Was the cities in the north smaller and if they were, why (Game of Thrones and The Elder Scrolls examples inside)?

by Peraz

So, I noticed that Winterfell in Game of Thrones, the one of the seven kingdoms` capital, is way smaller than King's Landing.

Another example is this funny image, which pretty much shows the three different regions of a continent in the Elder Scrolls universe. So I want to ask, is it the same as in the real life history? And if it is, why?

Guzelian

Cold=climate less suitable to grow crops=less population that can be fed=less people