City Map Compare/Chicago vs Montreal
vs
5 km
|

Chicago

606 km²

Montreal

498 km²

Chicago vs Montreal - City Size Comparison

Chicago vs Montreal - City Size Comparison

Chicago

USA

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

Canada

Area498 km²
Population1.76M
Density3,534 /km²
Elevation31 m
Founded1642

Area Comparison

Chicago is 1.2x larger than Montreal

Population Comparison

Chicago has 1.5x more people than Montreal

Is Chicago Bigger Than Montreal?

Chicago is significantly larger, covering 1.2 times the area of Montreal. Chicago spans 606 km² (234 mi²) while Montreal covers 498 km² (192 mi²) — a difference of 108 km².

To put Chicago's size in perspective, its area of 606 km² is roughly the same size as Seoul. Meanwhile, Montreal at 498 km² is about 1.2x smaller than Seoul.

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 Montreal, that's about 70,000 American football fields, 150 times the area of Central Park, or 8 times the area of Manhattan.

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 Montreal

Montreal is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest in Canada, and the eighth-largest in North America. Founded in 1642 as Ville-Marie, or "City of Mary", it now takes its name from Mount Royal, the triple-peaked mountain around which the early settlement was built. The city is centred on the Island of Montreal and a few, much smaller, peripheral islands, the largest of which is Île Bizard.

Nicknamed "MTL", Montreal has an area of 498 km² and is home to 1.8 million people. It was established in 1642. Visitors come for Mount Royal, Notre-Dame Basilica, Old Montreal, and much more.

Montreal was founded in 1642 as Ville-Marie, meaning 'City of Mary', before adopting its current name from Mount Royal.

Population Density

Chicago has a population density of 4,455 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Montreal, with 3,534 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Both cities have comparable density, though Chicago is slightly more compact.

Key Differences at a Glance

History

Montreal is ~191 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 Montreal

Montreal covers 498 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Prague (496 km²), Warsaw (517 km²), Budapest (525 km²), Oslo (454 km²), or Auckland (559 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is larger, Chicago or Montreal?
Chicago is 1.2 times larger than Montreal by area. Chicago covers 606 km² while Montreal spans 498 km², a difference of 108 km².
How many times does Montreal fit inside Chicago?
Montreal (498 km²) fits inside Chicago (606 km²) approximately 1 times. That means Chicago is 1.2x the area of Montreal.
What is the population difference between Chicago and Montreal?
Chicago has approximately 2.7 million people, while Montreal has about 1.8 million. Chicago has 0.9 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Chicago or Montreal?
Chicago is more densely populated with 4,455 people per km², compared to 3,534 people per km².
Which city is older, Chicago or Montreal?
Montreal is older, founded around 1642, while Chicago was established around 1833 — a difference of about 191 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 Montreal

The straight-line distance from Chicago to Montreal is 1,200 km (745 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~1h 55m.

Want to explore more? Compare city sizes for any two cities worldwide, or share your location live with friends.