City Map Compare/Chennai vs Chicago
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5 km
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Chennai

427 km²

Chicago

606 km²

Chennai vs Chicago - City Size Comparison

Chennai vs Chicago - City Size Comparison

Chennai

India

Area427 km²
Population6.60M
Density15,457 /km²
Elevation6 m
Founded1639
Chicago

United States

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

Area Comparison

Chennai is 1.4x smaller than Chicago

Population Comparison

Chennai has 2.4x more people than Chicago

Is Chennai Bigger Than Chicago?

In terms of area, Chicago is 1.4x the size of Chennai. Chicago spans 606 km² (234 mi²) while Chennai covers 427 km² (165 mi²) — a difference of 179 km².

To put Chennai's size in perspective, its area of 427 km² is about 1.4x smaller than Seoul. Meanwhile, Chicago at 606 km² is roughly the same size as Seoul.

Picture Chennai another way: its area is large enough to fit about 60,000 American football fields, 130 times the area of Central Park, or 7 times the area of Manhattan. Chicago works out to about 85,000 American football fields, 180 times the area of Central Park, or 10 times the area of Manhattan.

About Chennai

Chennai, also known as Madras, is the capital and largest city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost state of India. It is located on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal. As per the 2011 Indian census, Chennai is the sixth-most-populous city in India and forms the fourth-most-populous urban agglomeration. The city is coterminous with Chennai district, which together with the adjoining suburbs constitutes the Chennai Metropolitan Area, one of the largest metropolitan areas of India.

Known as "Madras", Chennai covers 427 km² with a population of 6.6 million. The city was established in 1639. Chennai is known for Marina Beach, Kapaleeshwarar Temple, Fort St. George, among other attractions.

Chennai, formerly Madras, is the capital of Tamil Nadu and the sixth-most-populous city in India.

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.

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.

Population Density

Chennai has a population density of 15,457 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. Chicago, with 4,455 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Chennai is dramatically more crowded, with 3.5x the population density.

Key Differences at a Glance

Density Gap

Chennai is 3.5x more densely populated

History

Chennai is ~194 years older

Cities Similar in Size to Chennai

Chennai covers 427 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Vienna (415 km²), Oslo (454 km²), Denver (401 km²), Portland (376 km²), or Philadelphia (370 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 Chennai actually bigger than Chicago?
Chicago is 1.4 times larger than Chennai by area. Chicago covers 606 km² while Chennai spans 427 km², a difference of 179 km².
How many times does Chennai fit inside Chicago?
Chennai (427 km²) fits inside Chicago (606 km²) approximately 1 times. That means Chicago is 1.4x the area of Chennai.
What is the population difference between Chennai and Chicago?
Chennai has approximately 6.6 million people, while Chicago has about 2.7 million. Chennai has 3.9 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Chennai or Chicago?
Chennai is more densely populated with 15,457 people per km², compared to 4,455 people per km².
Which city is older, Chennai or Chicago?
Chennai is older, founded around 1639, while Chicago was established around 1833 — a difference of about 194 years.
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 Chennai and Chicago

The straight-line distance from Chennai to Chicago is 13,779 km (8,562 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~16h 43m.

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