Long-distance city guides / Chicago and Sydney

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

Sydney 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 Sydney (when you're 15 hours apart).

Chicago–
Sydney–

Hours you're both awake

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

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

14,876 km (9,243 mi)

About 19 hours on a non-stop flight.

Where to meet halfway

  • Honolulu, United States: 6,838 km (4,249 mi) from Chicago, 8,166 km (5,074 mi) from Sydney
  • Papeete, French Polynesia: 9,158 km (5,691 mi) from Chicago, 6,120 km (3,803 mi) from Sydney
  • Tokyo, Japan: 10,139 km (6,300 mi) from Chicago, 7,826 km (4,863 mi) from Sydney

See it on the halfway calculator →

Making Chicago–Sydney 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 Sydney 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 Sydney?

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

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

The best time to call is usually 6 PM–8 PM in Chicago, which is 9 AM–11 AM in Sydney (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 Sydney?

14,876 km (9,243 mi) in a straight line. A non-stop flight takes about 19 hours.

Where can a couple meet halfway between Chicago and Sydney?

The fairest cities to meet in are Honolulu, Papeete, Tokyo. Honolulu is 6,838 km (4,249 mi) from Chicago and 8,166 km (5,074 mi) from Sydney.