City Map Compare/Chicago vs Miami
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Chicago

606 km²

Miami

143 km²

Chicago vs Miami - City Size Comparison

Chicago vs Miami - City Size Comparison

Chicago

USA

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

USA

Area143 km²
Population0.44M
Density3,077 /km²
Elevation2 m
Metro Pop.6.2M
Founded1896
Climatetropical monsoon

Area Comparison

Chicago is 4.2x larger than Miami

Population Comparison

Chicago has 6.1x more people than Miami

Is Chicago Bigger Than Miami?

In terms of area, Chicago is 4.2x the size of Miami. Chicago spans 606 km² (234 mi²) while Miami covers 143 km² (55 mi²) — a difference of 463 km². You could fit Miami inside Chicago approximately 4 times.

To put Chicago's size in perspective, its area of 606 km² is roughly the same size as Seoul. Meanwhile, Miami at 143 km² is about 1.2x the size of San Francisco.

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. Miami works out to about 20,000 American football fields, 71 times the area of Monaco, or 42 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 Miami

Miami is a coastal city in the U.S. state of Florida. It is the second-most populous city proper in Florida, with a population of 442,241 at the 2020 census. The Miami metropolitan area in South Florida has an estimated 6.39 million residents, ranking as the fifth-largest metropolitan area in the Southeast and eighth-largest metropolitan area in the United States. Miami has the third-largest skyline in the U.S. with over 300 high-rises, 70 of which exceed 491 ft (150 m).

Also known as "Magic City", Miami has an area of 143 km² and is home to 0.4 million people. Its history stretches back to 1896. Visitors come for South Beach, Art Deco Historic District, Little Havana, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Metrorail Miami.

Miami boasts the third-largest skyline in the U.S. with over 300 high-rises, 70 of them topping 491 feet

Metropolitan Area Comparison

Looking beyond city limits, the Chicago metropolitan area covers 28,160 km², which is 1.8x larger than greater Miami at 15,890 km². The Chicago metro area is also more populous, with 9.5 million people compared to 6.2 million.

Population Density

Chicago has a population density of 4,455 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Miami, with 3,077 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Both cities have comparable density, though Chicago is slightly more compact.

Both Chicago and Miami are in USA, making this a domestic size comparison that reveals how differently cities can develop within the same nation.

Climate & Time Zone

Chicago has a humid continental climate while Miami experiences tropical monsoon conditions. Winters differ dramatically: Miami stays around 20°C while Chicago drops to -3°C.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Miami fits inside Chicago ~4 times

Density Gap

Chicago is 1.4x more densely populated

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 Miami

Miami covers 143 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Minneapolis (149 km²), Brussels (161 km²), San Francisco (121 km²), Washington D.C. (177 km²), or Vancouver (115 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chicago actually bigger than Miami?
Chicago is 4.2 times larger than Miami by area. Chicago covers 606 km² while Miami spans 143 km², a difference of 463 km².
How many times does Miami fit inside Chicago?
Miami (143 km²) fits inside Chicago (606 km²) approximately 4 times. That means Chicago is 4.2x the area of Miami.
What is the population difference between Chicago and Miami?
Chicago has approximately 2.7 million people, while Miami has about 0.4 million. Chicago has 2.3 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Chicago or Miami?
Chicago is more densely populated with 4,455 people per km², compared to 3,077 people per km².
Which city is older, Chicago or Miami?
Chicago is older, founded around 1833, while Miami was established around 1896 — a difference of about 63 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 Miami

The straight-line distance from Chicago to Miami is 1,917 km (1,191 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~2h 45m.

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