Buenos Aires safety
Safety in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires has a low homicide rate for a major capital, but your phone, route and nighttime habits still matter.
- Homicide rate
- 2.53
- Per 100,000 city residents in 2025
- Homicide victims
- 78
- Intentional homicide victims in 2025
- Police
- 911
- Emergency response
- Medical emergency
- 107
- SAME in Buenos Aires city
On this page
The short answer
Buenos Aires city recorded 2.53 intentional homicide victims per 100,000 residents in 2025. That is a useful measure of serious violence, not your chance of losing a phone. The city can suit residents who use busy routes, secure their belongings and plan late journeys. Compare your actual block and daily trip before treating any neighborhood as a safe choice.
- The 2025 city homicide rate was 2.53 per 100,000.
- Police emergencies use 911. Medical emergencies use 107.
- The US national advisory is Level 1 as of July 10, 2026.
- The crime figures cover CABA, not the entire metropolitan area.
Is Buenos Aires safe to live in?
Pros4
- Low serious-violence figureThe official 2025 homicide rate was 2.53 per 100,000.
- Direct emergency linesSave 911 for police and 107 for SAME medical emergencies.
- Published city dataThe city report provides a 2016 to 2025 series for context.
- Manageable first stepsA daylight visit and a separate nighttime visit reveal different routes.
Cons4
- Phone theftThe US advisory identifies cell phone theft in urban areas.
- Different city boundariesCABA statistics exclude the surrounding Buenos Aires Province municipalities.
- Route changesA busy daytime street can feel different after businesses close.
- Airport and terminal exposureTravelers must keep bags controlled when arranging transport.
Start with the neighborhood guide, then inspect the entrance and route to your station. Use the rent guide to compare addresses within your budget. A cheaper apartment that adds an uncomfortable late walk may be a poor fit.
What the Buenos Aires crime rate measures
| Year | Victims | Rate per 100,000 |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 91 | 2.89 |
| 2024 | 80 | 2.59 |
| 2025 | 78 | 2.53 |
Source 1
Official city series. This chart compares years within the same jurisdiction.
Source 1
Homicide is a narrower measure than all violent crime. Theft reports also depend on reporting, pedestrian traffic and time spent in an area. A busy district can have many incidents without giving every resident the same exposure.
The Buenos Aires overview explains the city boundary. Use the getting around guide for the actual transport route you would use.
Is Argentina Safe? My Honest Experience After Living Here
Recent personal account or filmed route for visual context. Use the dated primary sources on this page for prices, rules and statistics.
Which areas need extra care?
| Place | Reason to pay attention | Practical choice |
|---|---|---|
| Retiro | Major rail and bus terminals with luggage and crowds | Keep bags with you during every transfer |
| La Boca | The tourist circuit and surrounding streets have different exposure | Use direct transport and stay on the visited circuit |
| San Telmo | Market crowds and late journeys can expose belongings | Separate a daytime visit from the return after dinner |
| Palermo | Tourist demand does not remove phone theft | Avoid leaving a phone on an outdoor table |
| Microcentro | Office streets change after businesses close | Inspect the return route at your usual hour |
There is no official block-level promise of safety on this page. Recoleta, Belgrano and Palermo are useful places to investigate for different lifestyles. Visit the individual Recoleta guide or Belgrano guide before narrowing your search.
During a viewing, ask how the entrance works, where deliveries wait and whether the building has a staffed desk. Walk from the apartment to the nearest shop and station. Repeat that trip after dark before paying a long-term deposit.
Phone theft, scams and belongings
- Keep the phone off the tablePut it away when eating outdoors or beside an open window.
- Stop before checking a mapMove inside a shop or another controlled place to choose your route.
- Keep a second way to payStore a backup card separately from your daily wallet.
- Control the bagKeep it attached to you during terminal transfers and restaurant stops.
The US guidance describes motorcycle snatching and theft from bags. It also warns about dates arranged through apps that move quickly to private accommodation. Meet in a public place first and keep control of drinks.4
The UK advice describes a distraction involving sprayed mustard and an offer to clean your clothes. Move away from the distraction with your belongings. Do not hand a bag to someone offering unsolicited help.3
Walking and traveling at night
Choose the return journey before going out. A route to a busy restaurant can require an entirely different return after midnight. Keep enough battery and a separate payment method for that return.
Check the destination
Ask which entrance stays open and where a booked car can stop.
Choose a direct return
Use an established dispatch service or a booked app journey when the walking route is unfamiliar.
Match the vehicle
Check the registration and driver shown in the booking before getting in.
Keep your destination private
Send trip details to someone you trust if traveling alone.
The LGBTQ+ guide covers community and legal rights. The family guide covers school journeys and children. Neither replaces an assessment of the actual street.
