City Map Compare/Chicago vs Riyadh
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5 km
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Chicago

606 km²

Riyadh

1,798 km²

Chicago vs Riyadh - City Size Comparison

Chicago vs Riyadh - City Size Comparison

Chicago

USA

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

Saudi Arabia

Area1,798 km²
Population7.01M
Density3,899 /km²
Elevation612 m
Founded1746

Area Comparison

Chicago is 3.0x smaller than Riyadh

Population Comparison

Chicago has 2.6x fewer people than Riyadh

Is Chicago Bigger Than Riyadh?

In terms of area, Riyadh is 3.0x the size of Chicago. Riyadh spans 1,798 km² (694 mi²) while Chicago covers 606 km² (234 mi²) — a difference of 1,192 km². You could fit Chicago inside Riyadh approximately 2 times.

To put Chicago's size in perspective, its area of 606 km² is roughly the same size as Seoul. Meanwhile, Riyadh at 1,798 km² is about 1.1x the size of London.

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 Riyadh, that's about 252,000 American football fields, 30 times the area of Manhattan, or 17 times the area of Paris.

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 Riyadh

Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of the Riyadh Province and the centre of the Riyadh Governorate. Located on the eastern bank of Wadi Hanifa, the current form of the metropolis largely emerged in the 1950s as an expansion of the 18th-century walled town, following the dismantling of its defensive fortifications.

Riyadh has an area of 1,798 km² and is home to 7.0 million people. Its history stretches back to 1746. Visitors come for Kingdom Centre Tower, Masmak Fortress, Al Faisaliah Tower, and much more.

Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia, sitting on the eastern bank of Wadi Hanifa.

Population Density

Chicago has a population density of 4,455 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Riyadh, with 3,899 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Both cities have comparable density, though Chicago is slightly more compact.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Chicago fits inside Riyadh ~2 times

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 Riyadh

Riyadh covers 1,798 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Houston (1,725 km²), Johannesburg (1,644 km²), Shenzhen (1,997 km²), Bogotá (1,578 km²), or London (1,572 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is larger, Chicago or Riyadh?
Riyadh is 3.0 times larger than Chicago by area. Riyadh covers 1,798 km² while Chicago spans 606 km², a difference of 1,192 km².
How many times does Chicago fit inside Riyadh?
Chicago (606 km²) fits inside Riyadh (1,798 km²) approximately 2 times. That means Riyadh is 3.0x the area of Chicago.
What is the population difference between Chicago and Riyadh?
Riyadh has approximately 7.0 million people, while Chicago has about 2.7 million. Riyadh has 4.3 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Chicago or Riyadh?
Chicago is more densely populated with 4,455 people per km², compared to 3,899 people per km².
Which city is older, Chicago or Riyadh?
Riyadh is older, founded around 1746, while Chicago was established around 1833 — a difference of about 87 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 Riyadh

The straight-line distance from Chicago to Riyadh is 11,257 km (6,995 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~13h 45m.

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