Public lighting is widely used in crime prevention, yet its effects on perceived safety across different socio-demographic groups remain understudied, particularly in highly unequal urban contexts of the Global South. This study examines how the perceived quality of public lighting influences residents' feelings of safety in Brazilian cities. Using data from the 2021 Continuous National Household Sample Survey (PNAD-C), which includes information on individual, neighborhood, and regional characteristics (N = 47,438), we estimate ordered logit models to assess whether and how lighting quality affects safety perceptions when walking alone at night near one's home. Three research questions guide the analysis: Does perceived lighting quality influence safety perception? Do these effects vary by gender and ethnic background? And are they moderated by contextual and regional factors? The results show that poor lighting significantly decreases perceived safety, particularly among women and non-white respondents, even after controlling for socioeconomic and neighborhood characteristics. Findings indicate that lighting functions both as a physical and symbolic component of urban safety. Improving and maintaining public lighting, especially in disadvantaged areas, represents an inclusive and practical strategy to strengthen urban safety, reduce gendered and racial inequalities, and support sustainable development in cities of the Global South.