Long-distance city guides / Chicago and Melbourne

Chicago to Melbourne: time difference, best time to call, and where to meet

Melbourne is 15–17 hours ahead of Chicago, depending on the time of year. The best time to call is usually 6 PM–8 PM in Chicago, which is 9 AM–11 AM in Melbourne (when you're 15 hours apart).

Chicago–
Melbourne–

Hours you're both awake

  • 5 PM–11 PM in Chicago = 8 AM–2 PM in Melbourne

About 6 hours a day, counting each of you awake from 8 AM to 11 PM. Set your own hours →

How far apart you are

15,573 km (9,677 mi)

About 20 hours on a non-stop flight.

Where to meet halfway

  • Honolulu, United States: 6,838 km (4,249 mi) from Chicago, 8,879 km (5,517 mi) from Melbourne
  • Papeete, French Polynesia: 9,158 km (5,691 mi) from Chicago, 6,691 km (4,157 mi) from Melbourne
  • Tokyo, Japan: 10,139 km (6,300 mi) from Chicago, 8,190 km (5,089 mi) from Melbourne

See it on the halfway calculator →

Making Chicago–Melbourne work

  • At 15 hours apart, one of you is asleep for most of the other's day. Agree who flexes on which days, so the late calls are shared.
  • Lean on asynchronous rituals: a daily question you both answer, photos of your day, a letter you each add to.
  • Plan one long weekend call a week, when nobody has work in the morning.

Chicago and Melbourne on one map

A personalised print of the two of you, and the distance in between.

Make your map →

Stay close day to day

Far Fox gives you a daily question, shared rituals, and a fox you raise together.

Try Far Fox free →

Questions couples ask

What is the time difference between Chicago and Melbourne?

Melbourne is 15–17 hours ahead of Chicago, depending on the time of year.

What is the best time to call between Chicago and Melbourne?

The best time to call is usually 6 PM–8 PM in Chicago, which is 9 AM–11 AM in Melbourne (when you're 15 hours apart). That gives you about 6 hours a day when you are both awake, between 8 AM and 11 PM local time.

How far is Chicago from Melbourne?

15,573 km (9,677 mi) in a straight line. A non-stop flight takes about 20 hours.

Where can a couple meet halfway between Chicago and Melbourne?

The fairest cities to meet in are Honolulu, Papeete, Tokyo. Honolulu is 6,838 km (4,249 mi) from Chicago and 8,879 km (5,517 mi) from Melbourne.