9 Safest Countries in Latin America for Americans (2026)

Moving to Latin America comes down to two questions. How safe is it, and what will it cost you?

This guide ranks the safest countries in Latin America using two named safety sources. They are the 2026 Global Peace Index and current US State Department advisory levels. Then it adds Numbeo’s cost figures for each country, so you can see where safety and your budget overlap.

How This Ranking of the Safest Countries in Latin America Works

Every safety reading comes from two independent sources. Every cost figure comes from a third. All of them were read on 6 October 2026.

• Global Peace Index 2026, published in June 2026 by the Institute for Economics and Peace. It ranks 163 countries on 23 indicators across three domains: societal safety and security, ongoing conflict, and militarisation. A lower score means a more peaceful country.
• US State Department travel advisories, read from each country’s page on travel.state.gov. Level 1 means exercise normal precautions, Level 2 increased caution, Level 3 reconsider travel, and Level 4 do not travel.
• Numbeo, a crowd sourced database. Its Cost of Living Index by Country 2026 Mid-Year compares price levels. Its city pages give one person’s monthly costs without rent, plus central one bedroom rent.

The order of the safest countries in Latin America here follows the Global Peace Index. Jamaica (70th) and Trinidad and Tobago (79th) also score well. They are English speaking Caribbean nations rather than Latin American ones, so they are left out.

Numbeo also publishes a crowd sourced Safety Index, built from surveys of its own visitors. In its 2026 Mid-Year table, Panama reads highest of these nine countries at 57.6 and Bolivia lowest at 35.8. That gap between perception and measured peace is worth keeping in mind.

One more thing before the numbers. Safety varies by city and by neighborhood, sometimes block by block. A national ranking is a starting point for your research, not a promise about any street.

Safety and Cost Comparison Table

Monthly costs are Numbeo city figures in US dollars, rounded to the nearest dollar. The city used for each country is named in its section below. This table puts the safest countries in Latin America side by side.

1. Uruguay, the Most Peaceful in the Region

Uruguay ranks 43rd of 163 countries on the 2026 Global Peace Index, with a score of 1.754. That makes it the most peaceful country in Latin America on this index.

The State Department still rates Uruguay Level 2, exercise increased caution, in an advisory dated 28 July 2026. It names Montevideo, Canelones, Maldonado and Rivera as the departments where crime is most common. It also flags thirteen Montevideo neighborhoods where US personnel avoid or limit travel.

Safety here is not cheap. Numbeo puts Uruguay at 54.0 on its 2026 Mid-Year cost index. In Montevideo, one person spends about $984 a month before rent. A central one bedroom runs about $703 (Numbeo, updated 2 October 2026).

For residency, Uruguay’s National Migration Directorate offers both temporary and permanent legal residence, with the right procedure depending on your situation. The advisory also notes crime rises in beach towns such as Punta del Este during the December to March summer.

2. Chile, Safe and Lower Cost Than You Expect

Chile ranks 52nd on the 2026 Global Peace Index with a score of 1.826. That puts it second in South America, after Uruguay.

The State Department rates Chile Level 2, in an advisory dated 19 August 2026. It cites crime, unrest and health, notes that large demonstrations can happen in Santiago with little notice, and lists several Santiago neighborhoods for extra caution.

The cost side is where Chile surprises people. Its Numbeo cost index is 38.7. In Santiago, Numbeo estimates about $688 a month for one person before rent, with a one bedroom in the centre at about $545 (updated 2 October 2026).

Chile’s National Migration Service offers temporary residence for retirees and for rentistas with steady income from property or investments. Its page sets no fixed amount, only that your income must cover at least basic needs as measured by Chile’s own indicators.

3. Costa Rica, Peaceful but the Priciest Here

Costa Rica ranks 62nd on the 2026 Global Peace Index with a score of 1.860. It ranks highest among Central American countries in the index.

The State Department rates Costa Rica Level 2 for crime, in an advisory issued 2 April 2026. It mentions petty theft and violent crime, including armed robbery, affecting visitors, and lists no region at a higher level.

Costa Rica has the highest cost reading of the nine countries here, 56.8 on Numbeo’s index. In San José, one person spends about $1,005 a month before rent, and a central one bedroom is about $942 (Numbeo, updated 2 October 2026). Our Costa Rica guide for Americans covers the regions beyond the capital.

Costa Rica’s immigration site blocked access during this research, so check current residency requirements with the consulate. If you are torn between two Central American options, our Panama vs Costa Rica comparison lays them side by side.

4. Paraguay, Level 1 and the Lowest Index Cost

Paraguay ranks 64th on the 2026 Global Peace Index with a score of 1.882.

It is one of only two countries on this list at State Department Level 1, exercise normal precautions, in an advisory dated 19 August 2026. The advisory does raise five departments to Level 2: Alto Paraná, Amambay, Canindeyú, Concepción and San Pedro, mostly along the northeastern border with Brazil.

Paraguay’s Numbeo cost index is 32.0, the second lowest here. In Asunción, Numbeo estimates about $599 a month for one person before rent, and about $624 for a central one bedroom (updated 2 October 2026).

No official Paraguayan immigration page could be reached during this research. Check current residency requirements with the consulate before you plan around any route.

5. Argentina, Level 1 With Big City Living

Argentina ranks 72nd on the 2026 Global Peace Index with a score of 1.922.

The State Department rates Argentina Level 1 in an advisory issued 10 July 2026, calling it generally a safe destination. It still notes petty crime in tourist areas and Buenos Aires, and criminal activity in Rosario.

