City Map Compare/Chicago vs Oslo
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Chicago

606 km²

Oslo

454 km²

Chicago vs Oslo - City Size Comparison

Chicago vs Oslo - City Size Comparison

Chicago

USA

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

Norway

Area454 km²
Population0.72M
Density1,586 /km²
Elevation23 m
Founded1048

Area Comparison

Chicago is 1.3x larger than Oslo

Population Comparison

Chicago has 3.8x more people than Oslo

Is Chicago Bigger Than Oslo?

In terms of area, Chicago is 1.3x the size of Oslo. Chicago spans 606 km² (234 mi²) while Oslo covers 454 km² (175 mi²) — a difference of 152 km².

To put Chicago's size in perspective, its area of 606 km² is roughly the same size as Seoul. Meanwhile, Oslo at 454 km² is about 1.3x smaller than Seoul.

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. For Oslo, that's about 64,000 American football fields, 130 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 Oslo

Oslo is the capital and most populous city of Norway. It constitutes both a county and a municipality. The municipality of Oslo had a population of 724,290 in 2025, while the city's greater urban area had a population of 1,110,887 in 2025, and the metropolitan area had an estimated population of 1,546,706 in 2021.

Often called "Tigerstaden", Oslo has an area of 454 km² and is home to 0.7 million people. The city dates back to 1048. Visitors come for Vigeland Park, Oslo Opera House, Akershus Fortress, and much more.

Oslo is both a county and a municipality, with the city itself home to about 724,000 residents in 2025.

Population Density

Chicago has a population density of 4,455 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Oslo, with 1,586 people per km², is a relatively spread-out city. Chicago is noticeably denser, packing 2.8 times more people per square kilometer.

Key Differences at a Glance

Density Gap

Chicago is 2.8x more densely populated

History

Oslo is ~785 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 Oslo

Oslo covers 454 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Prague (496 km²), Vienna (415 km²), Montreal (498 km²), Denver (401 km²), or Warsaw (517 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chicago bigger than Oslo?
Chicago is 1.3 times larger than Oslo by area. Chicago covers 606 km² while Oslo spans 454 km², a difference of 152 km².
How many times does Oslo fit inside Chicago?
Oslo (454 km²) fits inside Chicago (606 km²) approximately 1 times. That means Chicago is 1.3x the area of Oslo.
What is the population difference between Chicago and Oslo?
Chicago has approximately 2.7 million people, while Oslo has about 0.7 million. Chicago has 2.0 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Chicago or Oslo?
Chicago is more densely populated with 4,455 people per km², compared to 1,586 people per km².
Which city is older, Chicago or Oslo?
Oslo is older, founded around 1048, while Chicago was established around 1833 — a difference of about 785 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 Oslo

The straight-line distance from Chicago to Oslo is 6,499 km (4,038 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~8h 9m.

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