Cities near Chicago, IL
Quick answer
The nearest major metro to Chicago is Milwaukee, WI, 81 miles north — roughly 1 hr 34 min by road. Its combined sales tax rate is 7.9% against 10.25% in Chicago.
Distance to nearby metros
Great-circle distance from the Chicago centroid (41.886, -87.618).
| Metro | Straight line | Est. drive | Direction | Combined rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | 80.8 mi | 1 hr 34 min | north | 7.9% |
| Indianapolis, IN | 155.1 mi | 3 hr | southeast | 7% |
| Toledo, OH | 210.6 mi | 4 hr 5 min | east | 7.75% |
| Detroit, MI | 235.7 mi | 4 hr 34 min | east | 6% |
Source: Place centroids: USGS/Census public-domain coordinates · rates as published for 2026
How these distances are calculated
Straight-line figures are great-circle distances between incorporated-place centroids using the haversine formula on a 3,958.76-mile mean-radius sphere — exact to within a few metres for this purpose. Drive time is an estimate: road distance is modelled at 1.2× the straight line (the standard North American circuity factor) at 62 mph for trips over 60 miles and 35 mph below that. It is not a routed itinerary and ignores traffic, terrain and tolls.