Chennai
427 km²
Los Angeles
1,302 km²
India
United States
Area Comparison
Chennai is 3.0x smaller than Los Angeles
Population Comparison
Chennai has 1.7x more people than Los Angeles
Yes — Los Angeles is 3.0x larger than Chennai by area. Los Angeles spans 1,302 km² (503 mi²) while Chennai covers 427 km² (165 mi²) — a difference of 875 km². You could fit Chennai inside Los Angeles approximately 3 times.
To put Chennai's size in perspective, its area of 427 km² is about 1.4x smaller than Seoul. Meanwhile, Los Angeles at 1,302 km² is about 1.2x smaller than London.
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. Los Angeles, by comparison, equals about 182,000 American football fields, 22 times the area of Manhattan, or 12 times the area of Paris.
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.
Los Angeles (LA) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Southern California. With an estimated 3.88 million residents within the city limits as of 2024, it is the second-most populous city in the United States, behind New York City, and the largest city in the Western United States. The city has an ethnically and culturally diverse population, and is the principal city of a metropolitan area of 12.9 million people (2024).
Also known as "The City of Angels", Los Angeles has an area of 1,302 km² and is home to 4.0 million people. Its history stretches back to 1781. Visitors come for Hollywood Sign, Santa Monica Pier, Beverly Hills, and much more. Getting around is easy with the LA Metro.
Los Angeles is the second-most populous city in the United States, home to 3.88 million residents within city limits as of 2024.
Chennai has a population density of 15,457 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. Los Angeles, with 3,049 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Chennai is dramatically more crowded, with 5.1x the population density.
Size Ratio
Chennai fits inside Los Angeles ~3 times
Density Gap
Chennai is 5.1x more densely populated
History
Chennai is ~142 years older
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).
Los Angeles covers 1,302 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Rome (1,285 km²), Phoenix (1,341 km²), Rio de Janeiro (1,221 km²), San Antonio (1,209 km²), or Lagos (1,172 km²).
The straight-line distance from Chennai to Los Angeles is 14,420 km (8,960 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~17h 28m.
Want to explore more? Compare city sizes for any two cities worldwide, or share your location live with friends.