Is São Paulo Safe for Women? Crime Rate in São Paulo

Safety rating

Moderate
2.6 /5

Women living in São Paulo consider the safety level to be moderate, with an overall safety rating of 2.6 out of 5.

Crime rating

Moderate
3.3 /5

Women living in São Paulo consider the crime rate to be moderate, with an overall crime rating of 3.3 out of 5.

Violence rating

11.7%

On average 11.7% percentage of women in Brazil have experienced physical and/or sexual violence from an intimate partner at some time in their life, according to OECD Data.

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Crime & Safety Statistics

Based on 44 experiences

Safety rating:

2.6/5Moderate

Safety walking alone after dark:

1.8/5Unsafe

Safety using public transport:

3.2/5Moderate

Crime rate:

3.3/5Moderate

Worries of being sexually harassed:

3.4/5Moderate

Worries of being sexually assaulted or raped:

3.2/5Moderate

Worries of being physically attacked:

2.7/5Moderate

Worries of home broken and things stolen:

2.4/5A bit worried

Worries of being mugged or robbed:

3.9/5Fairly worried

Worries of being kidnapped or murdered:

2.2/5A bit worried

How safe is São Paulo?

Ana

Ana

São Paulo is a moderate safe city, it really depends on which neighborhood you are and how cautious your behavior is. For example, walking alone at night and holding your phone flashily on the streets isn’t appropriate behavior in most Brazilian cities. But the public transportation system is excellent and sexual assault isn’t really that common here. You have to be smart and always a bit vigilant to robbers, but overall I feel safe on my day to day.

Posted: May 15, 2025
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Thais

Thais

Unsafe, you have to be very careful while visiting. There are good places and good environments but always watching your back and carefully walking around. Don't use your phone while walking. Remember to always let somebody know where you are and with whom.

Posted: May 12, 2025
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Lilian

Lilian

São Paulo is the biggest city in Brazil, because of that, it has all the problems big cities have, such as violence, robbers, drugs, and poverty. It is also common to see dirty and garbage on the streets.

Posted: May 10, 2025
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If you are always aware of your surroundings you should be fine. Never easily trust people. if you do not speak the language it's safer if you are walking in groups. Do not go downtown alone. Research places before you go and you should be fine!

Posted: April 26, 2025
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São Paulo is a safe place, with some specific locals where you should be careful. Is not somewhere you need to be scared to walk by, but it’s important to be aware while at street. While at home, I feel 100% safe, and when I’m out, I’m always aware, but not in a way that it could prevent you from loving and enjoying the city

Posted: April 1, 2025
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Is São Paulo worth visiting?

Travel rating

3.9 /5

based on 9 experiences from female travelers

Solo travel

Sao Paulo is a very fast-paced city, full of life and lights. It has great places to visit, such as parks and avenues. In my experience, the people were polite and I really liked it! However, many people warned me to be careful because the robbery and crime rate there is high, which made me quite worried.

Posted: May 7, 2025Experienced: April, 2025
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Meet locals in São Paulo

Ana

Ana

About Me

Hi, I’m Ana, a 27-year old Brazilian girl who has her heart open to what life has to offer. I’m a Sagittarius moon and sun, so you would expect me to have wheels on my feet, but I’m also a Scorpio rising, which gives me the interest to get to know people deeply. (Yes, I love astrology and would love to read you your birth chart for fun.) I’m interested in getting to know people from around the world, so hit me up if you are in São Paulo, but I’m also going to Europe in July and would love to meet up or even stay with you for a few days ☺️ I’ve done couchsurfing before and always had a wonderful experience, so I hope you feel comfortable to stay with me too!

Speaking

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Gabriela

Gabriela

About Me

I'm an environmental engeneering student in São Paulo, Brazil. I'm passionate about meeting new people, exploring new places and cultures. Mostly, I'm down for everything, I crave a lot of novelty haha. I love museums, historic sites, partying and hiking.

Speaking

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Safety in Brazil

Frequently asked questions

Is São Paulo safe?

Women living in São Paulo consider the safety level to be moderate, with an overall safety rating of 2.6 out of 5.

Is São Paulo safe to walk alone at night?

Women living in São Paulo consider walking alone at night to be relatively unsafe, with an overall safety rating of 1.8 out of 5.

Is public transport safe in São Paulo?

Women living in São Paulo consider public transport to be moderately safe, with an overall safety rating of 3.2 out of 5.

What is the crime rate in São Paulo?

Women living in São Paulo consider the crime rate to be moderate, with an overall crime rating of 3.3 out of 5.

What is the risk of being sexually harassed in São Paulo?

Women living in São Paulo consider the risk of being sexually harassed to be moderate, with an overall risk rating of 3.4 out of 5.

What is the risk of being sexually assaulted or raped in São Paulo?

Women living in São Paulo consider the risk of being sexually assaulted or raped to be moderate, with an overall risk rating of 3.2 out of 5.

What is the risk of being physically attacked in São Paulo?

Women living in São Paulo consider the risk of being physically attacked to be moderate, with an overall risk rating of 2.7 out of 5.

What is the risk of burglary in São Paulo?

Women living in São Paulo consider the risk of burglary to be relatively low, with an overall risk rating of 2.4 out of 5.

What is the risk of being mugged or robbed in São Paulo?

Women living in São Paulo consider the risk of being mugged or robbed to be relatively high, with an overall risk rating of 3.9 out of 5.

What is the risk of being kidnapped or murdered in São Paulo?

Women living in São Paulo consider the risk of being kidnapped or murdered to be relatively low, with an overall risk rating of 2.2 out of 5.