Cost Of Living For a Student in Tijuana 2024
Average Monthly Expenditure
Currency: MXN
Average monthly spending for students in Tijuana
How much money does a student need in a month to survive in Tijuana?
Students in Tijuana spend around 34,000 MXN per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a student can survive with a monthly budget as low as 5,300 MXN or as high as 230,000 MXN. Location is a very important factor and has a huge influence on expenditure and budget.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Tijuana
Dining, food, and beverages costs
Fast food combo meal
Restaurant meal for one
Fine dining meal for one
| 430 MXN | 640 MXN | 2,600 MXN |
Cappuccino or latte
Grocery and market costs
Milk large bottle
12 eggs
Fresh whole chicken
Pack of beef
Medium bag of rice
Bag of tomatos
Bag of apples
Commute, travel, and transportation costs
20 minutes taxi ride
Average car full tank
Average car 1-day rental
Average car price
| 140,000 MXN | 280,000 MXN | 380,000 MXN |
Bus ticket one way
Car Service
| 480 MXN | 720 MXN | 1,400 MXN |
Utility cost (monthly)
Utility Bill - Student
| 210 MXN | 1,400 MXN | 9,200 MXN |
Internet and cable
Mobile phone charges
| 230 MXN | 380 MXN | 1,100 MXN |
Leisure and activities costs
Movie ticket
One month gym membership
| 580 MXN | 720 MXN | 1,400 MXN |
Cloths and accessories costs
Pair of jeans or pants
Woman dress
| 400 MXN | 560 MXN | 1,800 MXN |
Woman shoes
| 380 MXN | 520 MXN | 1,200 MXN |
Men's shoes
Men suit
| 360 MXN | 450 MXN | 2,400 MXN |
Regular t-shirt
Housing costs / monthly rent
Studio apartment
| 6,000 MXN | 9,000 MXN | 24,000 MXN |
1-bedroom apartment
| 9,000 MXN | 14,000 MXN | 36,000 MXN |
2-bedroom apartment
| 12,000 MXN | 18,000 MXN | 48,000 MXN |
Housing costs / Buying
Studio apartment
| 1.2M MXN | 1.8M MXN | 3.6M MXN |
| $71,000 | $110,000 | $210,000 |
1-bedroom apartment
| $85,000 | $140,000 | $530,000 |
2-bedroom apartment
| 2.4M MXN | 7.2M MXN | 14M MXN |
| $140,000 | $430,000 | $850,000 |
Furniture Costs
King Size Bed
| 5,700 MXN | 7,100 MXN | 9,400 MXN |
Double Bed
| 3,800 MXN | 5,700 MXN | 7,100 MXN |
Single Bed
| 3,300 MXN | 4,300 MXN | 5,700 MXN |
Living Room
| 6,300 MXN | 8,100 MXN | 28,000 MXN |
Dining Table
| 2,800 MXN | 3,800 MXN | 7,100 MXN |
Sofa or Couch
| 3,800 MXN | 5,100 MXN | 11,000 MXN |
Electronics and House Appliance Costs
TV Set
| 3,800 MXN | 5,700 MXN | 11,000 MXN |
Fridge or Freezer
| 3,300 MXN | 5,100 MXN | 7,100 MXN |
Washing Machine
| 4,300 MXN | 6,300 MXN | 11,000 MXN |
Stove or Cooker
| 4,000 MXN | 5,100 MXN | 7,100 MXN |
Mobile Phone
| 4,700 MXN | 5,700 MXN | 8,100 MXN |
Laptop or Computer
| 5,100 MXN | 6,300 MXN | 11,000 MXN |
How do students spend their money in Tijuana?
We asked thousands of students about their spending habits and expenditure break down.
Housing and accomodation expenditure for students
Accomodation Cost20%
20% of total expenses on average (15% to 26%)
| LOW | $74 1,300 MXN |
| AVERAGE | $490 8,200 MXN |
| HIGH | $3,200 55,000 MXN |
| Per Month |
Students in Tijuana typically spend from 15% to 26% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 20% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 8,200 MXN with expenditure ranging from 1,300 MXN to 55,000 MXN. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.
Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for students
Cost of utilities6%
6% of total expenses on average (4% to 10%)
| LOW | $12 210 MXN |
| AVERAGE | $81 1,400 MXN |
| HIGH | $540 9,200 MXN |
| Per Month |
Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Tijuana ranges from 4% to 10% of total expenses with 6% being the average for most students. The average monthly cost of utilities is 1,400 MXN with 210 MXN and 9,200 MXN being the upper and lower limits for a student of four.
Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for students
Cost of transport and fuel5%
5% of total expenses on average (5% to 11%)
| LOW | $22 370 MXN |
| AVERAGE | $140 2,400 MXN |
| HIGH | $950 16,000 MXN |
| Per Month |
Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a student resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a student would expect to spend from 370 MXN to 16,000 MXN in a month on commuting with 2,400 MXN being the norm for most students. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 5% of total spending on average but can go as low as 5% or as high as 11%.
Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for students
Food and Groceries Cost22%
22% of total expenses on average (16% to 26%)
| LOW | $62 1,100 MXN |
| AVERAGE | $410 6,900 MXN |
| HIGH | $2,700 46,000 MXN |
| Per Month |
The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical student in a month in Tijuana is 6,900 MXN. The cost of groceries can range between 1,100 MXN to 46,000 MXN. Students spend on average about 22% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 16% and 26% respectively.
Healthcare and medical services expenditure for students
Cost of healthcare8%
8% of total expenses on average (5% to 11%)
| LOW | $19 320 MXN |
| AVERAGE | $120 2,100 MXN |
| HIGH | $810 14,000 MXN |
| Per Month |
Students in Tijuana allocate 5% to 11% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending on medical services and clinic visits is around 8%. The range of medical expenses range from 320 MXN to 14,000 MXN with 2,100 MXN being the norm for most students.
Leisure and shopping expenditure for students
Cost of leisure and shopping3%
3% of total expenses on average (2% to 7%)
| LOW | $16 260 MXN |
| AVERAGE | $100 1,700 MXN |
| HIGH | $680 11,000 MXN |
| Per Month |
This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 260 MXN to 11,000 MXN with 1,700 MXN being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 7% of total expenses with an average of 3% for most students.
Education and schooling expenditure for students
Cost of education and schooling19%
19% of total expenses on average (12% to 24%)
| LOW | $59 1,000 MXN |
| AVERAGE | $380 6,500 MXN |
| HIGH | $2,600 44,000 MXN |
| Per Month |
Spending on education can vary drastically between different students. On average, education constitutes 19% of the monthly expenditure of students with 12% and 24% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 6,500 MXN per month with 1,000 MXN being the minimum spent amount and 44,000 MXN being the maximum.
Other Expenses17%
17% of total expenses on average (11% to 23%)
| LOW | $47 790 MXN |
| AVERAGE | $300 5,200 MXN |
| HIGH | $2,000 34,000 MXN |
| Per Month |
A typical and healthy budgeting structure
The 50/30/20 rule
Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle,
location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule,
which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.
50% for needs and financial obligations
This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.
30% for wants and discretionary spending
This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.
20% for savings and emergency fund
This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.
About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting
The 50/30/20 rule is used as a general guideline but may not be the best choice for all people. There are in fact many budgeting plans out there like the 70/20/10 and the 60/20/20 rules, all claiming to be the best. More important than all of this is to establish financial discipline by creating a budget tailored to your specific financial goals and situation. It is very important that your financial outflow be less than your income to maintain a healthy cash flow.
Affordable living in Tijuana
Income and cost of living compatibility
We asked students one simple question and recorded their answers.
Is it affordable or economical to live in Tijuana?
Around 90% of surveyed students think that living in Tijuana is affordable with proper budgeting while 10% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.
Low-cost alternatives in Tijuana
People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked students how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:
Plenty of low-cost options77%
Few low-cost options23%
Based on the survey, 77% of the students living in Tijuana have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 23% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.
Emergency Funds For Students
An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked students of Tijuana whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.
Yes89%
No11%
Based on the survey, 11% of the students living in Tijuana said that they don't have an emergency fund while 89% said that they do.
Financial Literacy in Mexico
Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.
Financial Leteracy65%
We asked student guardians and parents in Tijuana whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 35% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 65% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.
Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning
We wanted to understand whether students of Mexico have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 28% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 72% said that they have everything under control.
Struggles with finance28%
Easily manages finances72%
Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Tijuana
Rental costs and house/apartment prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Rent Cost in Tijuana
Monthly Rent Prices
Studio apartment monthly rent cost
| 6,000 MXN | 9,000 MXN | 24,000 MXN |
1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 9,000 MXN | 14,000 MXN | 36,000 MXN |
2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 12,000 MXN | 18,000 MXN | 48,000 MXN |
3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 14,000 MXN | 24,000 MXN | 66,000 MXN |
Furnished apartment monthly rent cost
| 29,000 MXN | 72,000 MXN | 140,000 MXN |
Townhouse monthly rent cost
| 24,000 MXN | 36,000 MXN | 100,000 MXN |
House monthly rent cost
| 29,000 MXN | 72,000 MXN | 140,000 MXN |
Villa monthly rent cost
| 36,000 MXN | 90,000 MXN | 140,000 MXN |
The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Tijuana ranges between 6,000 MXN and 24,000 MXN, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 9,000 MXN to 36,000 MXN. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 12,000 MXN and 48,000 MXN per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 14,000 MXN to 66,000 MXN. The average rent of a townhouse in Tijuana is around 36,000 MXN while house rental costs can be as high as 72,000 MXN per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 36,000 MXN to 140,000 MXN per month.
