City Map Compare/Budapest vs Chicago
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5 km
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Budapest

525 km²

Chicago

606 km²

Budapest vs Chicago - City Size Comparison

Budapest vs Chicago - City Size Comparison

Budapest

Hungary

Area525 km²
Population1.69M
Density3,219 /km²
Elevation117 m
Founded1873
Chicago

USA

Area606 km²
Population2.70M
Density4,455 /km²
Elevation176 m
Metro Pop.9.5M
Founded1833
Climatehumid continental

Area Comparison

Budapest is 1.2x smaller than Chicago

Population Comparison

Budapest has 1.6x fewer people than Chicago

Is Budapest Bigger Than Chicago?

Chicago is significantly larger, covering 1.2 times the area of Budapest. Chicago spans 606 km² (234 mi²) while Budapest covers 525 km² (203 mi²) — a difference of 81 km².

To put Budapest's size in perspective, its area of 525 km² is about 1.2x smaller than Seoul. Meanwhile, Chicago at 606 km² is roughly the same size as Seoul.

Budapest's footprint is roughly about 74,000 American football fields, 150 times the area of Central Park, or 9 times the area of Manhattan — pick whichever unit feels intuitive. For Chicago, that's about 85,000 American football fields, 180 times the area of Central Park, or 10 times the area of Manhattan.

About Budapest

Budapest is the capital and most populous city of Hungary. It is Hungary's primate city with 1.7 million inhabitants and its greater metro area has a population of about 3.3 million, representing one-third of the country's population and producing above 40% of the country's economic output. Budapest is the political, economic, and cultural center of the country, among the ten largest cities in the European Union and the second largest urban area in Central and Eastern Europe.

Known as "Pearl of the Danube", Budapest covers 525 km² with a population of 1.7 million. The city was established in 1873. Budapest is known for Buda Castle, Hungarian Parliament Building, Chain Bridge, among other attractions.

Budapest's metro area holds about 3.3 million people, roughly one-third of Hungary's entire population.

About Chicago

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.

Nicknamed "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.

Population Density

Budapest has a population density of 3,219 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Chicago, with 4,455 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Both cities have comparable density, though Chicago is slightly more compact.

Key Differences at a Glance

Density Gap

Chicago is 1.4x more densely populated

Cities Similar in Size to Budapest

Budapest covers 525 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Warsaw (517 km²), Montreal (498 km²), Prague (496 km²), Auckland (559 km²), or Mumbai (603 km²).

Cities Similar in Size to Chicago

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).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Budapest actually bigger than Chicago?
Chicago is 1.2 times larger than Budapest by area. Chicago covers 606 km² while Budapest spans 525 km², a difference of 81 km².
How many times does Budapest fit inside Chicago?
Budapest (525 km²) fits inside Chicago (606 km²) approximately 1 times. That means Chicago is 1.2x the area of Budapest.
What is the population difference between Budapest and Chicago?
Chicago has approximately 2.7 million people, while Budapest has about 1.7 million. Chicago has 1.0 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Budapest or Chicago?
Chicago is more densely populated with 4,455 people per km², compared to 3,219 people per km².
How does the map comparison work?
Our synchronized map comparison tool displays both cities at the same zoom level. When you zoom in or out on one map, the other automatically adjusts to maintain the same scale, allowing you to directly compare the relative sizes of both cities.
Can I compare other cities?
Yes! Use the city selectors at the top of the page to choose any two cities from our database of 50+ major cities worldwide, or enter custom coordinates for any location.

Distance Between Budapest and Chicago

The straight-line distance from Budapest to Chicago is 7,745 km (4,813 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~9h 37m.

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