City Map Compare/Chennai vs Phoenix
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5 km
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Chennai

427 km²

Phoenix

1,341 km²

Chennai vs Phoenix - City Size Comparison

Chennai vs Phoenix - City Size Comparison

Chennai

India

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

United States

Area1,341 km²
Population1.61M
Density1,201 /km²
Elevation331 m
Founded1868

Area Comparison

Chennai is 3.1x smaller than Phoenix

Population Comparison

Chennai has 4.1x more people than Phoenix

Is Chennai Bigger Than Phoenix?

In terms of area, Phoenix is 3.1x the size of Chennai. Phoenix spans 1,341 km² (518 mi²) while Chennai covers 427 km² (165 mi²) — a difference of 914 km². You could fit Chennai inside Phoenix approximately 3 times.

To put Chennai's size in perspective, its area of 427 km² is about 1.4x smaller than Seoul. Meanwhile, Phoenix at 1,341 km² is about 1.2x smaller than London.

Chennai's footprint is roughly about 60,000 American football fields, 130 times the area of Central Park, or 7 times the area of Manhattan — pick whichever unit feels intuitive. Phoenix, by comparison, equals about 188,000 American football fields, 23 times the area of Manhattan, or 13 times the area of Paris.

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 Phoenix

Phoenix is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Arizona. With over 1.6 million residents at the 2020 census, Phoenix is the fifth-most populous city in the United States and the most populous state capital. The Phoenix metropolitan area, with an estimated 5.19 million residents, is the tenth-most populous metropolitan area in the U.S. and the most populous in the Mountain states and Southwest.

Nicknamed "Valley of the Sun", Phoenix has an area of 1,341 km² and is home to 1.6 million people. The city dates back to 1868. Visitors come for Camelback Mountain, Desert Botanical Garden, Heard Museum, and much more.

Phoenix is the most populous U.S. state capital and the fifth-largest city in the country with 1.6 million residents.

Population Density

Chennai has a population density of 15,457 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. Phoenix, with 1,201 people per km², is a relatively spread-out city. Chennai is dramatically more crowded, with 12.9x the population density.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Chennai fits inside Phoenix ~3 times

Density Gap

Chennai is 12.9x more densely populated

History

Chennai is ~229 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 Phoenix

Phoenix covers 1,341 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Los Angeles (1,302 km²), Rome (1,285 km²), Rio de Janeiro (1,221 km²), Delhi (1,484 km²), or Mexico City (1,485 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is larger, Chennai or Phoenix?
Phoenix is 3.1 times larger than Chennai by area. Phoenix covers 1,341 km² while Chennai spans 427 km², a difference of 914 km².
How many times does Chennai fit inside Phoenix?
Chennai (427 km²) fits inside Phoenix (1,341 km²) approximately 3 times. That means Phoenix is 3.1x the area of Chennai.
What is the population difference between Chennai and Phoenix?
Chennai has approximately 6.6 million people, while Phoenix has about 1.6 million. Chennai has 5.0 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Chennai or Phoenix?
Chennai is more densely populated with 15,457 people per km², compared to 1,201 people per km².
Which city is older, Chennai or Phoenix?
Chennai is older, founded around 1639, while Phoenix was established around 1868 — a difference of about 229 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 Phoenix

The straight-line distance from Chennai to Phoenix is 14,678 km (9,120 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~17h 46m.

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