City Map Compare/Chicago vs Xi'an
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5 km
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Chicago

606 km²

Xi'an

10,097 km²

Chicago vs Xi'an - City Size Comparison

Chicago vs Xi'an - City Size Comparison

Chicago

USA

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

People's Republic of China

Area10,097 km²
Population12.95M
Density1,283 /km²
Elevation405 m

Area Comparison

Chicago is 16.7x smaller than Xi'an

Population Comparison

Chicago has 4.8x fewer people than Xi'an

Is Chicago Bigger Than Xi'an?

Yes — Xi'an is 16.7x larger than Chicago by area. Xi'an spans 10,097 km² (3,898 mi²) while Chicago covers 606 km² (234 mi²) — a difference of 9,491 km². You could fit Chicago inside Xi'an approximately 16 times.

To put Chicago's size in perspective, its area of 606 km² is roughly the same size as Seoul. Meanwhile, Xi'an at 10,097 km² is about 1.6x the size of Shanghai.

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. Xi'an, by comparison, equals about 1,400,000 American football fields, 170 times the area of Manhattan, or 96 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 Xi'an

Xi'an is the capital of the Chinese province of Shaanxi. A sub-provincial city on the Guanzhong plain, the city is the third-most populous city in Western China after Chongqing and Chengdu, as well as the most populous city in Northwestern China. Its total population was 12.95 million in the 2020 census, including an urban population of 9.28 million.

Nicknamed "Ancient Capital", Xi'an has an area of 10,097 km² and is home to 12.9 million people. Visitors come for Terracotta Army, Xi'an City Wall, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, and much more.

Xi'an's 2020 census recorded 12.95 million residents, making it the most populous city in Northwestern China.

Population Density

Chicago has a population density of 4,455 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Xi'an, with 1,283 people per km², is a relatively spread-out city. Chicago is dramatically more crowded, with 3.5x the population density.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Chicago fits inside Xi'an ~16 times

Density Gap

Chicago is 3.5x 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 Xi'an

Xi'an covers 10,097 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Melbourne (9,993 km²), Wuhan (8,569 km²), Sydney (12,368 km²), Guangzhou (7,434 km²), or Chengdu (14,378 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chicago actually bigger than Xi'an?
Xi'an is 16.7 times larger than Chicago by area. Xi'an covers 10,097 km² while Chicago spans 606 km², a difference of 9,491 km².
How many times does Chicago fit inside Xi'an?
Chicago (606 km²) fits inside Xi'an (10,097 km²) approximately 16 times. That means Xi'an is 16.7x the area of Chicago.
What is the population difference between Chicago and Xi'an?
Xi'an has approximately 12.9 million people, while Chicago has about 2.7 million. Xi'an has 10.3 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Chicago or Xi'an?
Chicago is more densely populated with 4,455 people per km², compared to 1,283 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 Xi'an

The straight-line distance from Chicago to Xi'an is 11,382 km (7,072 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~13h 53m.

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