City Map Compare/Chicago vs Vancouver
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5 km
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Chicago

606 km²

Vancouver

115 km²

Chicago vs Vancouver - City Size Comparison

Chicago vs Vancouver - City Size Comparison

Chicago

USA

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

Canada

Area115 km²
Population0.66M
Density5,739 /km²
Elevation2 m
Founded1886
ClimateMarine west coast climate

Area Comparison

Chicago is 5.3x larger than Vancouver

Population Comparison

Chicago has 4.1x more people than Vancouver

Is Chicago Bigger Than Vancouver?

Yes — Chicago is 5.3x larger than Vancouver by area. Chicago spans 606 km² (234 mi²) while Vancouver covers 115 km² (44 mi²) — a difference of 491 km². You could fit Vancouver inside Chicago approximately 5 times.

To put Chicago's size in perspective, its area of 606 km² is roughly the same size as Seoul. Meanwhile, Vancouver at 115 km² is roughly the same size as San Francisco.

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. Vancouver works out to about 16,000 American football fields, 57 times the area of Monaco, or 34 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 Vancouver

Vancouver is a major city in Western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the city, up from 631,486 in 2016. The Metro Vancouver area had a population of 2.6 million in 2021, making it the third-largest metropolitan area in Canada. Greater Vancouver, along with the Fraser Valley, comprises the Lower Mainland with a regional population of over 3 million.

Also known as "Hollywood North", Vancouver has an area of 115 km² and is home to 0.7 million people. The city dates back to 1886. Visitors come for Stanley Park, Granville Island, Capilano Suspension Bridge, and much more.

Vancouver grew from 631,486 residents in 2016 to 662,248 by the 2021 census, leading all of British Columbia.

Population Density

Chicago has a population density of 4,455 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Vancouver, with 5,739 people per km², is a densely populated city. Both cities have comparable density, though Vancouver is slightly more compact.

Climate & Time Zone

Chicago has a humid continental climate while Vancouver experiences Marine west coast climate conditions.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Vancouver fits inside Chicago ~5 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 Vancouver

Vancouver covers 115 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include San Francisco (121 km²), Paris (105 km²), Barcelona (101 km²), Lisbon (100 km²), or Miami (143 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chicago bigger than Vancouver?
Chicago is 5.3 times larger than Vancouver by area. Chicago covers 606 km² while Vancouver spans 115 km², a difference of 491 km².
How many times does Vancouver fit inside Chicago?
Vancouver (115 km²) fits inside Chicago (606 km²) approximately 5 times. That means Chicago is 5.3x the area of Vancouver.
What is the population difference between Chicago and Vancouver?
Chicago has approximately 2.7 million people, while Vancouver has about 0.7 million. Chicago has 2.0 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Chicago or Vancouver?
Vancouver is more densely populated with 5,739 people per km², compared to 4,455 people per km².
Which city is older, Chicago or Vancouver?
Chicago is older, founded around 1833, while Vancouver was established around 1886 — a difference of about 53 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 Vancouver

The straight-line distance from Chicago to Vancouver is 2,852 km (1,772 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~3h 51m.

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