Apartment and house prices in Tijuana
Cost of buying a property
Studio apartment price
| 1.2M MXN | 1.8M MXN | 3.6M MXN |
| $71,000 | $110,000 | $210,000 |
1-bedroom apartment price
| $85,000 | $140,000 | $530,000 |
2-bedroom apartment price
| 2.4M MXN | 7.2M MXN | 14M MXN |
| $140,000 | $430,000 | $850,000 |
3-bedroom apartment price
Townhouse price
House price
Villa price
The average price of a studio apartment in Tijuana can range from 1.2M MXN to 3.6M MXN depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 1.4M MXN to 9M MXN. A villa can cost you 80M MXN on average with prices ranging from 14M MXN to 120M MXN.
If you're leasing or purchasing, housing costs in Tijuana will probably constitute your biggest expenditure, yet it's an area where you wield considerable influence. This is due to the substantial variance in housing prices across communities. Keep in mind the location of your workplace and the accessibility of essential amenities to prevent negating the savings from lower rental rates with increased transportation expenses.
House / apartment prices to income ratio
Property price to income ratio
( average property price / average monthly income ) x 100
| 55 | x162 monthly income | 278 |
Property prices in Tijuana can be x162 to x278 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x162 multiples of the average monthly salary in Tijuana.
Rent to income ratio
Rent to income ratio
( monthly rental / monthly income ) x 100
The average rent-to-income ratio in Tijuana is around 42%. This means that people pay 42% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 30% to 55% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.
The housing-to-income ratio is a very important metric to evaluate and measure how affordable living is in a particular area, city, or country since housing comprises the biggest chunk of expenditure. A higher housing to income ratio means that the place is relatively expensive. The figure by itself does tell much. It only starts to make sense when comparing the housing to income ratio across different locations.
Housing affordability index
The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.
Housing Affordability Index
39% Property Taxes
Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.
Home Maintenance Costs
Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.
| 110 MXN | 1,400 MXN | 14,000 MXN |
Urban vs. rural living costs
Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.
Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Tijuana
Utilities expenditure can vary slightly between different areas and locations.
Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Tijuana
Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Student
| 210 MXN | 1,400 MXN | 9,200 MXN |
Internet and cable cost
Mobile phone bill and charges
| 230 MXN | 380 MXN | 1,100 MXN |
Because most utility bills club electricity, water, and gas costs in one bill, we can't provide a breakup for each type of utility and will display electricity, gas, and water as single cost.
The average monthly energy and water consumption of students is around 1,400 MXN. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 280 MXN to 750 MXN with 570 MXN being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 380 MXN but can range between 230 MXN and 1,100 MXN depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.
Energy / Utility expense to income ratio
( monthly utility expenses / monthly income ) x 100
The average utility-to-income ratio in Tijuana is around 6.4%. This means that people pay 6.4% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 2.6% to 12% depending on salary and location.
Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Tijuana
Grocery / Food expenditure and prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Tijuana
Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.
Fast food combo meal price
The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Tijuana is approximatly 110 MXN with meal cost ranging from 57 MXN to 190 MXN. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.
Restaurant meal for one price
If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 210 MXN and 640 MXN with 320 MXN being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Tijuana.
Fine dining meal for one price
| 430 MXN | 640 MXN | 2,600 MXN |
The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 430 MXN to 2,600 MXN with the average cost being 640 MXN for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Tijuana.
Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..
The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Tijuana is around 75 MXN. Price ranges between 47 MXN and 110 MXN depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.
Grocery and market costs
Large bottle of milk price
The average price of a large bottle of milk in Tijuana is 45 MXN. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 57 MXN and the minimum being 38 MXN depending on the brand of milk and other properties.
12 eggs price
A dozen eggs costs around 38 MXN on average with 28 MXN and 57 MXN being the lower and upper limits respectively.
Fresh whole chicken price
The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Tijuana is between 64 MXN and 120 MXN depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 83 MXN.
Pack of beef price
The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 110 MXN. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.
Medium bag of rice price
A bag of rice in Tijuana costs around 42 MXN on average with prices rangeing between 30 MXN and 59 MXN depending on the brand and quality.
Bag of tomatos price
A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 11 MXN to 28 MXN. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Bag of apples price
A bag of apples costs 26 MXN on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio
( monthly grocery expenses / monthly income ) x 100
The average grocery-to-income ratio in Tijuana is around 32%. This means that students spend 32% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 22% to 40% depending on salary and location.
Expenditure on food and grocery for students
Students' spending on grocery ranges from 1,100 MXN to 46,000 MXN with the location, income, and size of the student being the most determinite factors.
