Chicago
606 km²
Phoenix
1,341 km²
USA
United States
Area Comparison
Chicago is 2.2x smaller than Phoenix
Population Comparison
Chicago has 1.7x more people than Phoenix
Phoenix is significantly larger, covering 2.2 times the area of Chicago. Phoenix spans 1,341 km² (518 mi²) while Chicago covers 606 km² (234 mi²) — a difference of 735 km². You could fit Chicago inside Phoenix approximately 2 times.
To put Chicago's size in perspective, its area of 606 km² is roughly the same size as Seoul. Meanwhile, Phoenix at 1,341 km² is about 1.2x smaller than London.
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. For Phoenix, that's about 188,000 American football fields, 23 times the area of Manhattan, or 13 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.
Phoenix is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Arizona. With over 1.6 million residents at the 2020 census, Phoenix is the fifth-most populous city in the United States and the most populous state capital. The Phoenix metropolitan area, with an estimated 5.19 million residents, is the tenth-most populous metropolitan area in the U.S. and the most populous in the Mountain states and Southwest.
Nicknamed "Valley of the Sun", Phoenix has an area of 1,341 km² and is home to 1.6 million people. The city dates back to 1868. Visitors come for Camelback Mountain, Desert Botanical Garden, Heard Museum, and much more.
Phoenix is the most populous U.S. state capital and the fifth-largest city in the country with 1.6 million residents.
Chicago has a population density of 4,455 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Phoenix, with 1,201 people per km², is a relatively spread-out city. Chicago is dramatically more crowded, with 3.7x the population density.
Size Ratio
Chicago fits inside Phoenix ~2 times
Density Gap
Chicago is 3.7x more densely populated
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).
Phoenix covers 1,341 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Los Angeles (1,302 km²), Rome (1,285 km²), Rio de Janeiro (1,221 km²), Delhi (1,484 km²), or Mexico City (1,485 km²).
The straight-line distance from Chicago to Phoenix is 2,336 km (1,452 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~3h 15m.
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