City Map Compare/Chicago vs Lisbon
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5 km
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Chicago

606 km²

Lisbon

100 km²

Chicago vs Lisbon - City Size Comparison

Chicago vs Lisbon - City Size Comparison

Chicago

USA

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

Portugal

Area100 km²
Population0.55M
Density5,500 /km²
Elevation77 m
Metro Pop.2.9M
Founded1200 BC
ClimateMediterranean

Area Comparison

Chicago is 6.1x larger than Lisbon

Population Comparison

Chicago has 4.9x more people than Lisbon

Is Chicago Bigger Than Lisbon?

In terms of area, Chicago is 6.1x the size of Lisbon. Chicago spans 606 km² (234 mi²) while Lisbon covers 100 km² (39 mi²) — a difference of 506 km². You could fit Lisbon inside Chicago approximately 6 times.

To put Chicago's size in perspective, its area of 606 km² is roughly the same size as Seoul. Meanwhile, Lisbon at 100 km² is roughly the same size as Paris (city proper).

Picture Chicago another way: its area is large enough to fit about 85,000 American football fields, 180 times the area of Central Park, or 10 times the area of Manhattan. For Lisbon, that's about 14,000 American football fields, 50 times the area of Monaco, or 29 times the area of Central Park.

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 Lisbon

Lisbon is the capital and most populous city of Portugal, with an estimated population of 575,739 as of 2024, within its administrative limits and 3,028,000 within the metropolis, as of 2025. Lisbon is mainland Europe's westernmost capital city, and the only one along the Atlantic coast, the others being on islands. The city lies in the western portion of the Iberian Peninsula, on the northern shore of the River Tagus.

Also known as "City of Seven Hills", Lisbon has an area of 100 km² and is home to 0.6 million people. Its history stretches back to 1200 BC. Visitors come for Belém Tower, Jerónimos Monastery, Tram 28, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Lisbon Metro.

Lisbon is mainland Europe's westernmost capital city and the only European capital along the Atlantic coast.

Metropolitan Area Comparison

Looking beyond city limits, the Chicago metropolitan area covers 28,160 km², which is 9.3x larger than greater Lisbon at 3,015 km². The Chicago metro area is also more populous, with 9.5 million people compared to 2.9 million.

Population Density

Chicago has a population density of 4,455 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Lisbon, with 5,500 people per km², is a densely populated city. Both cities have comparable density, though Lisbon is slightly more compact.

This comparison spans continents — Chicago in North America versus Lisbon 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 Lisbon experiences Mediterranean conditions. When it's noon in Lisbon, it's 6:00 AM in Chicago — a 6-hour time difference.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Lisbon fits inside Chicago ~6 times

Time Difference

6 hours apart

History

Lisbon is ~3,033 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 Lisbon

Lisbon covers 100 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Barcelona (101 km²), Paris (105 km²), Copenhagen (91 km²), Zurich (88 km²), or Vancouver (115 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is larger, Chicago or Lisbon?
Chicago is 6.1 times larger than Lisbon by area. Chicago covers 606 km² while Lisbon spans 100 km², a difference of 506 km².
How many times does Lisbon fit inside Chicago?
Lisbon (100 km²) fits inside Chicago (606 km²) approximately 6 times. That means Chicago is 6.1x the area of Lisbon.
What is the population difference between Chicago and Lisbon?
Chicago has approximately 2.7 million people, while Lisbon has about 0.6 million. Chicago has 2.2 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Chicago or Lisbon?
Lisbon is more densely populated with 5,500 people per km², compared to 4,455 people per km².
What is the time difference between Chicago and Lisbon?
Chicago is in the UTC-6 timezone while Lisbon is UTC+0. There is a 6-hour time difference between the two cities.
Which city is older, Chicago or Lisbon?
Lisbon is older, founded around -1200, while Chicago was established around 1833 — a difference of about 3033 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 Lisbon

The straight-line distance from Chicago to Lisbon is 6,422 km (3,991 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~8h 3m.

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