Long-distance city guides / Chicago and Johannesburg

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

Johannesburg is 7–8 hours ahead of Chicago, depending on the time of year. The best time to call is usually 11 AM–1 PM in Chicago, which is 6 PM–8 PM in Johannesburg (when you're 7 hours apart).

Chicago–
Johannesburg–

Hours you're both awake

  • 8 AM–4 PM in Chicago = 3 PM–11 PM in Johannesburg

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

How far apart you are

13,983 km (8,688 mi)

About 18 hours on a non-stop flight.

Where to meet halfway

  • Casablanca, Morocco: 6,844 km (4,252 mi) from Chicago, 7,638 km (4,746 mi) from Johannesburg
  • Rome, Italy: 7,741 km (4,810 mi) from Chicago, 7,739 km (4,809 mi) from Johannesburg
  • Barcelona, Spain: 7,081 km (4,400 mi) from Chicago, 7,975 km (4,955 mi) from Johannesburg

See it on the halfway calculator →

Making Chicago–Johannesburg work

  • Chicago evenings land in Johannesburg's late night or early morning, so protect one window and treat it as your appointment.
  • Trade a voice note when one of you wakes up. It is waiting for the other at the end of their day.
  • Keep a shared list of things to tell each other, so the call is not spent catching up on logistics.

Chicago and Johannesburg 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.

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Questions couples ask

What is the time difference between Chicago and Johannesburg?

Johannesburg is 7–8 hours ahead of Chicago, depending on the time of year.

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

The best time to call is usually 11 AM–1 PM in Chicago, which is 6 PM–8 PM in Johannesburg (when you're 7 hours apart). That gives you about 8 hours a day when you are both awake, between 8 AM and 11 PM local time.

How far is Chicago from Johannesburg?

13,983 km (8,688 mi) in a straight line. A non-stop flight takes about 18 hours.

Where can a couple meet halfway between Chicago and Johannesburg?

The fairest cities to meet in are Casablanca, Rome, Barcelona. Casablanca is 6,844 km (4,252 mi) from Chicago and 7,638 km (4,746 mi) from Johannesburg.