Chicago
606 km²
Istanbul
5,461 km²
USA
Turkey
Area Comparison
Chicago is 9.0x smaller than Istanbul
Population Comparison
Chicago has 5.7x fewer people than Istanbul
In terms of area, Istanbul is 9.0x the size of Chicago. Istanbul spans 5,461 km² (2,109 mi²) while Chicago covers 606 km² (234 mi²) — a difference of 4,855 km². You could fit Chicago inside Istanbul approximately 9 times.
To put Chicago's size in perspective, its area of 606 km² is roughly the same size as Seoul. Meanwhile, Istanbul at 5,461 km² is about 1.2x smaller than Shanghai.
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. For Istanbul, that's about 765,000 American football fields, 92 times the area of Manhattan, or 52 times the area of Paris.
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.
Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey, constituting the country's economic, cultural, and historical center. With a population of over 15 million, it is home to 18% of the population of Turkey. Istanbul is among the largest cities in Europe and in the world by population. It is a city on two continents; about two-thirds of its population live in Europe and the rest in Asia.
Also known as "City on Two Continents", Istanbul has an area of 5,461 km² and is home to 15.5 million people. The city dates back to 660 BC. Visitors come for Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Istanbul Metro.
Istanbul is one of the only major cities to span two continents, with about two-thirds of its population living in Europe and the rest in Asia.
Looking beyond city limits, the Chicago metropolitan area covers 28,160 km², which is 5.2x larger than greater Istanbul at 5,461 km². The Istanbul metro area is also more populous, with 15.5 million people compared to 9.5 million.
Chicago has a population density of 4,455 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Istanbul, with 2,831 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Chicago is noticeably denser, packing 1.6 times more people per square kilometer.
This comparison spans continents — Chicago in North America versus Istanbul in Europe. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Chicago has a humid continental climate while Istanbul experiences oceanic conditions. When it's noon in Istanbul, it's 3:00 AM in Chicago — a 9-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Chicago fits inside Istanbul ~9 times
Density Gap
Chicago is 1.6x more densely populated
Time Difference
9 hours apart
History
Istanbul is ~2,493 years older
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).
Istanbul covers 5,461 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Shanghai (6,341 km²), Perth (6,417 km²), Dubai (4,114 km²), Guangzhou (7,434 km²), or Karachi (3,527 km²).
The straight-line distance from Chicago to Istanbul is 8,813 km (5,476 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~10h 52m.
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