Numbeo puts Argentina at 44.9 on its cost index. In Buenos Aires, one person spends about $893 a month before rent, and a central one bedroom costs about $771 (Numbeo, updated 23 September 2026). Figures converted to dollars move whenever the peso does, so recheck them close to your move.

Argentina’s National Migration Directorate offers a one year renewable temporary residence for pensioners. Its official page requires a regular pension of at least five times the national minimum wage, known as the Salario Mínimo Vital y Móvil.

6. Panama, Easy Residency at a Higher Rent

Panama ranks 81st on the 2026 Global Peace Index with a score of 1.976.

The State Department rates Panama Level 2 in an advisory dated 19 August 2026. It sets two areas at Level 4, do not travel: the Mosquito Gulf and parts of the Darién region near the Colombian border. It also warns that large demonstrations can occur with little notice.

Rent is the catch. Panama City has the highest central one bedroom rent on this list, about $1,277 a month. One person spends about $855 a month before rent (Numbeo, updated 2 October 2026). The national cost index is 46.5.

Panama’s National Migration Service runs a Jubilado Pensionado residence. Its official requirements list a monthly pension of at least 1,000 balboas, or 750 balboas if you own Panamanian property worth more than 100,000 balboas.

7. Guatemala, Ranked by Peace but Level 3

Guatemala ranks 88th on the 2026 Global Peace Index with a score of 2.025. That places it in the top nine for Latin America, but the advisory tells a more cautious story.

The State Department rates Guatemala Level 3, reconsider travel, for crime and terrorism, in an advisory dated 12 March 2026. San Marcos and Huehuetenango departments, Zone 18 in Guatemala City and the city of Villa Nueva are Level 4.

Numbeo gives Guatemala a cost index of 45.4. A central one bedroom in Guatemala City is about $827 a month (updated 2 October 2026). Numbeo does not publish a single person monthly estimate for the city, so that figure is left blank rather than guessed.

No official Guatemalan immigration page could be reached, so check current residency requirements with the consulate. Treat this one as a country to research with care, not a default pick.

8. Dominican Republic, Mid Table on Both

The Dominican Republic ranks 89th on the 2026 Global Peace Index with a score of 2.038.

The State Department rates it Level 2 for crime, in an advisory issued 12 June 2025. It says violent crime remains a concern across the country, and that tourist areas generally get more police attention than other areas.

Numbeo’s cost index for the country is 39.4. In Santo Domingo, one person spends about $645 a month before rent, and a central one bedroom costs about $723 (Numbeo, updated 2 October 2026).

The Dominican General Directorate of Migration lists dedicated pensioner and rentier residence categories, plus ordinary temporary and investment residence. The same page lists permanent and definitive residence as later changes of status.

9. Bolivia, the Lowest Cost on This List

Bolivia ranks 92nd on the 2026 Global Peace Index with a score of 2.054.

The State Department rates Bolivia Level 2 for crime and unrest, in an advisory dated 18 August 2026. Chapare Province is Level 4 because of narcotrafficking related violence, and demonstrations can start with little warning.

Bolivia has the lowest Numbeo cost index here at 28.7. In Santa Cruz, one person spends about $343 a month before rent, with a central one bedroom at about $266 (Numbeo, updated 21 August 2026). Those dollar figures will move with the local currency.

No official Bolivian immigration page could be reached during this research. Check current residency requirements with the consulate before relying on any route.

Safe and Affordable, Where the Two Overlap

Adding Numbeo’s two monthly figures gives a rough budget for one person with central rent. Among the safest countries in Latin America, three stand out on cost.

• Chile: second in Latin America on the Global Peace Index, at about $1,233 a month in Santiago.
• Paraguay: State Department Level 1 and 64th on the Global Peace Index, at about $1,223 a month in Asunción.
• Argentina: State Department Level 1 and 72nd on the Global Peace Index, at about $1,663 a month in Buenos Aires.

Uruguay tops the safety ranking, but Montevideo comes to about $1,687 a month on the same basis. Costa Rica and Panama cost more again, about $1,946 in San José and $2,132 in Panama City.

If cost is your first filter, our list of the cheapest countries for Americans goes wider than Latin America. For a broader shortlist, see the best countries for Americans to move abroad.

Not sure which of these fits your income and priorities? Compare countries side by side with the MATK country quiz.

I sold my house, my car and most of what I owned to fund my own move abroad. I built this site so Americans can choose a country on real numbers. Use the safest countries in Latin America here as your shortlist. Then check the latest advisory and the neighborhood before you sign a lease.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the safest country in Latin America?

On the 2026 Global Peace Index, Uruguay is the most peaceful country in Latin America, ranked 43rd of 163 with a score of 1.754. The State Department still rates it Level 2, increased caution, as of 28 July 2026.

Is Costa Rica safer than Mexico?

On the 2026 Global Peace Index, yes. Costa Rica ranks 62nd and Mexico 139th. Both are State Department Level 2 overall, but Mexico’s advisory of 29 May 2026 puts six states at Level 4. For Mexico costs, see our cost of living in Mexico City guide.

Can Americans live in Uruguay?

Yes. Uruguay’s National Migration Directorate offers temporary and permanent legal residence for foreigners, and the right procedure depends on your situation. Check the current requirements before you apply.

What does a State Department travel advisory level mean?

Advisories run from Level 1, exercise normal precautions, to Level 4, do not travel. Level 2 means increased caution and Level 3 means reconsider travel. Many countries also carry higher levels for specific regions.

Which safe Latin American country is cheapest?

Of the nine countries here, Bolivia has the lowest Numbeo cost index at 28.7. Among the safer half of the list, Paraguay is lowest at 32.0 and is State Department Level 1.