City Map Compare/Chicago vs Seattle
vs
5 km
|

Chicago

606 km²

Seattle

369 km²

Chicago vs Seattle - City Size Comparison

Chicago vs Seattle - City Size Comparison

Chicago

USA

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

United States

Area369 km²
Population0.74M
Density2,005 /km²
Elevation40 m
Founded1851

Area Comparison

Chicago is 1.6x larger than Seattle

Population Comparison

Chicago has 3.6x more people than Seattle

Is Chicago Bigger Than Seattle?

Yes — Chicago is 1.6x larger than Seattle by area. Chicago spans 606 km² (234 mi²) while Seattle covers 369 km² (142 mi²) — a difference of 237 km².

To put Chicago's size in perspective, its area of 606 km² is roughly the same size as Seoul. Meanwhile, Seattle at 369 km² is about 1.6x smaller than Seoul.

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. Seattle works out to about 52,000 American football fields, 180 times the area of Monaco, or 110 times the area of Central Park.

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 Seattle

Seattle is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest region of North America. It is the 18th-most populous city in the United States with a population of 780,995 in 2024, while the Seattle metropolitan area at over 4.15 million residents is the 15th-most populous metropolitan area in the nation. The city is the county seat of King County, the most populous county in Washington.

Often called "The Emerald City", Seattle has an area of 369 km² and is home to 0.7 million people. Its history stretches back to 1851. Visitors come for Space Needle, Pike Place Market, Starbucks headquarters, and much more.

Seattle is Washington's most populous city with 780,995 residents in 2024, anchoring the Pacific Northwest.

Population Density

Chicago has a population density of 4,455 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Seattle, with 2,005 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Chicago is noticeably denser, packing 2.2 times more people per square kilometer.

Key Differences at a Glance

Density Gap

Chicago is 2.2x more densely populated

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 Seattle

Seattle covers 369 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Philadelphia (370 km²), Dhaka (368 km²), Portland (376 km²), Atlanta (348 km²), or Denver (401 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chicago bigger than Seattle?
Chicago is 1.6 times larger than Seattle by area. Chicago covers 606 km² while Seattle spans 369 km², a difference of 237 km².
How many times does Seattle fit inside Chicago?
Seattle (369 km²) fits inside Chicago (606 km²) approximately 1 times. That means Chicago is 1.6x the area of Seattle.
What is the population difference between Chicago and Seattle?
Chicago has approximately 2.7 million people, while Seattle has about 0.7 million. Chicago has 2.0 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Chicago or Seattle?
Chicago is more densely populated with 4,455 people per km², compared to 2,005 people per km².
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 Seattle

The straight-line distance from Chicago to Seattle is 2,789 km (1,733 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~3h 47m.

Want to explore more? Compare city sizes for any two cities worldwide, or share your location live with friends.