Can anyone from Uruguay comment on the public safety situation there? I'm a Brazilian living in the US, but I have Uruguayan citizenship because my dad was Uruguayan. I've always tried to keep an eye on the country as a place to maybe move to if things get too dark where I am, but I hear little about public safety issues. Brazil is awful in that regard (in any almost city there's a good chance you'll get mugged even in broad daylight), I wonder if Uruguay is a safer place to live.
Its high compared to what it was before. I haven't lived in Brazil but I lived in Germany and Chile for a couple of weeks and its high compared to cities there.
It depends on the neighborhood and how aware of your surroundings you are. Everyone knows someone who got mugged either a relative or a friend. Relative of mine was having dinner at a restaurant, 4 armed robbers came in, took everything from customers plus the money from the business. One of them shoots his gun inside, aiming at the roof. There were people in the second floor eating too, fortunately nobody got hurt. Personally, I just take cabs everywhere at night, and walk during the day if I know the neighborhood.
Insecurity is pretty high, it really depends on the neighbourhood, time of the day and your profession though (like always).
The thing is, most of the time nothing will happen to you, but, it is pretty usual to get robbed.
Anecdotally, we've had two home invasion in my family in the last two years and two laptop stolen. My family members where also present in an armed robbery in a supermarket, so it's out there.
Most of the times, you can live your life normally, unless you get unlucky, which is not that uncommon.
All in all I'd say you can live a pretty normal happy life but the risk is always there, it is good to be a little bit cautious.
