Atlanta
348 km²
Chicago
606 km²
United States
USA
Area Comparison
Atlanta is 1.7x smaller than Chicago
Population Comparison
Atlanta has 5.4x fewer people than Chicago
In terms of area, Chicago is 1.7x the size of Atlanta. Chicago spans 606 km² (234 mi²) while Atlanta covers 348 km² (134 mi²) — a difference of 258 km².
To put Atlanta's size in perspective, its area of 348 km² is about 1.6x the size of Amsterdam. Meanwhile, Chicago at 606 km² is roughly the same size as Seoul.
Atlanta's footprint is roughly about 49,000 American football fields, 170 times the area of Monaco, or 100 times the area of Central Park — pick whichever unit feels intuitive. Chicago, by comparison, equals about 85,000 American football fields, 180 times the area of Central Park, or 10 times the area of Manhattan.
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the county seat of Fulton County and extends into neighboring DeKalb County. With a population of 498,715 at the 2020 census and an estimated 520,070 in 2024, Atlanta is the eighth-most populous city in the Southeast and the 36th-most populous city in the United States. Atlanta is classified as a Beta+ global city.
Known as "The ATL", Atlanta covers 348 km² with a population of 0.5 million. The city was established in 1845. Atlanta is known for Coca-Cola headquarters, Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, Georgia Aquarium, among other attractions.
Atlanta is Georgia's capital and most populous city, with around 520,070 residents estimated in 2024.
Chicago is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. Located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, it is the third-most populous city in the United States, with a population of 2.74 million at the 2020 census. The Chicago metropolitan area has 9.41 million residents and is the third-largest metropolitan area in the country. Chicago is the seat of Cook County, the second-most populous county in the U.S.
Also known as "The Windy City", Chicago has an area of 606 km² and is home to 2.7 million people. It was established in 1833. Visitors come for Willis Tower, Millennium Park Bean, Navy Pier, and much more. Getting around is easy with the CTA (L train).
Chicago is the third-most populous city in the United States with 2.74 million residents at the 2020 census.
Atlanta has a population density of 1,437 people per km² — a relatively spread-out city. Chicago, with 4,455 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Chicago is dramatically more crowded, with 3.1x the population density.
Density Gap
Chicago is 3.1x more densely populated
Atlanta covers 348 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Dhaka (368 km²), Seattle (369 km²), Philadelphia (370 km²), Portland (376 km²), or Munich (311 km²).
Chicago covers 606 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Seoul (605 km²), Madrid (604 km²), Mumbai (603 km²), Toronto (630 km²), or Hyderabad (650 km²).
The straight-line distance from Atlanta to Chicago is 947 km (589 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~1h 37m.
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