Denver, CO vs Chicago, IL

Side-by-side comparison of monthly climate normals (NOAA 1991-2020).

Denver is about the same temperature as Chicago (51.4°F vs 50.8°F annual avg) and wetter than it (15.4 in vs 0 in per year). Denver has a Semi-arid (cold) climate; Chicago a Desert (cold) climate.

Denver, CO

Annual avg
51.4°F
Annual precip
15.4 in
Warmest month
July (90.2°F)
Coldest month
January (17.6°F)
Annual swing
43°F
Semi-arid (cold) BSk USDA Zone 7a

Chicago, IL

Annual avg
50.8°F
Annual precip
0 in
Warmest month
July (81.0°F)
Coldest month
January (20.1°F)
Annual swing
48.1°F
Pleasant months
4 / 12
Desert (cold) BWk USDA Zone 7b

Best months to visit each city

Denver

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Chicago

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Month-by-month comparison

Month Denver Chicago
High Low Precip High Low Precip
January 46.5°F 17.6°F 0.46 in 31.9°F 20.1°F — in
February 47.5°F 19.3°F 0.53 in 35.7°F 23.1°F — in
March 56.4°F 27.1°F 1.12 in 44.9°F 30.9°F — in
April 62.5°F 33.7°F 1.67 in 55.2°F 40.4°F — in
May 71.7°F 43.4°F 2.29 in 65.7°F 50.1°F — in
June 84.1°F 52.9°F 1.68 in 75.8°F 60.0°F — in
July 90.2°F 59.3°F 2.12 in 81.0°F 67.3°F — in
August 87.9°F 57.2°F 1.83 in 80.0°F 67.4°F — in
September 80.1°F 48.2°F 1.51 in 73.2°F 60.2°F — in
October 66.7°F 35.7°F 0.98 in 60.9°F 47.7°F — in
November 54.8°F 25.5°F 0.70 in 48.5°F 36.4°F — in
December 45.9°F 17.7°F 0.47 in 36.6°F 25.2°F — in
Denver overview
Full climate profile
 Chicago overview
Full climate profile