is located 5,300 km from Singapore, with a direct flight taking around 7 hours.

How are Singapore and Tokyo similar?

  • Both cities are major financial and business hubs in Asia.
  • Both have world-class public transport systems.
  • Both cities are densely populated.

How are Singapore and Tokyo different?

  • Tokyo is significantly larger in both population and land area.
  • Tokyo has four distinct seasons, while Singapore has a consistent tropical climate.
  • Tokyo is part of a larger country, whereas Singapore is a standalone city-state.

Singapore and New York

New York, located on the east coast of the United States, is 15,345 km from Singapore, with a direct flight taking around 18-19 hours.

How are Singapore and New York similar?

  • Both cities are important global financial centers.
  • Both cities are highly diverse, with large expat populations.
  • Both have well-developed public transport systems.

How are Singapore and New York different?

  • New York is much larger in land area compared to Singapore.
  • Singapore has a tropical climate, whereas New York experiences all four seasons.
  • Singapore is a city-state, while New York is part of the United States.

Singapore and London

London, the capital of the UK, is located 10,900 km from Singapore, where a direct flight will take around 13 hours.

How are Singapore and London similar?

  • Both are important global financial and business hubs.
  • Both have a significant expat community.
  • Both have multicultural populations and international cuisine scenes.

How are Singapore and London different?

  • London is much larger in both land area and population.
  • Singapore has a tropical climate, while London has a temperate climate with frequent rain.
  • Singapore is a newer, more modern city, while London has centuries of history.

Singapore and Jakarta

Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, is 900 km from Singapore, with a direct flight taking about 1.5 hours.

How are Singapore and Jakarta similar?

  • Both cities are major economic hubs in Southeast Asia.
  • Both have a tropical climate and similar weather patterns.
  • Both cities are highly populated and multicultural.

How are Singapore and Jakarta different?

  • Jakarta is much larger in population but less developed in terms of infrastructure compared to Singapore.
  • Singapore has a higher standard of living and more modern amenities.
  • English is an official language in Singapore, while Bahasa Indonesia is the primary language in Jakarta.

Photo of author

Nicky

Hi! 👋 I'm an expat who has lived, explored, and worked in Asia for over 10 years. I started findyouthere.com to share the knowledge I've picked up over the years with travelers interested in visiting Asia. More on Find You There on the about page.

Month guides for Singapore

Affiliate Disclosure: We may earn a small commission through affiliate programs if you book through a provided link, which helps us maintain and improve the site.