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USA
Australia
Area Comparison
Chicago is 20.4x smaller than Sydney
Population Comparison
Chicago has 2.0x fewer people than Sydney
In terms of area, Sydney is 20.4x the size of Chicago. Sydney spans 12,368 km² (4,775 mi²) while Chicago covers 606 km² (234 mi²) — a difference of 11,762 km². You could fit Chicago inside Sydney approximately 20 times.
To put Chicago's size in perspective, its area of 606 km² is roughly the same size as Seoul. Meanwhile, Sydney at 12,368 km² is about 2.0x the size of Shanghai.
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
Australia's largest city, known for the Opera House. Also known as "The Harbour City", Sydney has an area of 12,368 km² and is home to 5.3 million people. Its history stretches back to 1788. Visitors come for Sydney Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Bondi Beach, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Sydney Trains.
Sydney's administrative area is so large it stretches from the coast to the Blue Mountains foothills
Looking beyond city limits, the Chicago metropolitan area covers 28,160 km², which is 2.3x larger than greater Sydney at 12,368 km². The Chicago metro area is also more populous, with 9.5 million people compared to 5.3 million.
Chicago has a population density of 4,455 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Sydney, with 429 people per km², is a low-density, sprawling urban area. Chicago is dramatically more crowded, with 10.4x the population density.
This comparison spans continents — Chicago in North America versus Sydney in Oceania. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Chicago has a humid continental climate while Sydney experiences humid subtropical conditions. Winters differ dramatically: Sydney stays around 13°C while Chicago drops to -3°C. When it's noon in Sydney, it's midnight in Chicago — a 16-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Chicago fits inside Sydney ~20 times
Density Gap
Chicago is 10.4x more densely populated
Time Difference
16 hours apart
The straight-line distance from Chicago to Sydney is 14,876 km (9,243 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~18h. See full distance details, including timezone difference and city facts.
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