Emergency numbers and reporting
| Number | Service | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| 911 | Police | Immediate danger or a crime in progress |
| 107 | SAME | Medical emergency |
| 103 | City emergencies | Civil protection emergency |
| 144 | Gender violence support | Information and support |
| 102 | Children and adolescents | Child protection help |
| 147 | City information | Administrative information rather than emergency response |
Source 2
Reach a secure place
Leave immediate danger and contact emergency services if needed.
Block accounts
Freeze affected cards and revoke sessions from a separate trusted device.
Record what happened
Save the location, time and vehicle details without confronting anyone.
Report and replace documents
Request a police record and contact your consulate for a lost passport.
Save your insurer and consulate contacts before arrival. The healthcare guide explains emergency treatment and medical coverage.
What do official travel advisories say?
| Authority | Scope | What it contributes |
|---|---|---|
| US Department of State | Argentina nationally | Level 1 advisory issued July 10, 2026, with local crime guidance |
| UK FCDO | Argentina nationally | Warnings on belongings, protests, La Boca and transport |
| Buenos Aires city | CABA emergency services | Direct numbers for police, SAME and civil emergencies |
A national advisory is guidance for travelers. It is not a neighborhood safety score. Check it again before travel because the level and practical warnings can change.
The UK advice identifies Congress and Casa Rosada as common protest locations. Roadblocks can delay cross-city or airport journeys. Allow a backup route and avoid crossing a demonstration.3
Storms, heat and the route home
A street that works in dry weather may become difficult during a storm. Check the weather guide before choosing a ground-floor apartment or scheduling a river trip.
- Inspect drainageAsk the landlord about past flooding at the entrance and garage.
- Keep a weather alternativeAllow a different route home if rain interrupts trains or buses.
- Review warnings before leavingFollow current city emergency instructions during severe weather.
Questions people ask
Is Buenos Aires safe for expats who live there year round?
It can be, with an address and routine chosen carefully. CABA recorded a 2025 homicide rate of 2.53 per 100,000. Theft and robbery remain separate risks, so inspect the actual block and nighttime journey.
Does the Buenos Aires homicide rate include the suburbs?
No. The 2.53 rate covers the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires. Surrounding Buenos Aires Province municipalities have separate statistics.
Is Palermo automatically a safe place to stay?
No neighborhood guarantees safety. Official US guidance includes Palermo among areas where travelers should pay attention to crime. Check the apartment entrance and walking route as well as the neighborhood name.
Should I walk outside Caminito in La Boca?
Official travel guidance calls for care outside the main tourist circuit. Use direct transport for a first visit and avoid treating a sightseeing route as a guide to surrounding residential streets.
What should I do if someone sprays mustard on my clothes?
Keep your belongings with you and move away from unsolicited help. The UK guidance identifies this as a distraction theft method in Buenos Aires.
Is it safe to use my phone at an outdoor cafe?
Keep it put away when you are not using it. Official US guidance warns against leaving phones on restaurant tables and openly displaying them on the street.
What is the police emergency number in Buenos Aires?
Call 911 for an immediate police emergency. Call 107 for SAME medical emergencies inside Buenos Aires city.
How should I travel home after a late dinner?
Plan a direct return before leaving home. A booked car is a useful choice when the walk is unfamiliar or the streets have emptied. Match the vehicle to the booking.
What does the US Level 1 advisory mean for Buenos Aires?
The July 10, 2026 advisory advises normal precautions for Argentina nationally. It still includes practical warnings about petty crime in Buenos Aires. It does not certify any district as safe.
Can protests delay an airport transfer?
Yes. The UK advice warns that demonstrations and roadblocks can disrupt major routes. Check local conditions and allow a backup route.
How do I compare two apartments for safety?
Walk the station, grocery and evening return routes for both addresses. Check building access and delivery arrangements. Repeat the visit at the hour you expect to come home.
What should I do after a phone theft?
Reach a secure place, freeze affected payments and revoke device sessions from another trusted device. Report the incident and keep the report for your insurer. Do not pursue the thief.
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Sources and how we check them
Sources and how we check them4 sources
Every figure on this page comes from the official or primary source listed here. We checked them in . Rules and prices change, so confirm anything important with the source before you act on it.
- Buenos Aires City, Mapa del Delito 2025, executive report, checked October 9, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- Buenos Aires City, SAME and emergency numbers, updated April 6, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- UK FCDO, Argentina safety and security, checked October 9, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- US Department of State, Argentina travel advisory, July 10, 2026, checked October 9, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Hero photo by Raphael Henrique Figueira, CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab), from Wikimedia Commons (opens in a new tab).