Los Angeles
1,302 km²
Chicago
606 km²
USA
USA
Area Comparison
Los Angeles is 2.1x larger than Chicago
Population Comparison
Los Angeles has 1.5x more people than Chicago
In terms of area, Los Angeles is 2.1x the size of Chicago. Los Angeles spans 1,302 km² (503 mi²) while Chicago covers 606 km² (234 mi²) — a difference of 696 km². You could fit Chicago inside Los Angeles approximately 2 times.
To put Los Angeles's size in perspective, its area of 1,302 km² is about 1.2x smaller than London. Meanwhile, Chicago at 606 km² is roughly the same size as Seoul.
Los Angeles's footprint is roughly about 182,000 American football fields, 22 times the area of Manhattan, or 12 times the area of Paris — pick whichever unit feels intuitive. Chicago works out to about 85,000 American football fields, 180 times the area of Central Park, or 10 times the area of Manhattan.
Los Angeles (LA) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Southern California. With an estimated 3.88 million residents within the city limits as of 2024, it is the second-most populous city in the United States, behind New York City, and the largest city in the Western United States. The city has an ethnically and culturally diverse population, and is the principal city of a metropolitan area of 12.9 million people (2024).
Known as "The City of Angels", Los Angeles covers 1,302 km² with a population of 4.0 million. The city was established in 1781. Los Angeles is known for Hollywood Sign, Santa Monica Pier, Beverly Hills, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the LA Metro.
Los Angeles is the second-most populous city in the United States, home to 3.88 million residents within city limits as of 2024.
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.
Nicknamed "The Windy City", Chicago has an area of 606 km² and is home to 2.7 million people. It was established in 1833. Visitors come for Willis Tower, Millennium Park Bean, Navy Pier, and much more. Getting around is easy with the CTA (L train).
Chicago is the third-most populous city in the United States with 2.74 million residents at the 2020 census.
Looking beyond city limits, the Chicago metropolitan area covers 28,160 km², which is 2.2x larger than greater Los Angeles at 12,562 km². The Los Angeles metro area is also more populous, with 13.2 million people compared to 9.5 million.
Los Angeles has a population density of 3,049 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Chicago, with 4,455 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Both cities have comparable density, though Chicago is slightly more compact.
Both Los Angeles and Chicago are in USA, making this a domestic size comparison that reveals how differently cities can develop within the same nation.
Los Angeles has a Mediterranean climate while Chicago experiences humid continental conditions. Winters differ dramatically: Los Angeles stays around 14°C while Chicago drops to -3°C. When it's noon in Chicago, it's 10:00 AM in Los Angeles — a 2-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Chicago fits inside Los Angeles ~2 times
Density Gap
Chicago is 1.5x more densely populated
Los Angeles covers 1,302 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Rome (1,285 km²), Phoenix (1,341 km²), Rio de Janeiro (1,221 km²), San Antonio (1,209 km²), or Lagos (1,172 km²).
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).
The straight-line distance from Los Angeles to Chicago is 2,804 km (1,742 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~3h 48m. See full distance details, including timezone difference and city facts.
Want to explore more? Compare city sizes for any two cities worldwide, or share your location live with friends.