Retirement Lists

Safety in Cali, Colombia

Santiago de Cali panoramic view from Cristo Rey Hills.
Photo by Aleko | David Alejandro Rendón © via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Cali safety

Cali's homicide decline does not remove the need for neighborhood-level planning

Cali reported 946 homicides in 2024 versus 1,013 in 2023, a 7% decline, and 28 nonconsecutive days without a homicide. A January to April 2025 comparison reported 79 versus 76 homicides, with reductions in some theft categories and a 6% increase in motorcycle theft. Keep annual and partial-period measures separate.

The city identified ten higher-incidence microterritories in the east, hillside, center, and south. Review the exact comuna and street for entry controls, lighting, evening travel, traffic, MIO or taxi route, hillside movement, flood, drainage, emergency access, and the distance to care.

The safety picture

Start with the overall picture, then look at the details that matter for daily life.

Day to day confidence

Nighttime comfort, response, scams, stability, and solo living add practical context.

Modeled 100-Year Flood Exposure
14.2% of nearby area
National Intentional Homicide Rate
24.9 per 100,000
SIEDCO HURTO ENTIDADES FINANCIERAS Records (2025)
2

Cali in everyday life

Could Cali work for you?

What may work well

  • Official reporting shows a recent homicide decline.
  • The city identifies higher-incidence microterritories rather than hiding variation.
  • Municipal risk and security institutions publish planning information.

What to think about

  • Absolute homicide counts remain serious.
  • Homicide data do not measure every theft, fraud, traffic, or neighborhood condition.
  • Terrain, traffic, entry, transit, and rain affect daily exposure.

Review Cali safety by comuna and route

  1. Label the homicide period

    Record annual versus partial-period data, source, definitions, and citywide coverage before comparing neighborhoods.

  2. Inspect the exact home

    Check entry, lighting, locks, parking, elevators, sidewalks, traffic, slope, drainage, power, transport, and care access.

  3. Use MIO and taxi routes

    Try the real trip at day and night and note stops, transfers, fare, crowding, weather, waiting, and final walk.

  4. Prepare everyday contacts

    Keep 123, family, medical, insurer, onsite staff, neighbors, medicines, documents, alerts, and a transport plan.

Questions retirees ask

Is Cali safe for retirees?

The reviewed evidence does not support a citywide label. Use the homicide trend as one measure and review the exact neighborhood, entry, lighting, transport, and care route.

Did homicides fall in 2024?

Cali reported 946 in 2024 versus 1,013 in 2023. The decline is meaningful but does not make neighborhoods equivalent or risk-free.

Which areas need extra review?

The city identified ten higher-incidence microterritories in parts of the east, hillside, center, and south. Use current city sources for exact locations.

What should be checked after dark?

Entry controls, lighting, sidewalks, parking, traffic, MIO or taxi waits, crowding, neighbors, phone use, and the route home.

Cali safety becomes usable when the homicide trend is reported honestly and the household evaluates the exact comuna, home entry, evening route, transport, slope, water, and care access.

Sources

Safety depends on the neighborhood, the places you go each day, transportation, and personal comfort.

Use official local sources and recent neighborhood-level context before choosing where to stay, rent, or buy.

Not yet available for this place: Overall Safety, Violent Crime, Property Crime.

Partnerships never affect rankings, scores, methodology, or inclusion.

Partner with Retirement Lists

Research and writing by

How this city research is made

Retirement Lists uses documented public sources and methods to research, review, and correct city information. Read our Editorial Policy.