Chicago vs São Paulo - City Size Comparison

Is Chicago Bigger Than São Paulo?

In terms of area, São Paulo is 2.5x the size of Chicago. São Paulo spans 1,521 km² (587 mi²) while Chicago covers 606 km² (234 mi²) — a difference of 915 km². You could fit Chicago inside São Paulo approximately 2 times.

About Chicago

Third-largest city in the United States. 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 Deep-dish pizza, Willis Tower, Millennium Park & Cloud Gate, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the CTA (L train).

Chicago reversed the flow of the Chicago River in 1900, an engineering feat that still stands

About São Paulo

Brazil's largest city and financial center. Often called "Sampa", São Paulo has an area of 1,521 km² and is home to 12.3 million people. It was established in 1554. Visitors come for Paulista Avenue, Ibirapuera Park, São Paulo Museum of Art, and much more. Getting around is easy with the São Paulo Metro.

São Paulo has the largest Japanese community outside Japan

Metropolitan Area Comparison

Looking beyond city limits, the Chicago metropolitan area covers 28,160 km², which is 3.5x larger than greater São Paulo at 7,947 km². The São Paulo metro area is also more populous, with 22.0 million people compared to 9.5 million.

Population Density

Chicago has a population density of 4,455 people per km² — a moderately dense city. São Paulo, with 8,107 people per km², is a densely populated city. São Paulo is noticeably denser, packing 1.8 times more people per square kilometer.

Climate & Time Zone

Chicago has a humid continental climate while São Paulo experiences humid subtropical conditions. Winters differ dramatically: São Paulo stays around 17°C while Chicago drops to -3°C. When it's noon in São Paulo, it's 9:00 AM in Chicago — a 3-hour time difference.