10 Safest Cities in Brazil (2022 Updated) (2023)

FAQs

Is Brazil safe for tourists 2022? ›

In general, Brazil is relatively safe for visitors and tourists. The scenarios that involve tourists usually involve non-violent pick-pocketing or muggings, but in most cases, tourists usually do not encounter these issues.

Cities in Southern Brazil are among the safest in the country. Santa Catarina's fishing villages, such as Sao Francisco do Sul, Porto Belo, Bombinhas and Garopaba are safe destinations. Indeed, Florianópolis and other big cities, like Blumenau, Joinville or Curitiba are also safe places.

According to Atlas da Violencia 2019, Sao Paulo has a homicide rate of 13.2/100 000 inhabitants. This is nearly one-third of the homicide rate from Rio de Janeiro (35.6/100 000). Other violence indicators like robbery, assaults, or kidnappings also show that Sao Paulo is safer than Rio.

Frisco, TX

With just over 200,000 residents, Frisco is the safest city in America according to our metrics. Located approximately 30 miles north of Dallas, Frisco has the fifth-lowest violent crime rate across our study, with 86 violent crimes reported per 100,000 residents.

The safest country in Africa, Mauritius also ranked as the 28th-safest country in the world in 2022. Mauritius is a multicultural island nation that is family-friendly and secure.

1. Feira de Santana. Feira de Santana is the second largest city in the state of Bahia and is arguably the most dangerous city in the whole of Brazil.

According to estimates from FGV Social based on declared earnings in Income Tax registries over total population projections in each locality, the Brazilian State's Capital with the highest income per inhabitant is Florianópolis (R$ 3,998/month), followed by Porto Alegre and Vitória.

Is any part of Brazil safe? ›

Most of Brazil is safe for a woman traveling by herself – especially if you stick to the well-trodden routes. But just like anywhere else in the world, there will be extra safety precautions you should take as a solo female traveler. So here are some tips to help keep you secure.

São Paulo – São Paulo is undoubtedly the number one spot for expats who are first moving to Brazil. It's South America's largest city with a population over 12 million. São Paulo is a culturally mixed bag, and expats can easily get around with little to no knowledge of the Portuguese language.

The Brazilian market is still under-explored as 67% of its luxury market is concentrated in the city of São Paulo, which is the richest city in South America and worth comparing with New York and London, the main global centres of luxury.

The most popular destination for retirees in Brazil is Rio de Janeiro. If you were to rent a one-bedroom apartment in central Rio de Janeiro, you could expect to pay about $325 per month.

The crime rates also differ from region to region, where the north and northeast are the most violent regions in Brazil. The homicide rate in the northeast is the highest in Brazil with 49.8 violent deaths per 100,000 inhabitants. The country's lowest rate is in the south at 23.9. São Paulo is the safest state at 14.3.

Living in Brazil is safe if you live in a secure area or city. However, the longer you spend time in Brazil, the higher your chances of being a crime victim. As a tourist staying for a short time, you are less likely to be a crime victim.

In terms of absolute number of murders in a year, Brazil has the most murders of any country by total number (62,318) followed by India (29,000), the USA (25,000) and Mexico (24,576).

The touristy areas and more residential parts of São Paulo are perfectly safe as long as you are aware. It is safe for you to walk around by yourself or with friends during the day.

Manaus is a relatively safe city for travelers to explore during the day and night without a tour guide. But even the most experienced travelers can fall foul to local criminals looking to make a quick dollar or cause harm.

What country is best to move to? ›

1/ Switzerland

It's one of the best countries in the world to live in for expats.

Frisco, Texas

First up on our list of Safest Cities in the US is Frisco Texas. We begin our list by looking at Frisco, Texas. This city is just north of Dallas and is home to over 200,000 people. This city appears on this list due to the meager rates of violent crimes.

Uruguay. Sitting at the top of the pile of safest South American countries is Uruguay. According to the 2021 Global Peace Index, Uruguay ranks 47^th out of the world's 163 nations.

Unfortunately, it is true that – statistically, at least – the USA is far from the safest country in the world. If we take a look at the Global Peace Index of 2019, which measures the peacefulness and general safety of 163 nations across the globe, the United States ranks 128th.

Brazil: homicide rate 2021, by city

Feira de Santana led the ranking of the most violent city in Brazil, with a murder rate of 61.21 per 100,000 inhabitants. It was followed followed by Mossoró, with a homicide rate of more than 54 per 100,000 inhabitants.

Amapá, Acre and Roraima are the poorest states in the country with 0.59% of the national GDP.

