How dangerous is Mexico City?

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Goldo

Like some people said you can get mugged anywhere. If you look for the top 10 most dangerous cities Mexico City is not one of them, if you look for top ten most dangerous countries Mexico is not one of them, we have more dangerous places in US than Mexico.

I lived in Miami for 5 years, LA for a year, New York, Baltimore Maryland, Washington DC for 8 years and in Mexico City from 2000 - 2005 and you know what Mexico City was very safe comparing to the other cities, people that visit to Mexico City have fear, more when is the first time, when you get there you'll see is totally different, we all have bad experiences but that does not mean that everyone is going to have the same experience or think that this place is dangerous, some time is just bad luck.

Mexico City is huge, is the largest city in the world (territory), also the largest metropolitan area in the world, around 23,000 million people live there now, this is the third largest city (population) so when you do an estimate of crime rate / incidents per 100,000 the percentage is nothing compare to cities in the US or any other country.

Most of the killing that you watch in the news is on the Mexican border, drug dealers killing each other, or drug dealers killing police officers, agents that had something to do with them.

Mexico City is changing very quick, you'll see a lot of police officers in the neighborhoods, visitors and downtown area, I'm not saying that is not dangerous, but not as a lot of people think. Te most commune experience is someone asking you for cash or maybe trying to get your wallet in a bus or metro is rare but can happen or maybe stilling something from your car.

I was in Mexico City about a month ago, the city is beautiful and big, I drove from Texas all the way there and no problems. So don't be afraid, go there and learn for your self, I'm sure you will be just fine and you always want to go back, you'll see. There are very nice areas, a lot of restaurants, malls, bars, and other very nice places. I'm planning on moving to Mexico City too very soon. So if you need any help after I move down just contact me.

Suggestions avoid bad areas, specialty during the late night hours, practice your Spanish, make good friends there, get to know the areas. Learn emergency numbers, always take an ID with you, (not passport) do not bring a lot of cash with you, bring what you are going to need for the moment there is always a ATM machine near by. Do not carry laptops or expensive cameras at night. Do not leave anything in the car that is visible. Make copies of your documents ID's, passport, DL, credit cards and live them in a safe place.

There are a lot of good places to live, I lived in Polanco for many years this is a very nice neighborhood, group of students or teachers rent an apartment and they all share the rent and utilities so they can live in a nice neighborhood.

Col. Roma also is nice to live an affordable, Americans like to live by the US embassy or near by neighborhood, Colonia Condesa or Napoles are very nice too, you can walk anywhere in these areas. Coyoacan is another nice place a lot of students live in this areas you can rent an apartment with your friends for some months or you can always look for just a room, these are available for must of the students.

By Division del Norte, Universidad, Copilco, to the South of the City is a very nice area too is a little far from downtown but is nice area. to the North out side the city line is Satelite another nice area.

Like a said before if you need more information or pictures contact me an I will be glad to give you more information.

Good Luck!!!!

Mark The Latin Travel Dude

Is there a chance you'll get mugged or beheaded or something? Sure. Just like there is a chance of you getting mugged in your hometown or gunned down by drug dealers in the nearest American big city you can name.

Mexico City is a HUGE place....bigger than New York City by a large margin. Just like you wouldn't walk through unknown neighborhoods in Harlem late at night while wearing gold jewelry and expensive cameras, you shouldn't do it in Mexico City. If you're the least bit street savvy though and use common sense you will be just fine and have a blast (I sure do).

For a student, I'd pick a place to live close to the university (which one is it? UNAM? Spectacular campus if it is....) If you're looking for places in the heart of the city, there's some pretty cool places around Col. Roma at often affordably reasonable rents.

Have fun!

You can get mugged or beheaded anywhere just look at the greyhound in Alberta. The guy got his head cut off on the bus full of people while driving down the road.

nanaa

I you go to the bad areas, of course is very dangerous, that's why you need to know what areas you need to go.
but I would recomend you before you go to be more fluent in spanish.
if you need more help, e-mail me.

tats

i live in mexico city and i was living in chicago last year... i can tell you it's the same, you just have to be careful about "fake friends" here in mexico city, there's a bunch of nice areas you can live at, about getting a job, you can always try for english schools, some companies pay to pratice and get an "american accent" up to 20 usd per hour/class.
if you need any more info, let me know...
good luck

Quik con leche

The same as new york city

dvcgurl

just travel i groups because i heard aboit the killings in mexcio city they killed 7 or 8 police near the freeway but by then it should be calmk down by then

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