Bangkok
1,569 km²
Chicago
606 km²
Thailand
USA
Area Comparison
Bangkok is 2.6x larger than Chicago
Population Comparison
Bangkok has 3.9x more people than Chicago
Yes — Bangkok is 2.6x larger than Chicago by area. Bangkok spans 1,569 km² (606 mi²) while Chicago covers 606 km² (234 mi²) — a difference of 963 km². You could fit Chicago inside Bangkok approximately 2 times.
To put Bangkok's size in perspective, its area of 1,569 km² is roughly the same size as London. Meanwhile, Chicago at 606 km² is roughly the same size as Seoul.
Bangkok's footprint is roughly about 220,000 American football fields, 27 times the area of Manhattan, or 15 times the area of Paris — pick whichever unit feels intuitive. Chicago works out to about 85,000 American football fields, 180 times the area of Central Park, or 10 times the area of Manhattan.
Bangkok, officially known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies 1,568.7 square kilometres (605.7 sq mi) in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estimated population of 11.4 million people as of 2024, 15.9% of the country's population.
Known as "City of Angels", Bangkok covers 1,569 km² with a population of 10.5 million. The city was established in 1782. Bangkok is known for Grand Palace, Wat Arun, Wat Pho, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the BTS Skytrain & MRT.
Bangkok's official Thai name is Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, with the full ceremonial name being one of the longest place names in the world.
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.
Often called "The Windy City", Chicago has an area of 606 km² and is home to 2.7 million people. Its history stretches back to 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.
Looking beyond city limits, the Chicago metropolitan area covers 28,160 km², which is 3.6x larger than greater Bangkok at 7,762 km². The Bangkok metro area is also more populous, with 16.2 million people compared to 9.5 million.
Bangkok has a population density of 6,718 people per km² — a densely populated city. Chicago, with 4,455 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Bangkok is noticeably denser, packing 1.5 times more people per square kilometer.
This comparison spans continents — Bangkok in Asia versus Chicago in North America. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Bangkok has a tropical savanna climate while Chicago experiences humid continental conditions. Winters differ dramatically: Bangkok stays around 26°C while Chicago drops to -3°C. When it's noon in Bangkok, it's midnight in Chicago — a 13-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Chicago fits inside Bangkok ~2 times
Density Gap
Bangkok is 1.5x more densely populated
Time Difference
13 hours apart
Bangkok covers 1,569 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include London (1,572 km²), Bogotá (1,578 km²), São Paulo (1,521 km²), Johannesburg (1,644 km²), or Mexico City (1,485 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 Bangkok to Chicago is 13,773 km (8,558 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~16h 42m.
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