Chicago
606 km²
London
1,572 km²
USA
UK
Area Comparison
Chicago is 2.6x smaller than London
Population Comparison
Chicago has 3.3x fewer people than London
In terms of area, London is 2.6x the size of Chicago. London spans 1,572 km² (607 mi²) while Chicago covers 606 km² (234 mi²) — a difference of 966 km². You could fit Chicago inside London approximately 2 times.
To put Chicago's size in perspective, its area of 606 km² is roughly the same size as Seoul. Meanwhile, London at 1,572 km² is about 1.4x smaller than Tokyo (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 London, that's about 220,000 American football fields, 27 times the area of Manhattan, or 15 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.
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of 9.1 million people in 2024. Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Western Europe, with a population of 15.1 million. London stands on the River Thames in southeast England, at the head of a 50-mile (80 km) tidal estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a major settlement for nearly 2,000 years.
Also known as "The Big Smoke", London has an area of 1,572 km² and is home to 9.0 million people. Its history stretches back to 43. Visitors come for Big Ben, Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace, and much more. Getting around is easy with the London Underground.
London has been a major settlement for nearly 2,000 years, tracing its roots back to Roman times around 47 AD.
Looking beyond city limits, the Chicago metropolitan area covers 28,160 km², which is 3.4x larger than greater London at 8,382 km². The London metro area is also more populous, with 14.3 million people compared to 9.5 million.
Chicago has a population density of 4,455 people per km² — a moderately dense city. London, with 5,712 people per km², is a densely populated city. Both cities have comparable density, though London is slightly more compact.
This comparison spans continents — Chicago in North America versus London in Europe. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Chicago has a humid continental climate while London experiences oceanic conditions. When it's noon in London, it's 6:00 AM in Chicago — a 6-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Chicago fits inside London ~2 times
Time Difference
6 hours apart
History
London is ~1,790 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).
London covers 1,572 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Bangkok (1,569 km²), Bogotá (1,578 km²), São Paulo (1,521 km²), Johannesburg (1,644 km²), or Mexico City (1,485 km²).
The straight-line distance from Chicago to London is 6,353 km (3,948 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~7h 58m.
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