What is the safest area to stay in Rio de Janeiro? ›

Copacabana is one of the best neighborhoods, both in terms of safety and convenience, it is a neighborhood for those who love the beach, with good access to public transportation, good restaurants and bars, and lively nightlife as well.

A person that makes more than 1935 USD per month can be considered rich in Brazil, as 95% of the population lives with an income equal to or less 1255 USD. Anyone that makes more than 2511 USD is at the 1% elite. The “A” class, the superrich, is formed by the ones making more than 3870 USD monthly.

In terms of security, violence in Brazil has dropped dramatically over the last three years. Cities like São Paulo, for example, had their homicide rates dropped by almost 80%! But, in general, many large cities in Brazil are still far more violent than anywhere in Argentina.

While Rio does have a certain security risk involved, visitors can greatly minimize their risk by following a few commonsense rules. Try to travel in a group preferably with local friends. At night, avoid walking on the streets alone. Be careful about public transportation at night.

Rio is a safe destination for solo female travelers

Solo travelers love Rio. As long as you take a few safety precautions, you'll find it's an incredibly exciting city to explore.

It brings up the question: how much money do you need to live comfortably in Brazil? As a general rule, to live comfortably in Brazil a couple will need a monthly income of about 1221 USD. For a family of four, the necessary salary per month to live a comfortable life in Brazil is around 1741 USD.

In Brazil, a tourist/business visitor may generally stay up to 90 days, extension or renewal possible for at most 90 days, totaling 180 days (After that time the foreigner must leave the country). WHAT IF I WANT TO STAY LONGER THAN 90 DAYS?

What are the poor parts of Brazil? ›

Retirement Visa in Brazil

Applicants for a Brazilian retiree visa must be over age 60 with a pension or investments that pay out at least $1,400 USD per month.

Can foreigners buy or rent Real Estate Property in Brazil? Yes, we can. Foreigners are permitted to buy, own and rent Real Estate Property. By law Brazilians and foreigners are on almost equal footing when it comes to property ownership and tenant rights.

Brazil - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Exercise increased caution in Brazil due to crime. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

We'll be honest: Rio has some unsafe areas

Locals tell us that central, beach areas are safe during the day and that things tend to get more dangerous as you move north, towards Zona Norte. Rio is a big city with a lot of tourists, which means two things: one, many crimes are crimes of opportunity.

There are high levels of crime, particularly robberies, within Brazil's cities and the murder rate can be very high. This can vary greatly within a city, so familiarise yourself with the geography of a city and take local advice to identify the riskier areas.

Brazil faces real issues of poverty and crime so solo female travelers will need to be on guard. This is not a destination for new travelers and I would only suggest solo female travelers visit here if they are experienced solo travelers. Even then, you'll want to make sure you take every precaution that you can.

In terms of security, violence in Brazil has dropped dramatically over the last three years. Cities like São Paulo, for example, had their homicide rates dropped by almost 80%! But, in general, many large cities in Brazil are still far more violent than anywhere in Argentina.

Manaus is a relatively safe city for travelers to explore during the day and night without a tour guide. But even the most experienced travelers can fall foul to local criminals looking to make a quick dollar or cause harm.

Is Copacabana safe? ›

You are relatively safe on Copacabana Beach during the daylight when there are many people around, but your chances drop significantly lower when you visit the beach after dark. There is no reason for you to be on Copacabana Beach after dark (especially not recommended for solo travelers).

Walking around Rio's main streets, especially near the beaches, is perfectly safe during the day, despite the city's reputation. However, just because you're in a wealthy or touristy neighbourhood doesn't mean you're safe to wander at night. In fact, these areas are specifically targeted by criminals.

Compared to other cities in Brazil, such as Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Brasilia is very safe. The city has a reputation for being an affluent, safe place to live and in the central district this is especially true.

Short answer: yes. Visiting Lima is just like visiting any other metropolitan area. There is, of course, a risk of petty-crime. But Lima is largely safe if you stick to the main touristic areas, such as Miraflores and Barranco.

Is it Safe to Drink Tap Water in Brazil? Officially, yes it is safe to drink tap water in Brazil and very tempting as it is free. The Brazilian government has worked hard in recent years to improve the quality of drinking water.

The safest areas of Rio are in the South Zone. The tourist-friendly beaches of Copacabana (a beach praised in this article) and Ipanema are considered safe during the day. At night there are issues with criminality as with most large cities, but nothing abnormal.

We recommend using a Rio de Janeiro taxi to explore the city as comfortably as possible. Taxis are the fastest and safest transportation option in the city, and they are easily hailed on the street. They mostly congregate at taxi ranks and around major hotels in the city.

Intercity bus travel is generally safe in Brazil, the same way other means of transportation are. Nothing more than the usual precautions – pickpockets, etc.