Chicago
606 km²
Moscow
2,511 km²
USA
Russia
Area Comparison
Chicago is 4.1x smaller than Moscow
Population Comparison
Chicago has 4.6x fewer people than Moscow
Yes — Moscow is 4.1x larger than Chicago by area. Moscow spans 2,511 km² (970 mi²) while Chicago covers 606 km² (234 mi²) — a difference of 1,905 km². You could fit Chicago inside Moscow approximately 4 times.
To put Chicago's size in perspective, its area of 606 km² is roughly the same size as Seoul. Meanwhile, Moscow at 2,511 km² is roughly the same size as Luxembourg.
In more relatable units, Chicago's 606 km² is about 85,000 American football fields, 180 times the area of Central Park, or 10 times the area of Manhattan. Moscow works out to about 352,000 American football fields, 42 times the area of Manhattan, or 24 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.
Moscow is the capital and largest city of Russia, standing on the Moskva River in Central Russia. It has a population estimated at over 13 million residents within the city limits, over 19.1 million residents in the urban area, and over 21.5 million residents in its metropolitan area. The city covers an area of 2,511 square kilometers (970 mi2), while the urban area covers 5,891 square kilometers (2,275 mi2), and the metropolitan area covers over 26,000 square kilometers (10,000 mi2).
Nicknamed "Third Rome", Moscow has an area of 2,511 km² and is home to 12.5 million people. The city dates back to 1147. Visitors come for Red Square, Kremlin, Saint Basil's Cathedral, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Moscow Metro.
Moscow's metropolitan area covers over 26,000 square kilometers, making it one of the largest metropolitan footprints in Europe.
Looking beyond city limits, the Chicago metropolitan area covers 28,160 km², which is 4.8x larger than greater Moscow at 5,891 km². The Moscow metro area is also more populous, with 17.1 million people compared to 9.5 million.
Chicago has a population density of 4,455 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Moscow, with 4,994 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Both cities have comparable density, though Moscow is slightly more compact.
This comparison spans continents — Chicago in North America versus Moscow in Europe. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Both cities share a humid continental climate, though local geography creates distinct microclimates in each. When it's noon in Moscow, it's 3:00 AM in Chicago — a 9-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Chicago fits inside Moscow ~4 times
Time Difference
9 hours apart
History
Moscow is ~686 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).
Moscow covers 2,511 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Cape Town (2,455 km²), Lima (2,672 km²), Tokyo (2,194 km²), Ho Chi Minh City (2,061 km²), or Cairo (3,085 km²).
The straight-line distance from Chicago to Moscow is 7,999 km (4,971 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~9h 55m.
Want to explore more? Compare city sizes for any two cities worldwide, or share your location live with friends.