Buenos Aires
203 km²
Chicago
606 km²
Argentina
USA
Area Comparison
Buenos Aires is 3.0x smaller than Chicago
Population Comparison
Buenos Aires has 1.1x more people than Chicago
Chicago is significantly larger, covering 3.0 times the area of Buenos Aires. Chicago spans 606 km² (234 mi²) while Buenos Aires covers 203 km² (78 mi²) — a difference of 403 km². You could fit Buenos Aires inside Chicago approximately 2 times.
To put Buenos Aires's size in perspective, its area of 203 km² is roughly the same size as Amsterdam. Meanwhile, Chicago at 606 km² is roughly the same size as Seoul.
In more relatable units, Buenos Aires's 203 km² is about 28,000 American football fields, 100 times the area of Monaco, or 60 times the area of Central Park. Chicago works out to about 85,000 American football fields, 180 times the area of Central Park, or 10 times the area of Manhattan.
Buenos Aires, officially the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, is the capital and largest city of Argentina. It is located on the southwest of the Río de la Plata. Buenos Aires is classified as an Alpha− global city, according to the GaWC 2024 ranking. The city proper has a population of 3.1 million and its urban area has a population of 16.7 million, making it the 21st most populous metropolitan area in the world.
Known as "Paris of South America", Buenos Aires covers 203 km² with a population of 3.1 million. The city was established in 1536. Buenos Aires is known for La Boca's Caminito, Recoleta Cemetery, Teatro Colón, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Buenos Aires Subte.
Buenos Aires is classified as an Alpha− global city according to the GaWC 2024 ranking.
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. 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.
Looking beyond city limits, the Chicago metropolitan area covers 28,160 km², which is 5.9x larger than greater Buenos Aires at 4,758 km². The Buenos Aires metro area is also more populous, with 15.2 million people compared to 9.5 million.
Buenos Aires has a population density of 15,074 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. Chicago, with 4,455 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Buenos Aires is dramatically more crowded, with 3.4x the population density.
This comparison spans continents — Buenos Aires in South America versus Chicago in North America. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Buenos Aires has a humid subtropical climate while Chicago experiences humid continental conditions. When it's noon in Buenos Aires, it's 9:00 AM in Chicago — a 3-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Buenos Aires fits inside Chicago ~2 times
Density Gap
Buenos Aires is 3.4x more densely populated
Time Difference
3 hours apart
History
Buenos Aires is ~297 years older
Buenos Aires covers 203 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Helsinki (214 km²), Amsterdam (219 km²), Stockholm (188 km²), Osaka (225 km²), or Boston (232 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 Buenos Aires to Chicago is 9,012 km (5,600 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~11h 6m.
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