City Map Compare/Chicago vs Berlin
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5 km
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Chicago

606 km²

Berlin

892 km²

Chicago vs Berlin - City Size Comparison

Chicago vs Berlin - City Size Comparison

Chicago

USA

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

Germany

Area892 km²
Population3.65M
Density4,092 /km²
Elevation34 m
Metro Pop.6.1M
Founded1237
Climateoceanic

Area Comparison

Chicago is 1.5x smaller than Berlin

Population Comparison

Chicago has 1.4x fewer people than Berlin

Is Chicago Bigger Than Berlin?

Berlin is significantly larger, covering 1.5 times the area of Chicago. Berlin spans 892 km² (344 mi²) while Chicago covers 606 km² (234 mi²) — a difference of 286 km².

To put Chicago's size in perspective, its area of 606 km² is roughly the same size as Seoul. Meanwhile, Berlin at 892 km² is about 1.1x the size of New York City.

Chicago's footprint is roughly about 85,000 American football fields, 180 times the area of Central Park, or 10 times the area of Manhattan — pick whichever unit feels intuitive. Berlin, by comparison, equals about 125,000 American football fields, 15 times the area of Manhattan, or 8 times the area of Paris.

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.

Known as "The Windy City", Chicago covers 606 km² with a population of 2.7 million. The city was established in 1833. Chicago is known for Willis Tower, Millennium Park Bean, Navy Pier, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the CTA (L train).

Chicago is the third-most populous city in the United States with 2.74 million residents at the 2020 census.

About Berlin

Berlin is the capital of Germany, as well as its largest city by both area and population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the highest population within its city limits of any city in the European Union. The city is also one of the states of Germany, being the third-smallest state in the country by area. Berlin is surrounded by the state of Brandenburg, bordering Brandenburg's capital Potsdam to the southwest.

Berlin has an area of 892 km² and is home to 3.6 million people. It was established in 1237. Visitors come for Brandenburg Gate, Berlin Wall, Reichstag Building, and much more. Getting around is easy with the BVG (U-Bahn & S-Bahn).

Berlin holds the highest population within city limits of any city in the European Union, with 3.7 million inhabitants.

Metropolitan Area Comparison

Looking beyond city limits, the Chicago metropolitan area covers 28,160 km², which is 7.5x larger than greater Berlin at 3,743 km². The Chicago metro area is also more populous, with 9.5 million people compared to 6.1 million.

Population Density

Chicago has a population density of 4,455 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Berlin, with 4,092 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Both cities have comparable density, though Chicago is slightly more compact.

This comparison spans continents — Chicago in North America versus Berlin in Europe. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.

Climate & Time Zone

Chicago has a humid continental climate while Berlin experiences oceanic conditions. When it's noon in Berlin, it's 5:00 AM in Chicago — a 7-hour time difference.

Key Differences at a Glance

Time Difference

7 hours apart

History

Berlin is ~596 years older

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).

Cities Similar in Size to Berlin

Berlin covers 892 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Santiago (838 km²), Kyoto (828 km²), San Diego (964 km²), Abu Dhabi (972 km²), or Dallas (997 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chicago actually bigger than Berlin?
Berlin is 1.5 times larger than Chicago by area. Berlin covers 892 km² while Chicago spans 606 km², a difference of 286 km².
How many times does Chicago fit inside Berlin?
Chicago (606 km²) fits inside Berlin (892 km²) approximately 1 times. That means Berlin is 1.5x the area of Chicago.
What is the population difference between Chicago and Berlin?
Berlin has approximately 3.6 million people, while Chicago has about 2.7 million. Berlin has 0.9 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Chicago or Berlin?
Chicago is more densely populated with 4,455 people per km², compared to 4,092 people per km².
What is the time difference between Chicago and Berlin?
Chicago is in the UTC-6 timezone while Berlin is UTC+1. There is a 7-hour time difference between the two cities.
Which city is older, Chicago or Berlin?
Berlin is older, founded around 1237, while Chicago was established around 1833 — a difference of about 596 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 Chicago and Berlin

The straight-line distance from Chicago to Berlin is 7,083 km (4,401 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~8h 50m. See full distance details, including timezone difference and city facts.

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